Update from Bishop Andrew
- Aug 6
- 7 min read
Welcome to The Very Rev’d Ruihana Paenga - Amokura Dean of Waiapu
On Saturday we held a wonderful celebration at Waiapu Cathedral to welcome and install our Amokura, Dean, the Very Rev’d Ruihana Paenga. The service was a tremendous occasion bringing together laity, clergy and bishops from across the motu and throughout Waiapu and Te Pīhopatanga to celebrate this historic event. Sitting alongside Archbishop Don during the service, we ministered together from our respective cathedrae (Bishop’s chairs) which mark out a unique feature of the whakapapa of Waiapu Cathedral - a place for both Waiapu and Te Pīhopatanga. Dean Ruihana becomes our first Māori priest to take up the role of Dean, Amokura of Waiapu Cathedral serving both the Diocese and Te Pīhopatanga. During the process leading up to Dean Ruihana’s appointment it became clear that the future of ministry within our Haahi, and in particular at Waiapu Cathedral, would require a new pathway to be formed, one in which the dreams and aspirations of those who bore witness to the origins of our Diocese could be fulfilled. In no small part we have taken a step together towards a stronger relationship and the realisation of living into the fullness of what it means to be Anglican and to be Māori and Pākehā together. The whakapapa of our Diocese takes us back to the origins of the establishment of the gospel in our part of the world, a gospel which found root in the heart and mind of Māori missionaries supported by our first Bishop, The Rt Rev’d William Williams, and those who ministered with him, within predominantly Māori communities throughout Waiapu. The focus for mission and ministry and the development of Te Haahi Mihinare has remained strong throughout Waiapu’s history, moreso than in other parts of our country. In 1928 with the welcome of Bishop Frederick Bennett as a suffragan bishop in Waiapu, and the support and encouragement of his ministry as Bishop of Aotearoa, Waiapu continued to stay true to the direction set in the earliest days of mission in the 1830’s. Nearly a century later, and having traversed much more history including the careful and deliberate construction of Te Pouhere to allow for identity, self-determination and tikanga within the Church, we have come to a place where we are able to step forward confidently together and lead the reshaping of our life as a church. This historic service was marked with aroha, rongo and hari, with a beautiful blending of the distinctiveness of hymns, waiata, karakia, welcome, organ, kauhau and whanaungatanga across the whole gathering. There is more for us to consider as we learn to live more deeply into the relationship that has formed and forged our Diocese and Te Pīhopatanga over the past 200 years or so, not only through ministry at the Cathedral, but across the whole of Waiapu. There will be more to write and reflect on in time to come. For now let us join together in celebrating our newest Dean in the Anglican Communion, our first Māori woman to be Dean of Waiapu and Te Pīhopatanga, and to pray God’s blessing upon Ruihana as she takes up this role as Dean, Amokura.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the service to install our new Dean.
Now that we have had a moment to reflect on Saturday’s installation service, and the hakari that followed at Kohupatiki Marae, we wanted to write and express our sincere thanks to everyone for the part you played in bringing the liturgy, music, worship, the students, the Cathedral, and hospitality together so beautifully.
The installation of Ruihana as Amokura was an extraordinary occasion, an historic moment, symbolic of our vision of Oranga Ake o te Iwi. It was a day of celebration, hope, and encouragement for our Diocese, Te Pīhopatanga and our whole Province, and that was made possible in no small measure by your commitment, creativity, care and countless hours of preparation.
From the shaping of the pōwhiri and liturgy, to the leadership of music with the Cathedral Choir and nga kura, to the many practical details that ensured the service flowed with dignity and grace, your collective work helped create an occasion that honoured both God and the significance of the moment. Many people have commented on the warmth, beauty and spirit of the day, and that reflects the gifts and dedication that each of you brought to the task.
Events such as this are always the result of a team effort, and we are deeply grateful for the generosity with which you shared your time, expertise, and energy. Thank you for serving so faithfully and for helping make this a memorable and uplifting occasion for all who attended.
And to you all who made the effort to travel from far away to join with us in Ahuriri for this special celebration, we want to acknowledge and thank you for being present and bringing your prayerful encouragement and support to this day and this moment in the life of our Church together.
Please accept our heartfelt appreciation and thanks.
++Don & +Andrew
Mission to Seafarer’s Annual Service
One of the roles I am pleased to serve in the life of our Church is to be the Liaison Bishop to the Mission to Seafarers to provide some episcopal support and encouragement to the mission. On Sunday morning I was pleased to be able to share in leading the service to honour seafarers and to encourage the ministry of the Mission to Seafarers at Old St Paul’s Church in Wellington. The Rev’d Lance Lukin, Regional Director of MTS, led the service which honoured the memory of those who have served in the Merchant Navy during past conflicts, and those who are current seafarers. Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro, the Governor-General of New Zealand joined us at the service and read the account of a young seafarer who served in the merchant navy during WWII. As an island nation we are heavily reliant on the oceans that connect us with other parts of the world, and from which we can draw food and sustenance. The sea is a food source and pathway for trade and tourism and is often overlooked as a workplace as well. The MTS has a special role in our life as a Church to offer ministry and support to seafarers when they dock at our ports to help them connect with their families back home, to rest and to restock their personal provisions. The MTS also provides the comfort of compassionate listening and the strength of advocacy for concerns that can often weigh heavy in the experience of seafarers who often spend many months at sea away from whanau. Let us remember all those who serve at sea, mindful of the stresses and dangers that all seafarers face, as well as the challenges of living far from family and friends for long periods of time.
Bishop on mission in PNG with Anglican Missions
As I take some time to reflect further on my most recent visit to the Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea, I’m grateful for the work of Anglican Missions and what they have enabled us to be able to do to support ministry in ACPNG. Here is a helpful summary of the work that we were able to embark on, supported by the Diocese of Waiapu, and the Henry and William Williams Memorial Trust whose support and encouragement for ACPNG has been steadfast over the past 15 years or so.
General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui
This time next week I will be with those from Waiapu who are travelling to Tonga as our delegation to General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui (GSTHW). Our synod delegates with me are from across the diocese; The Rev’d David van Oeveren (Greater Hastings), The Rev’d Sue Genner (Mt Maunganui), Marg Barsanti (Tauranga), Tim Cross (Otūmoetai), and travelling with us is our Diocesan Registrar, Colleen Kaye who will be supporting the General Secretary along with the Diocesan Registrars from around the Province.
Our time together begins in Auckland next Friday for a day together as the Tikanga Pākehā delegates meeting as the Tikanga Pākehā Conference. During that day we will conference together about the matters on the agenda for GSTHW, and approve the TPC budget, grants to TPC mission and ministry groups, and representative appointments from TPC to common life bodies.
On Saturday we fly together to Tonga to join with Tikanga Māori and Tikanga Polynesia delegates in Nuku’alofa for a week of wananga and synod business. The GSTHW meets every two years and approximately every 12 years meets in Polynesia, with the other occasions being shared within Aotearoa New Zealand hosted by dioceses or amorangi. We are privileged to be able to be hosted in Tonga this year and to receive the invitation to spend some time with the Tongan Royal Family. It will be an honour to be hosted to a function to welcome us to Tonga, and to embrace the traditions and practices of Tongan culture.
The wananga this year for GSTHW includes deep discussion about equity in the life of our Church and how we make that a reality between Tikanga. This is something we have been working on consciously through Waiapu for some time now and I expect that our voice will be helpful in encouraging and developing the kinds of trust in relationship that is required to make equity a reality for all. There will also be deep conversation about the oceans, our environment, and the challenges that are faced by all island nations to respond to the changes in climate. It will be interesting to engage in that conversation framed through the experience of the Diocese of Polynesia, and particularly in Tonga.
Please offer your prayers for all of us and those we join with from throughout the Province for our travel, conversation, fellowship and work together. All the delegates to GSTHW will be away for a week or so with some taking time to enjoy an extra day or two in Tonga.
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