It is with sadness that we let you know that Mike Riddell died in his sleep on 26 March.

Dear Mike! Since 1999 we have been blessed with his generous, creative, thoughtful writings. His latest contribution is in the upcoming April issue. It arrived with the message: "Please find attached my latest effort for the spectacular Tui Motu."

Over the years he has shared many aspects of his life with us — his family, his faith, theological perspectives, ministry and teaching in Auckland, his research on James K Baxter, his journey with cancer, his more recent move to the Ida Valley, his starting of the Writers' Retreat in Oturehua and much more.

We'll remember his creativity in thought, word and deed and his capacity to encourage and challenge. And his sharing was always from his heart — as expansive as the landscape surrounding his home in Otago.

In his last article for us (April 2022) Mike wrote about his efforts at landscaping: "Of course, one of the ironies of my attempt to make beauty where there was none, is that I’ve already outlived my prognosis and may never get to enjoy the garden I’m creating. That has nothing to do with it. Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to show forth in our lives the beauty with which God has touched us."

God has touched us through Mike's words. 

We surround Mike's wife Rosemary, his children Matt and Katherine and their families, and his mother-in-law Lorna, with our love and prayer.

Dear Mike, we feel an emptiness without you with us. We will miss you greatly. But we know that you are now embraced in the Mystery, that fullness of love and beauty beyond death. 

Mike's collected writings for Tui Motu magazine are on our website.