Tū noa ana ngā maunga whakahī i te riu o te whenua i a koutou ra ka ngaro i te ao. Aue!

Ko koe tērā e te whaea Te Aurere Anne Peri, ka ngaro atu i te tirohanga kanohi!

Nā reira, e moe, e moe, moe mārie i ngā ringa atawhai o tō tātou mātua nui i te rangi.

Moe mārie ‘Pononga ngākau pono o te Atua!’

It is with deep sadness that I pass to the connexion news of the sad and sudden loss of Minitā-ā-Iwi Te Aurere Anne Peri.

Anne has been a loyal supporter of Te Taha Māori all her life and has served as “Elder of the Conference” as well as her work in her ministry role.

She was known throughout the Hokianga region not only for her ministry, but also for her roles undertaken in the Māori Community.

Anne was for many years, kaitiaki o te marae o Tuhirangi, Waima only relinguishing that role this last week.

She proudly and diligently upheld ngā tikanga o te kāinga and could always be called upon as Minitā-ā-Iwi, and all roles as kuia o ngā marae maha o Te Hokianganui a Kupe ki te Tonga.

Formerly a Justice of the Peace, and a proud Māori Warden, she and her husband Joe spent many years serving the community overseeing events around the north including Waitangi celebrations.

Anne leaves behind two sons, one daughter, 4 granddaughters, two grandsons and 3 mokopuna tuarua (great grandchildren). They are her enduring legacy.

Anne will be greatly missed by her whānau, her community, her hapū, Ngaitūteauru, Te Māhurehure and Ngāti Hine as well as te whānau o Te Taha Māori.

We leave her now to rest, faithful servant of the Lord.

Anne is being returned to her home marae, Pukerata in Otaua today (Sunday March 10) where she will lay in state until interment in the whānau urupā o Kawekaroa.

Ngā manaakitanga

Rev Tara Tautari | General Secretary

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It is with deep sorrow that I inform the Connexion of the passing of Reverend David Ansell. David devoted himself to ordained ministry with the Methodist Church in 1963, profoundly impacting numerous lives through his pastoral guidance.

In 1960, David commenced his journey as a Home Missionary supply at Kamo. He later relocated to Whakatane/Kawerau in 1965 to serve a small congregation there. From 1969 to 1977, he ministered in Te Awamutu, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the Community Advisory Bureau. Transitioning to Chartwell Co-operating Parish and Wesley, Fairfield, David shifted his ministry focus from rural to urban settings, encountering diverse and enriching experiences through cooperative efforts. His final tenure in Tauranga, spanning 11 years at Wesley, marked a culmination of his successful and fulfilling ministry. Throughout his service, David remained committed to the connexion, contributing to various committees and assuming roles such as District Superintendent for the last 8 years of his ministry.

We kindly request that you mark your calendars for his memorial service, to be held at Wesley Methodist Church, 100 Thirteenth Avenue, Tauranga, at 1 pm on Wednesday, 3rd April 2024. For any communications, please address them to the Ansell family C/- PO Box 650 Tauranga 3144.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It is with great sadness that we learn that Cliff Couch passed away on Monday evening (8 April). This came after a heart attack earlier that day, after which he went downhill very rapidly. Thankfully, he died very peacefully, and his suffering was minimal and very short-lived.

Cliff was well-liked and known nationally for his 10 years of service from 1961 to the Methodist Church as Associate Director (Youth) in the Christian Education Division. He also served as Secretary of the Wellington District Synod for many years.

Cliff offered to work voluntarily for the Methodist Education Department from August 1984 following his retirement as a Resource and Research Assistant.

His funeral will be at 2pm on Tuesday, 16 April, at Kapiti Uniting Church, Raumati.

Te Hāhi extends sympathy to his son Warrick (living in Melbourne) and family, and gives thanks for the service Cliff has given to the church.

Messages for “The Couch Family” may be sent to PO Box 119, Paraparaumu, 5254

Ngā manaakitanga

Rev Tara Tautari General Secretary

In this issue

Welcome to the monthly newsletter of the Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Hāhi Weteriana Aotearoa