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Organ music from Holy Trinity Cathedral,
played by
Eugene Lavery,
Assistant Organist |
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Brief History of the Anglican Church in NZ.
The Later Years
 | | Bishop of Aotearoa | Used by Permission
Alexander Turnbull Library |
Bishopric of Aotearoa*: The Maori expression of the Church in N.Z. was first recognised in 1925 with the installation of Frederick Augustus Bennett as first Bishop of Aotearoa (Te Pihopa O Aotearoa). As suffragan to the Bishop of Waiapu, the Bishopric had no direct representation at General Synod. Polynesia remained an associated Missionary Diocese of the Province.
The first Maori Electoral Synod was held in 1980, but major changes required to create a truly representative church were still 12 years away.
By this time the Church of the Province of New Zealand was made up of the seven original dioceses, together with those of Aotearoa and Polynesia, reporting to General Synod.
Maori Primate: In 1980 the The Rt Revd Paul Reeves (later, Sir Paul), Bishop of Auckland, became the first Archbishop and Primate of Maori extraction, holding the post until 1985 when he accepted appointment as Governor-General of New Zealand.
Changing Primacy: John Campbell Paterson, Bishop of Auckland, became Primate, and Co-Presiding Bishop (with the Bishops of Aotearoa and Polynesia) on 15 May 1998, choosing not to use the title of Archbishop. He resigned the Primacy in 2004 to be replaced by the Rt Rev'd Wakahuihui Vercoe, Bishop of Aotearoa, and in 2006 by the Rt Revd Brown Turei.
CONSTITUTION
The Church of the Province of New Zealand, which included Melanesia and Polynesia, was established in 1857 on remarkably democratic principles for the day. Laity and clergy are given voice for guiding the general direction of the Church at all levels of church, parish, archdeaconry, diocese and General Synod.
 | | The symbol of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia | | Designed by Ross Hemara |
The New Zealand church continues to be innovative in its approach to Ministry. Since inception the organizational structure has been altered as needed to meet contemporary understanding and knowledge. A major revamp, begun in 1991, saw the creation of a Church of three Tikanga, allowing Pakeha (non-Polynesian ancestry), Maori and Polynesian congregations to develop their own customary approach to understanding and worship. The democratic principles established by Bishop Selwyn prosper today, bringing local flavour, strength and diversity into the rich heritage of the Anglican Church.
Indigenous People: Maori members of the Church in New Zealand have established a structure of Bishoprics (Nga Pihopatanga), Dioceses (Nga Amorangi), Archdeaconries and Parishes, and join with the other two branches of the church at General Synod where there is equality of voice.
Women: The first woman in the Worldwide Anglican Communion to become a priest was Wendy Cranston, ordained in Auckland in 1977. The role of women in the church, and their right to participate at every level and position is written into the Constitution of the Church in N.Z. While there remains a dwindling core of dissenting voices, the majority of members has recognized that exclusion is not morally, socially or spiritually sustainable as a Christian option. Certainly few can argue about the extremely valuable contributions made by the many women now involved in ministry in the Church. The Rt Revd Dr Penny Jamieson, consecrated Bishop of Dunedin on 29th June 1990, was the first woman in the world to become a Diocesan Bishop.
Liturgical Styles: Every style of worship is catered for in the Church in New Zealand. While Cathedrals tend to maintain the rich flavours of Choral services, and the middle ground of liturgical practice, many parishes have evolved styles from Anglo-Catholic, through traditional English Episcopal, to varying levels of evangelical worship. Nelson's Christ Church Cathedral has long had an evangelistic style.
A New Zealand Prayer Book (He Karakia Mihinare O Aotearoa) was published in 1989 and represents a huge achievement. The result of a 25 year development period during which liturgies were formed and tested, the Church in New Zealand has now developed its own rich and distinctive forms of praise and worship. Praised throughout the Anglican world, it has a progressive approach to the liturgy, gender-inclusive language and is substantially bilingual, though English dominates.
The Structure today: In 1992 General Synod completed processes to enable major revision of the Constitution, creating the present Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.
It consists of three cultural strands, each with all rights and privileges in General Synod. Tikanga Pakeha contains the original seven Dioceses reporting to the Inter-Diocesan Conference. Tikanga Maori, consists of five Hui Amorangi reporting to Te Pihopatanga O Aotearoa.
There are seven Dioceses in Tikanga Pasifika, consisting of Fiji; Tonga; Samoa; Tahiti; Tuvalu & Nauru; Cook, Niue and Pitcairn; and Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna. This vast area represents one of the largest, though least densely populated branches of the worldwide Anglican Communion, with 850,000 people spread over 2,000,000 sq. miles.
*Aotearoa ("Land of the Long White Cloud") is the Maori name for our Islands. |