History

The inaugural meeting of Aorangi Lodge took place on 23 November 1888 having been sponsored by St John’s Lodge No. 1888 in Featherston. The Lodge Charter is dated 14 February 1889. Aorangi Lodge was formed largely by members of the legal and civil service fraternity who as members of Wellington Lodge at the time decided that a second English Constitution lodge was needed. To this day Aorangi maintains a “Sister Lodge” relationship with Wellington Lodge, and they remain the only English Constitution lodges in the city.

During its early years the Lodge had among its membership a Governor-General of New Zealand, senior members of his staff, distinguished military men and several medical practitioners. As a city lodge it met in Boulcott St and later moved to The Terrace. In 1966, it held its meetings at Ngatoto St in Ngaio, then in 1981 moved to a new lodge building in Tinakori Rd. In 1991, the Lodge moved to Phillip Street in Johnsonville where it meets today. The current members represent a wide range of vocations and some of them travel from as far away as Te Horo and the Wairarapa to attend meetings. With over fifty members, Aorangi continues to be one of the largest EC lodges in the District of the North Island, New Zealand.

Aorangi enjoys a close relationship with all of the English Constitution lodges in the lower North Island, and in particular with

Sir Donald McLean Lodge No. 1646 in Waitara, Wellington Lodge No. 1521 and Mount Egmont Lodge No. 670 in New Plymouth.

Aorangi is a dining lodge, which means that immediately following a meeting the Lodge members and their guests sit down to dinner, where they can enjoy each other’s company with fine food, great conversation and a programme of formal and not so formal toasts.

Aorangi Lodge enjoys an active social programme throughout the year and typically invites wives and partners to functions. These range from the informality of the Summer BBQ where extended family are always invited, to our Ladies Night Dinner held at a restaurant in Wellington or the Hutt Valley in July. Toward the end of each year the Lodge provides a pre-Christmas Lunch in the city.

For well over one hundred years Aorangi Lodge has built a reputation for its friendly hospitality and willingness to provide an opportunity for its members to enjoy their Freemasonry. The Installation Meeting at the end of the year is the high point of the Aorangi masonic calendar.