The Tikanga Pakeha Conference (TPC) and General Synod / Te Hīnota Whānui (GSTHW) took place in Havelock North and Hastings from 18-23 May 2024. These important events help connect and shape us as an international Anglican Communion.

Rev'd Canon Michael Wallace, Ven Dr. Anne van Gend, Dr Penny Field, Mr Theodore Rose and Mr. Keith Gover represented our Diocese at General Synod | Te Hīnota Whānui 2024.  Working there were Julanne Clarke-Morris (Taonga), Finlay Clarke-Wallace (Youth Steward) and Andrew Metcalfe (Registrar, in-committee minutes).

As with any kind of Synod, the proceedings were a mixture of "business as usual", through to moments of challenge, joy and inspiration. Below are some notes and reflections from an (observer) perspective... and links to the excellent reporting from Julanne Clark-Morris from Anglican Taonga. 

Tikanga Pākehā Conference - TPC

Prior to GSTHW Diocese of Dunedin delegates gathered on 18-19 May in Havelock North for a conference of the 7 Tikanga Pākehā dioceses in New Zealand.  Considerable time was spent in conversation and discernment over which names to take forward to be the new Senior Bishop (and one of three Primates) for TPC, after being unable to land this at previous gatherings. This time, each Diocese put forward names of who they would support to be in this position, which was a move from voting in lay and clergy houses. Another difference was to take a name to other Tikanga Partners for their support - this happens with Archbishops in other Tikanga, but not (historically) for TPC. 

There was a panel discussion with Diocesan Registrars-Managers about what were positive things taking place, for example, new leaders emerging in some areas (Nelson and Wellington), a renewed sense of Mission (Christchurch), strengthening relationships with Hui Amorangi (Waiapu) and communities that are "doing small well" (Dunedin).

TPC also agreed to meeting at least once a year virtually or in person to nurture relationships, and also agreed to follow up resolutions from Waikato-Taranaki Diocese on how a senior bishop role could be done differently (it placed a huge burden on this diocese and on Archbishop Emeritus Philip Richardson), as well as to start conversations again around human sexuality and marriage. 

General Synod / Te Hīnota Whānui (GSTHW)

Julanne Clark-Morris has more detailed reports on GSTHW (links towards the end of this article), what follows are a few highlights. For reports from some of the wānanga-plenary sessions, see a separate article. 

Highlights:

Two extra motions were presented and carried by Synod in response to current issues in Aotearoa-NZ and the Church:

1. Synod agreed to establish a Committee or Working group to discuss the critical issue the of decreasing members of the Anglican Communities throughout the three Tikanga, and recommend an urgent plan of action at next Synod.
2. Synod expressed great concerns about the government's intention to revoke Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act whereby Maori whanau will no longer be given priority to care for Tamariki taken from their immediate whanau, and protest about the undermining of the principles of whanaungtanga and the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Other Business included: 

Te Pouhere - The Constitution of the church has been in place for more than 30 years, and GSTHW agreed to establish a Commission to review this, in light of significant developments in the Treaty landscape and within the Three Tikanga over this time.

The Board of St Stephens and Queen Victoria Trust Board was reappointed, with the much anticipated reopening of St Stephen's School in Pukekohe due to take place in 2025. This has involved a significant amount of work from building refurbishments through to re-setting how the school will now operate.

There has been work on instigating a new Te Korowai Trust that will become the legal entity for GSTHW, meaning that Archbishops are not personally liable for matters relating to the Church. GSTHW approved a new Trust Deed in principle, with fine tuning to take place by the Standing Committee (our representative on this is now Dr Penny Field). 

The Christian Kiwisaver Scheme is to be commended as a first option for any new employees in Tikanga Pakeha and Maori dioceses (noting that this doesn't extend to Tikanga Pasifika due to this not being able to transcend NZ borders for other pacific countries). 

Motions were passed on a response to war and conflict (allowing Archbishops to respond appropriately to excessive valence and death) and the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women (planning appropriate celebrations of this for 2027),

Other Bills tidied up some matters in the Prayer Book, with some work on incorporating collects for the three year cycle (the 1989 version only had two years) being deferred to review the Collects that had been proposed over the past few years. Other proposed changes are likely to be brought to our Synod this year for ratification. Changes were also passed to the St Johns Trust Board and Anglican Insurance Canons, allowing more flexibility for St Johns in how they allocate funding-grants and affirming the Anglican Insurance Board's work on being incorporated off-shore to be able to procure more favourable (international) insurance deals. 

Wānanga-Plenary Sessions - see separate article.

Links to Taonga Articles

‘Kinship as gang rehab’ stuns Synod

Te Hīnota Whānui was stunned by the powerful testimonies of Steve Avalos and Father Gregory Boyle from Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles at a Synod wānanga last week, as they spoke about their work in the world’s largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation and reentry programme.
• Fr Greg Boyle speaks to RNZ

+Sione highlights Moana of Life

Bishop of Polynesia Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa has charged the Anglican Church with a call to move from lamentation to hope, and to care for Creation, drawing all eyes to the Pacific Ocean and its huge impact on planetary health.

Synod welcomes Archbishop Justin

General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui has welcomed the election of the Right Reverend Justin Duckworth as the new senior bishop of the New Zealand Dioceses, and Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia.

Anglicans focus on gender equity

Gender equity came to the fore at General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui on Tuesday 21 May as the Synod joined in a wānanga on women’s leadership up to 2040, and later moved into gender caucuses for the first time.

Wānanga focuses on education

Te Hīnota Whānui gathered on its first morning for a wānanga to dig deep into the future of the Church and its theological education, using insights from the recently released Te Pae Tawhiti 2040 report.

Ōmahu hosts Synod opening

The people of Ōmahu Marae offered a generous welcome to General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui as it set off with a pōhiri and Opening Eucharist in Heretaunga - Hastings yesterday, Sunday 19 May.

Synod heads to Tairāwhiti

This coming week Anglican Church leaders and decision makers from across Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia will gather in Hastings for the Church’s biennial week-long wānanga and parliamentary forum known as General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui.