Te Pīhopa o Aotearoa


The Bishop of Aotearoa is a bishop in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The post was created in 1928. The Bishop of Aotearoa is the most senior bishop of Tikanga Maori and the Ordinary of the Bishopric of Aotearoa which juristrition covers the whole of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The Bishop of Aotearoa, is also the Primate and Archbishop of Aotearoa New Zealand & Polynesia. The office of Bishop of Aotearoa is currently held by Archbishop Donald Tamihere, who was installed in April 2018 at Manutuke Marae.

Selection

The Bishop of Aotearoa is elected by members of Te Runanganui the synod of the Bishopric of Aotearoa. The last election was in Nelson September 2017.

Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa

The Bishop of Aotearoa heads the Māori Anglican Church throughout New Zealand. The Bishopric of Aotearoa has within it 5 episcopal units each with their own unique identity and a Pīhopa : Te Taitokerau, Te Manawa o te Wheke, Te Tairāwhiti, Te Upoko o Te Ika and Te Waipounamu.

List of holders

  1. Frederick Bennett – first Māori Bishop in the Anglican Communion
  2. Wiremu Panapa
  3. Manuhuia Bennett – son of Frederick Bennett.
  4. Whakahuihui Vercoe – the first Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand from the Māori Church.
  5. Brown Turei – the second Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand from the Māori Church. Turei announced his intention retire as Māori archbishop on 31 March 2017.
  6. Donald Tamihere