The Knights of the Southern Cross of New Zealand
The Knights of the Southern Cross of New Zealand work with Bishops, priests and laity in the mission of the Church. Our programme includes prayer, charity, fraternity and work for social justice with its call to protect human life.
Organisation
We are an Incorporated Society with a Constitution. We are organised in a number of Branches each of which has an elected Executive Committee and is led by an elected Worthy Knight. The Worthy Knights make up most of the National Council, which meets annually. The National Council elects a National Executive Committee and Supreme Knight who chairs the Council and National Executive.
National Executive
The National Executive for 2021-2022 is:
Supreme Knight (SK): Neil Rutherford
National Chaplain: Bishop Denis Browne
Deputy Supreme Knight (DSK): Pat Heaphy
Immediate Past Supreme Knight (IPSK): Mike Williams
National Secretary: Mathew Bland
National Treasurer: Brian McCloy
Executive Members: Norman McPhee
International
We belong to the International Alliance of Catholic Knights (IACK), which is recognised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The Supreme Knight of each National Order of Catholic Knights is a member of the International Council of IACK.
Supreme Knight Meeting at Hamilton
On Wednesday 28 September 2016, National Executive member and Auckland Immediate Past Worthy Knight Richard Power and Supreme Knight Richard Harward, Auckland Branch Secretary Ron Ozarka and Auckland Branch member Ron Hunter, traveled to Hamilton and met with Bishop Emeritus of Hamilton Denis Browne, Deacon Joe Rogers of Rotorua, and Joe Kilkelly from Rotorua along with Alan McAllen and John Griffin from Hamilton. We met for approximately two hours at Clara Vaile, a beautiful house set in an extensive attractive garden. Our visit included a delicious two-course plated lunch.
Joe Kilkelly and Alan McAllen had been active members of the Rotorua and Hamilton Branches which had functioned in the past. Joe Kilkelly is now a member of Auckland Branch. Both Joe and Alan expressed interest in having a Group or Branch in the Hamilton Diocese and possibly having one each in Rotorua and Hamilton.
Ron Ozarka, Joe Kilkelly and Ron Hunter
Richard Harward, John Griffin and Deacon Joe Rogers
Allan McAllen, Bishop Emeritus Denis Browne and Richard Power