Noel Delaney – Another priest who worked with Maori has passed away, CathNews New Zealand, 19 February 2016, https://cathnews.co.nz/2016/02/19/another-priest-who-worked-with-maori-has-passed-away/, accessed on 5 January 2026:

Father Noel Delaney died in Wellington last Saturday. He was 93.

Fr Noel’s death brings to 4 the number of priests, who had a long association with the pastoral care of Maori Catholics, that have died in recent months.

He was ordained in 1942 and worked in a number of the Society of Mary’s schools before being appointed the second rector of Hato Paora College in 1965.

Below is tribute to Fr Noel written when he was nominated Old Boy of the year in 2011.

In December 2011, Fr Noel will have completed 63 years of service as a priest,noted by his nephew Noel Sainsbury (S73-77) as a man whose quiet achievements are great but done with humility.

Fr Noel has been exemplary in his years of dedicated service in a truly Marist way of building communities through education, his love of music and in particular Maori & Pacific culture and language.

He is a role model to all old boys of how the gospels and Marist tradition can manifest themselves in a real way.

There is one gift above all others which won affection and admiration – his love of and knowledge of music. Singing and music became part of the school in a way that it had never been before.

He composed the English and Maori Mass that we have, a number of songs and hymns and it would be fair to say ‘Hey Boy’ became a rallying song for the school.”……..

“Father Delaney gave his utmost to Hato Paora College. They were demanding and exacting years but I feel he found, as so many others who have been associated with the college, that at the finish he gained more than he had given” (Fr Tomasi writing in 1973 Hato Paora College, Jubilee Magazine)

History
Born in Nuhaka, Hawkes Bay 12/10/1922, Fr Noel was educated by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Waiora. He attended ‘Stream’ 1935-1940.

His memories of ‘Stream’ include; playing by the river, being ‘clapped’ up each morning for ranks and the steam train journey to Waiora. Excelling at Music, English and Athletics, he was made Captain of the McEvedy Shield, winning team in 1940.

In his duty as captain he accepted the shield from the then Prime Minister Peter Fraser. In the same year he became Head Boy and stayed on an extra year to complete his studies in Latin to prepare himself for the seminary.

In 1941, Noel began his studies towards the Marist priesthood at Higden Novigate, Feilding continuing on at Greenmeadows Seminary, Taradale.

His first appointment was St Bede’s 1949 where he also took the opportunity to begin his studies in English partime at University. In 1950, Noel was transferred to Hato Paroa College and this where he embraced Maori culture in particular the education of Maori youth. This mirroring in some respects the early work of Marists in NZ.

In 1954, Noel was appointed to ‘Stream’ (his old school) where he also continued his studies at University taking up extra papers in Te Reo Maori.

Notable students during his time included;Peter Blake SM,Fred Bliss SM(rector 74-80) and historian Michael King. In Michael King’s book “Being Pakeha” he described Fr Noel as one of the best teachers of English he has ever had. Holding various positions at the college he was the Master of Music and coach of athletics and rugby.

In 1964, Fr Noel held at brief appointment at St Johns College until he became the Rector of Hato Paora College in 1965.

He worked with Maori youth, built a strong community embracing whanau spirit ,the importance of education and Marist principles. To this day, he remains an icon of the college present and past.

In 1973, Noel was appointed as Vicar-Provincial of the Society of Mary in NZ.

He was also able to continue his work with Maori and Pasifika by being appointed Vicar Espsciplo in Wellington.

In 1975, Fr Noel was appointed to the role of Provincial of the Society of Mary in NZ, being responsible for 300 various Marists in NZ and around the world. During this time, Fr Noel was involved in the relocation of ‘Town’ to its present site in Evans Bay, until his term ended in 1981.

Over the next 10 years Fr Noel held various appointments including Chaplin, Fribourg, Switzerland (83), Lector, Greenmeadows Seminary(84), Master, Novigates,Highden(85) Marist Archives (86), Parish Priest St Mary’s,Taradale (87-89), Assistant Parish Priest Waiora(91-93), Superior of the Marist Community Hataitai and finally returning to Silverstream in 1997.

Upon the withdrawal of Marists in 2000, Fr Noel became the Chaplain for the Home of Compassion in Silverstream, moving to his current residence of the Marist Community at Marian Court 2002.

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Fr Noel Delaney sm, Marist Messenger, 30 April 2016, https://www.maristmessenger.co.nz/2016/04/30/fr-noel-delaney-sm/, accessed on 5 January 2026:

Fr Noel Delaney sm
Born in Nuhaka 12 October 1922
Professed 10 February 1942
Ordained 12 December 1948
Died at Silverstream 13 February 2016

Thanks to Fr Rodney Smyth sm for this edited version of his eulogy, with additional material provided by Marist Archives.

Father Noel was born in Nuhaka just out of Wairoa. One day he showed me around the area and his old family home and spoke of how the local Maori women would carry him as a baby on their back. The Maori people were really part of his family, his whanau, and he never lost his deep rapport with them.

In his first 17 years of ministry he taught in several colleges.

An old boy of Silvertream simply said, ‘Noel set standards and we walked with a degree of caution and wariness.’ The NZ historian Michael King was among his students and in his book “Being Pakeha” he described Fr Noel as one of the best teachers of English he had ever had.

Many of us will associate Fr Noel with his time as rector of Hato Paora College. Here he showed himself to be a skilful administrator, a gifted teacher and a true leader.

Fr Paddy Kinsella has provided this beautiful tribute: ‘Noel was a man providentially at Hato Paora at this time. Fr Gupwell left a great legacy and it was time to develop. Noel moved the college into technical, academic, and modern management systems. As many boys as possible came to accept careers that satisfied them and reflected their real capabilities and enabled them to live in two worlds. Noel gave kids huge encouragement, great generosity and an environment of appreciation. It was something very warm – often put in one word – aroha.’

To the Hato Paora College Old Boys he was not just an old teacher – he was the godfather that gave them a great life.

In the 60th Jubilee booklet for the College, there is this tribute: ‘Father Delaney always demanded a very high standard. The boys quickly realised his standards and responded to his challenge. His sense of justice was tempered with the charity and understanding of a father. He has a special quality of seeking out a boy with a problem and gladly spending hours with him trying to help him over it. He often brought a comfort that will not easily be forgotten.’

When he became Provincial I enjoyed three privileged years living and working closely with him as secretary to the Province. He was self disciplined, astute, and thoughtful in his decisions. He also enjoyed a game of tennis. He had compassion and patience with people who were sick or in personal difficulties and he combined this with a professional attitude in dealing with difficult situations. He provided careful steady leadership.

In 1992 he had to struggle with cancer and accept aggressive chemotherapy. He faced this with at least outward calm. Through this experience he developed a deep empathy for people who were sick especially with cancer, and this shone through in his final 12 years when he was resident at Marian Court at Silverstream and assisted in chaplaincy ministry.

When he received his final appointment to Marian Court he made the wry comment that he must be setting a record as he was moving into his 27th community in 62 years of Religious Life.

Haere atu e te Rangatira i roto i te korowai o te Atua. Moe mai e Pa, moe mai.

Appointments:
1949-1950 St Bede’s College
1950-1953 Hato Paora, Parorangi
1954-1963 Silverstream
1964-1965 St John’s College, Hastings
1965-1971 Hato Paora, Rector
1972 Director, Maori Missions
1972-1975 Vicar Provincial
1974 May-December St Augustine’s College, Wanganui, Rector; Episcopal Vicar for Māori and Polynesian people, Wellington Archdiocese
1975-1981 Provincial
1981-1982 Fribourg, Switzerland
1982-1983 Mount St Mary’s, Auckland
1983-1984 Highden, Novice Master
1984-1985 Marist Centre, Wellington
1985-1987 Taradale, Parish Priest
1988-1990 Marist Centre, Archives
1991-1994 Wairoa, Assistant
1995-Aug 1996 Hataitai, Wellington
1997-2000 Silverstream
2001-2002 Chaplaincy House, Upper Hutt
2003 Kilbirnie, Wellington
2004-2016 Marian Court, Silverstream