TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

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Although there were various Orange lodges formed from 1842 onwards it was not
until 26 December 1867 that a Grand Lodge for New Zealand was constituted. 42
The
Grand Lodge of New Zealand covered only the North Island. In the South Island, a lodge
was opened at Lyttleton in 1864 but this was established by a private warrant. Once the
Grand Lodge was formed in Auckland it refused to recognize their Canterbury
counterparts.
In 1869 the Canterbury Grand Secretary wrote to the Grand Lodge in Ireland to
request the authority to open their own Grand Lodge. The reply was to accept the desire of
the Christchurch people to have their own Grand Lodge, but the Irish Grand Lodge stated
that "the practice uniformly acted upon by this Grand Lodge has been not to interfere with
the organization of the Institution when established in any on the colonies, but to leave its
action quite independent and self governing. "43 As a result of this affirmation the Grand
Lodge of the Middle Island was constituted. 44 It is important to note that although the
Orange lodges in New Zealand looked to the Grand Lodge of Ireland for the authority to
grant warrants, their Irish counterparts seemed to desire self-determination for their sister
lodges abroad. As long as lodges were being established, it was not a major concern who
set up independent Grand Lodges. The spread of Orangeism was clearly the greatest
priority. (For an overview of the origins of the L.O.l. in New Zealand, see Table 3).
Table 3: Chronology of the Establishment of the L.O.I. in New Zealand.
1843-
1867-
1870-
1883-
1888-
1908-
First meeting of an Orange Lodge in New Zealand.
Establishment of Grand Lodge of New Zealand- encompassed North Island only.
Opening of Grand Lodge of the Middle Island.
North Island Lodge changed its name to Grand Orange Lodge, North Island of
New Zealand.
Middle Island Lodge became known as Grand Orange Lodge, Middle Island of
New Zealand.
First Ladies Lodge opened in Wellington.
Amalgamation of North Island and Middle Island Grand Orange Lodges, to
become Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand.
42Ibid., p. 23. As a result of the Grand Lodge being established, the numbers changed on the warrants
for the existing lodges. No. 1 warrant was issued on 3 February 1868 which simplified the process of
issuing warrants to subsequent lodges.
43Joseph Carnahan, Life and Times of William the Third and History of Orangeism, Auckland, Star
Office, 1890, p. 293. This letter was written by the Grand Lodge of Ireland in December 1869.
44Ibid., p. 293. The Grand Lodge of the Middle Island consisted of the provinces of Nelson,
Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, Southland, and Westland.