# data[].attributes.body
On the July 1883, Fr. Christophe Soulas S.M., Rev Mother Hyacinth, Sisters Aloysius and Teresa of the Sisters of St Joseph, and Suzanne Aubert (who was to act as their interpreter and teacher in Māori customs and language), left for Hiruhārama-Jerusalem. It was here in 1892 the Sisters of Compassion, New Zealand’s only home-grown religious order was founded. Mother Hyacinth was not to remain there but merely to see her sisters settled in. The travellers were accompanied by Bishop Redwood and Fathers Kirk and Carew as far as the road would take them, to a place called ‘Kennedy’s’ located on the left bank of the river, at Upokongaro about six miles from Whanganui. There they boarded wakas for their three-day trip up to Jerusalem. In May 1884, despite having impressed the locals with their dedication the Sisters of St Joseph decided to leave Jerusalem. The sisters had achieved a lot of good during their short time there. They were missed by Suzanne and the Māori, who used to visit the sisters whenever they were in Whanganui, bringing gifts of choice vegetables they had grown. The sisters returned their generosity by giving the mothers baby clothing. Holy pictures and rosary beads were given to the adults. The Sisters of Compassion and the Sisters of St Joseph have over the years developed a special relationship.

# data[].attributes.body
Suzanne Aubert was one of 26 missionaries who arrived in Auckland on 30 December 1860 with Bishop Pompallier.  She lived in Auckland for 11 years. Being French she became acquainted with other French people including Marie Louise Outhwaite who became a very close friend. Her husband Thomas, was the first Registrar General in New Zealand, and Suzanne met many interesting people through the family’s connections. The Outhwaites lived at 57 Park Road, Epsomand their daughter Isa, later gifted part of the original grounds situated at the corner of Park Road and Carlton Gore Road to the City of Auckland. Close to the Outhwaites home was Partington’s windmill that could be seen from many parts of Auckland and where it was noted that Suzanne took shelter there with a few of the remaining girls from the Nazareth Institute.

Auckland

When Suzanne Aubert returned to Auckland in 1910 she opened a Home for Foundlings. The St Vincent de Paul Society rented a house in Hobson Street for the Sisters. After a few months it was seen to be quite inadequate, so in September Suzanne bought a property formerly owned by entrepreneur Josiah Firth, at Mountain Road in the suburb of Mt Eden. Today this castle-like house, afterwards subdivided into flats, stands in a little cul-de-sac named Castle Drive. There are four turrets, one at each corner of the concrete and brick building, and the front of the house is finished in wood.

# data[].attributes.body
Hokianga was an area Suzanne Aubert had probably visited in the 1860s. Suzanne Aubert’s last journey among the Māori of the northern district was undertaken in October 1867, when she went to Whangaroa on the east coast, as here some of her students came from. Suzanne Aubert’s early mentor in all things Māori was Peata, an influential relative of the powerful Ngāpuhi chief, Rewa. She had been baptised by Bishop Pompallier in 1840, shortly before the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Peata taught Suzanne about Māori culture and customs, introduced her to knowledge of Māori medicine, and enabled her to be fluent in the language.