The Archbishops have shared the following Ministry of Health advice, which I support.

"Following a meeting with the Anglican National Pandemic Advisory Group and consultation with advisors we offer the following advice for Aotearoa New Zealand. 

No Tangihanga and Funerals during Lockdown

The Ministry of Health has today determined that there be:

No Public Funeral Services

No Tangihanga

No Private Family Funeral Services

permitted under alert level 4."

What this means now is that the Church and its clergy are not allowed to conduct tangihanga or public funeral services.

We know that this will be distressing to our clergy and to whānau who lose loved ones during this time.

We will need to find new ways to support grieving whānau and communities without breaching Govt protocols. This will include making liturgical resources available online, as well as praying for people over the phone and via social media."
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Bishop Steven says:

"I know that this will raise pastoral concerns around each individual circumstance but we must follow Government directives at this extraordinary time. Clergy, please contact me through my EA, Nicola Wong, (email  or phone 03 488 0826) if you need to talk over a particular pastoral situation. Funeral Directors will be able to give you guidance in each circumstance also.

With my continued prayers for us all at this time

+Steven"