Paul Martin (bishop)
Paul Gerard Martin is a New Zealand prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as the seventh Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington and eighth ordinary of the see of Wellington, since 4 May 2023. From March 2018 until January 2021, he was the tenth Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand and its Apostolic Administrator from January 2021 until May 2022.
Early life and education
Martin was born in Hastings, New Zealand. He is the son of Ronald and Carmel Martin, one of five children. He was educated at St Joseph's Primary School, Hastings, and undertook his secondary studies at St John's College.Priesthood
In 1985, Martin commenced priestly formation for the Society of Mary which included time working in an Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory, Australia in 1991. He was ordained deacon on 15 November 1992 and priest on 4 September 1993. He graduated Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, in 1993. He then studied to become a teacher. He filled teaching roles including at St Bede's College, Christchurch and as Rector of St Patrick's College, Kilbirnie, Wellington. He was Assistant Provincial and Provincial Bursar for the Society of Mary in New Zealand in 2014, before taking up the position of Bursar General of the order in Rome.Episcopacy
Bishop of Christchurch
On 5 December 2017, Martin was appointed by Pope Francis to replace Barry Jones, the 9th bishop of Christchurch, who died on 13 February 2016. On 3 March 2018 he was consecrated as the 10th bishop of Christchurch, in a large gathering at Boy's High School Auditorium, Christchurch, by Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, bishop emeritus of Christchurch Basil Meeking and Charles Drennan of Palmerston North.During his tenure as Bishop of Christchurch, the diocese saw restructuring of parishes. Many parishes were combined to create five 'super' parishes in Christchurch, as well as combining all churches in the Selwyn and Waimakariri Districts in their own parish.
One of the decisions he faced as Bishop of Christchurch was the future of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, after it was severely damaged in the 2010, February 2011 and June 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. His predecessor, Barry Jones had suggested that the nave of the cathedral could be saved. In August 2019, Martin made the decision to demolish the cathedral. By September 2020, the demolition work began.
In December 2019, Martin made public plans for a new cathedral site, Catholic primary school, hotels, offices and a carpark, all in community and commercial collaboration with Ōtākaro Limited, and city developers, Carter Group.