Kia ora te whanau,
Ko tēnei wiki Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Kia hōhonu ake ai te ahurea Māori i Aotearoa, me whakapakari tatou i te whakamahinga o te reo Māori. This week is Māori language week. To deepen Māori culture within Aotearoa, we must strengthen the use of the Māori language.
Nau mai ki a Rosalind Black, our new Bishop’s EA, who began working with us last Thursday. The contact address for Rosalind continues as previously: bishopsea@anglicanlife.org.nz. A big thank you to Sarah Dunning who has been the Interim Bishop’s EA since April. Sarah continues her work as Theology House Librarian.
I mate a Huia Tahere i te Tūrei kua hipa, whai muri i tētahi mate ohorere. Huia Tahere, administrator for Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu, died last Tuesday following a sudden illness. Huia’s tangihanga began last Friday and concluded with her funeral service yesterday at Te Hepara Pai, Ferry Road, Woolston. Please pray for Huia’s family as they mourn the loss of their mother and grandmother, and for Bishop Susan and her church family as they mourn the loss of a much-loved friend and staff worker for their hui amorangi.
There was an excellent turn out for the Science for the Churches Seminar hosted by Theology House last Saturday. The day was blessed with keen Christian minds sharing knowledge and understanding of science—most of the speakers being local to Christchurch. Christchurch is a leading city in Aotearoa New Zealand in respect of scientific development, including growth in medical science. This Thursday and Friday there are events to mark the opening of Wai Ora, the University of Otago’s medical Faculty’s Christchurch centre of research and teaching, which is a few hundred metres down Tuam Street from the Anglican Centre: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/education/1380566/university-of-otago-s-biggest-building-project-opens-in-christchurch
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, this past weekend, the annual South Canterbury Archdeaconry service was held at St Peter’s, Temuka. A big thank you to Acting Archdeacon Indrea Alexander and to the Reverend Sue Paton (Vicar of Temuka-Te Ngawai) for their organisation of the service. At the same time, in the Transitional Cathedral, the Association of Anglican Women held their annual Festival Service. A big thank you to Ellen Loader (AAW President), the Reverend Jan Brodie (AAW Chaplain), and the Reverend Dr Anne Shave (preacher for the service), for their contributions to making this service happen.
A number of important events are coming up in the next weeks and months:
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Michaelmas service at 7pm Tuesday 29 September 2026, at St Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, to which all people across the Diocese are welcome. In 2026 we are celebrating on this occasion 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St Michael and All Angels. Our guest preacher is Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. Refreshments in the parish hall follow after the service.
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At 7pm on Thursday 1 October, in St Peter’s Church, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton, the Reverend Prince Devanandan will be inducted as the next Vicar of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Mary Caygill.
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At 2pm Saturday afternoon 3 October, the Reverend Brett Roberts will be inducted as the next Vicar of St Mary’s, Timaru. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Hugh Bowron. All welcome to each of these services.
Calling young adults across the Diocese of Christchurch: you are invited to Ebb and Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s), 12pm Friday 2 October to 4pm Sunday 4 October 2026 at Little River. Slow down, become quiet and still to create space to encounter God afresh through the life of Jonah. It is a time to ebb, to come in, to sink deep into ourselves and into God so that we can open ourselves to flowing out into the places, relationships, work that God is calling us to. Details and registration at: Ebb & Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s) – Fill out form
On Thursday 15 October, 6.30pm to 8.45pm, Sister Eveleen Retreat House is running a Quiz Night and Silent Auction fundraiser at Brighton Beach House Café—organise a team now! Details at https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/event/quiz-night-and-silent-auction/.
At 7pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026, I will ordain the Reverend Dr André Muller to the priesthood (venue in East Christchurch to be confirmed) and at 5pm, Sunday 1 November, I will ordain the Reverend Cirũ Muriuki to the priesthood in St. Martin’s, Lincoln Road, Spreydon. All welcome.
Looking a bit further ahead, the ordination of deacons will take place this year at 10.30am, Saturday 28 November, in the Transitional Cathedral.
Parihaka Day, 5 November, remains both a challenging day for New Zealanders as we reckon with our history of settler violence against Māori, and a day of inspiration as we contemplate achieving peace in a world unfortunately beset with conflicts. “In the lead-up to Parihaka Day 2026, the Christchurch Parihaka Network (NMKŌ) will run four free church-based talks to explore the historical events of 5 Nov 1881. The Crown invasion of the peaceful Taranaki village of Parihaka is an especially poignant event amongst the large-scale losses incurred by Māori during the New Zealand Wars. The invasion culminated in the arrest of its Christian leaders’, Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi, who led their 2000-strong community in philosophy of peace and reconciliation through non-violence. These events will be informal, discussion-based, beginner-friendly and run by experienced facilitators. No te reo Māori or prior knowledge necessary; no RSVPs. All warmly welcome.”
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Sun 4 Oct, St Marks Opawa, 100 Opawa Road, Opawa: 11.30am-12.45pm
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Tues 20 Oct, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 373 Manchester Street, Central City: 7.30-9pm
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Tues 27 Oct, Northcity Church, 95a Sawyers Arms Road, Northcote: 7.30-9pm
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Wed 28 Oct, All Saints Burwood, 305 New Brighton Rd, New Brighton: 7.30-9pm
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Thurs 5 Nov, Parihaka Commemorative Peace Service, World Peace Bell, Botanic Gardens: 1pm.
All five of these free, public events are posted on NMKŌ social media www.facebook.com/ParihakaOtautahi/ and www.instagram.com/parihakaotautahi/along with information outlining the events leading up to 5 Nov 1881.
Emerging in mainstream media news this week is the story of a remarkable bequest by the late Ron and Joan Gillatt. Their gift of $60m to 15 Christchurch charities and clubs “is believed to be the third-largest charitable donation in New Zealand history, behind only US billionaire Julian Robertson’s bequest of $200m worth of paintings to the Auckland Art Gallery in 2022 and Auckland farmer Harold Plumley’s gift of $122m to the Auckland Catholic Church after his death in 2016.” There is a lengthy report on the Gillatt’s telling the story of their bequest in the NZ Herald (behind a paywall) at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/markets/shares/bequest-of-ron-gillatt-gifts-unprecedented-60m-to-christchurch-charities/premium/YNOEAQGXW5CABLHI3DGVQBQ4QE/This report also notes that “Two Anglican churches in Halswell and Hornby, and the Halswell Community Hall, are also flagged as 5% beneficiaries.” That is, respectively, the Parishes of Halswell-Prebbleton and of Hornby, West Melton and Templeton are the recipients of an annual distribution, in perpetuity, which is focused on repairs and maintenance of their buildings only, and not on capital development, nor on general costs of mission and ministry. This is an incredible gift for these two parishes for which we give thanks to God.
This coming Sunday, 20 September 2026 is Ordinary 25 and the Gospel is Matthew 20:1-16. Should we call this parable, “the parable of the gracious employer” or “the parable of the ungrateful employees”?
Back to Te Wiki o Te Reo. Most of us find learning another language challenging. In my own faltering journey to learn Te Reo, with special reference to the life of the church, I have found it useful to learn two frequent prayers by heart: the Lord’s Prayer (e.g. NZPB, p.418) and the Grace (e.g. NZPB, p.52). Might that be something we all aspire to do between now and Te Wiki o Te Reo 2027?
Kia tau ki a tātou katoa
te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, o Īhu Karaiti,
me te aroha o te Atua,
me to whiwhinga tahitanga ki te Wairua Tapu.
Āke ake ake. Āmine.
May there be, with you all
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Forever and ever. Amen.
Arohanui,
+Peter.