Waiwhetu State School was used as a Mass centre in 1928.  Our Lady of the Rosary church was built by parishioner Tom McKillop in 1929 and initially doubled as both a church and a school.  It was also used for parish socials, card evenings dances and concerts to raise funds.

A large house was purchased in 1941 and adapted for school purposes.  In 1951 the present school was opened and the house converted to a convent.

Waiwhetu was part of Lower Hutt parish until 1946 when it was designated a parish in its own right with Fr Bernard Keegan as Parish Priest for Waiwhetu and Wainuiomata.  The church was refurbished and re-oriented to its current layout in 1981.

Currently the church property is being reviewed, as part of a Parish Properties Review.