In 1997, a Dominican sister came to Wanganui to teach in schools run by the Society of Saint Pius X. In January 2002, two young Australians joined the sister in the hope that a religious congregation would be founded. On the 8th of December 2002, Bishop Bernard Fellay gave permission for the foundation of a congregation with the status equivalent to a diocesan congregation. Since then other young women have joined the Dominican sisters of Wanganui.
In 2016, the community had 18 professed sisters, 7 novices and 2 postulants, representing New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, India, Canada, the United States of America, Singapore, Samoa and the Philippines.