This week I have been in the Bay of Plenty, spending time with the parishes of Ōtūmoetai, Gate Pā, Mt Maunganui, Whakatāne, and with Te Manawa o Te Wheke. On Sunday afternoon we gathered to farewell the Rev’d Tony and Christine Kippax as they conclude their ministry in Ōtūmoetai and prepare to move north to the Diocese of Auckland. Tony has accepted the role of Canon Precentor at Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he will work closely with the Very Rev’d Anne Mills, the Dean. We s

New life and hope Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” Though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, wh

The service to farewell The Reverend Tony Kippax will be held at St John’s Anglican Church on Sunday 15 March at 2.00pm. All are welcome.

I can see clearly now As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spa

Please make a note in your diaries: Synod this year will be held in Hawke's Bay Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October 2026. Further information to come.

A message to the Diocese of Waiapu Returning from summer leave, I’ve been grateful for the steady rhythm of re‑entering the life of our Diocese—catching up with many of you, stepping back into familiar routines, and noticing signs of energy and renewal as the year begins. The time away reminded me how deeply I value the relationships and shared ministry we hold across Waiapu, and I’m thankful for all who carried the life of our communities through the quieter months. A partic

On Saturday 23 May (the Eve of Pentecost) I will ordain Donna Cruickshank (Parish of Central Hawke's Bay) to the vocational diaconate. The service will take place in Waiapu Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, beginning at 2pm. Clergy should attend (alb and red stole). Please keep Donna in your prayers as she prepares for her ordination.

Water in the desert From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarrelled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to

The Waiapu Certificate is designed as a pathway to introduce those without formal theological or biblical education to the language of the church. Exploring theology, biblical studies, church history and ecclesiology, alongside practical short courses to support you in your ministry or help you discern your call, there is something for everyone. ​There are two Waiapu Certificate papers coming up over the next few months. The Prayer Book – Rites Rubrics and Reasons A 5-wee

Journey Into the Unknown Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seve

Grace that rebuilds The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’

Choosing Life Means Choosing Love “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear but

Called From Performance to Transformation: Salt and Light for Today [Jesus said] “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the sa

E te whanau o Waiapu, It is with sadness I advise The Reverend Rosemary Russell died 22 January 2026 at the age of 91. Rosemary was among the first five women ordained priests by Bishop Paul Reeves in 1977, during the historic weekend that marked the ordination of the first women priests in Aotearoa New Zealand. She served faithfully for many years as a non‑stipendiary priest at St Luke’s, Rotorua. Rosemary was a devoted and compassionate priest, deeply committed to social

Last Call: Faith Giving Life Survey Closes Soon Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to complete the survey. We’re grateful for the high level of engagement and the thoughtful, honest reflections shared. Your input really matters and is already shaping our understanding of the current health, culture, and priorities across our diocese. What is working well, what the challenges are, and how we can better support ministry, leadership, and our life together.

A Life Shaped by God Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the case of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel. “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you

Call and Transformation Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you pers

We are not alone: through Lent with the Saints , the 2026 Lenten study booklet for the Diocese of Waiapu, prepared by Ministry Educator, Rev’d Dr Deborah Broome. This is suitable for both small groups and for individuals to do on their own. There are six studies, corresponding to the six weeks of Lent. Each of these engages with some aspect of the values and strategic priorities we have here in the Anglican Diocese of Waiapu, with discussion of the week’s theme, Biblical p

Called by God: Come and See The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know

The Best News of All In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who w