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These 14 stations, unique to our church, form a total picture of the Lord's agony, death and resurrection. These stations, produced by local artists, are made from wood and clay. While each of the two images for the 14 stations tell its own independent story, these stations must be seen as a whole.
Click any picture to enlarge it.
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1. The Last Supper
In the first station, we see the Tree of Life with the twelve branches of the Apostles. We see the 'saving cup' in the trunk of the tree - his blood given for us. Under the tree is the 'Taro', the plant from which the bread came, his body broken for us. At the top of the station we see the sacred mountain Ruapehu. The three feathers are our family groups: Hine Ngakau, Tamaupoko, and Tupoho. Below them flows the sacred river Whanganui on which live the faith communities of the region. Let us begin our journey. This tree will become the tree on which our saviour died, the Tree of Life.
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2. Garden of Gethsemene
The tree now reflects the agony experienced by Jesus in the garden. "Not my will but yours be done." The seeds of the tree are being carried out by the spirit (the bird). The spirit of God will lead and guide us in this journey of suffering and pain. The spirit will comfort us and encourage us. The seeds planted by the spirit will flower, in suffering, into the tree of life in each of us.
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3. Before the Sanhedrin
A calmness and peace descends on Jesus, reflected in the figures of the third station. The cross begins to take shape. He has accepted the journey for which he came among us. The edges of the station begin to take a new shape. He listens to his accusers.
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4. Jesus before Pilate
A quiet dignity expresses itself in the shapes present in this situation. The cross becomes more prominent. The attitude of Jesus in the presence of Pilate reveals the kingdom of light whereby we love, serve and create unity and peace. We respect lawful authority.
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5. Whipped and Crowned
The suffering begins. The cross appears in a prominent position. The agony is upon him. The winds of prejudice and materialism whip him. Isolation bears down upon him.
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6. Carries the Cross
The signs of glory shine around the cross. He accepts his cross. He has taken hold of the sufferings that are coming upon him. Here he will find the will of his Father. There is a serenity in this moment of truth. He invites us to daily take up our cross, to meet our moment of truth.
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7. Helped by the Cyrenean
We see a human figure appear in the seventh station having difficult with his cross. Jesus was human like us. He found it difficult to carry his cross. He continues patiently on his journey.
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8. The Women of Jerusalem
In this station we see human faces in sorrow. We see a cross and behind the cross a face we cannot immediately recognise. We know it is the face of Jesus. He is there suffering with us in the pain of our journey through life.
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9. Nailed to the Cross (Right)
Christ arrives at the summit of Calvary. This station reflects the realism of the closeness of the cross and the nails that fastened him to it. The agony appears in the figures in this station. The reality of our own cross in life is revealed and the difficulties and challenges that are the nails holding me to the cross.
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10. The Good Thief (Left)
Another dimension for a moment appears within the pain of being nailed to the cross. The pain doesn't go away. The promise of eternal life is given to the good thief. The promise is given to us all.
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11. Mary and John
The agony continues. From the cross Jesus creates a new family in which we are all brothers and sisters. He gives us his Mother. He gives us the family of the Church. The women have been faithful. The men have lacked courage.
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12. Dies on the Cross (Right)
Chaos descends. The depth of the spiral gives us some idea of the desolation that has come upon him. Darkness, earthquakes, the veil of the temple is torn from top to bottom. "Indeed this man was the Son of God."
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13. Jesus is Buried (Left)
Calm and peace descends as He departs into the underworld. He meets Adam and all who have been waiting. "Arise O sleeper, I have become your son, you are now my brother. I don't give you back the garden. I give you Heaven, eternal life. I return to you the original blessings, one with your God, one with his creation." The glory shines around the cross. Its work is finished. All creation pauses.
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14. Rises from the Dead
 He bursts forth from the tomb. He brings all of the agony of the journey with him written on his body. The Crown of Thorns is being removed from his head. The Crown of Glory appears. The imprint of the Cross is on his body. The nail holes are in his hands and feet. The shroud is rolled back. He is strung between Heaven and Earth. Around him gathers creation from the four winds, bringing their heavy burdens of suffering and pain. He is risen! He has conquered pain and suffering. He brings the promise of eternal glory. The power that raised him from the dead comes into our life. We rejoice with him. All the promises are to be fulfilled.
The majestic figure of the Risen Christ, with its accompanying ceramic, forms the 14th station.
Jesus is represented with arms raised to depict his victory. The figure at the base touches the brown of the Earth but leans forward to the blue of Heaven. The red emphasises his agony. The face has no features because Christ belongs to all races. The arms are carved differently to show His care for all Christian churches. The head is portrayed as the source of life and love in the church.
The tukutuku background, based on the Koru design, the fern frond, to symbolise growth, enshrouds the body to show it is conquered in death. The red represents his suffering, the yellow new risen life as we ascend the Poutama, the stairway to Heaven.
The four triangular carvings depict the unfolding life Christ shares with us, his members through union with the Father under the impulse of the Spirit. All are joined by communion circles.
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Stations of the Cross 
