Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa is to establish a Commission looking into issues surrounding the appointment of Assistant Bishops in Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa.
The Right Reverend Te Kitohi Pikaahu brought a motion to the recently-held Te Runanganui that Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa consider a Pīhopa Tapiri (Assistant Bishop) for Te Taitokerau.
In tabling the motion, The Rt Rev Pikaahu said Te Pīhopa o Te Taitokerau needed more support in its ministry.
The motion was supported by Whaea Anne Candy, who spoke about the predicted population growth in Tāmaki Makaurau and the impact on Te Taitokerau and the Far North.
The Most Reverend Don Tamihere had set aside extensive time to discuss the motion at the hui, which had only been presented the week before.
Archbishop Tamihere noted the support and the need for further discussion, stating that the implications are “potentially exciting and positive for all of us”.
He moved that the report be accepted and tabled and deferred to Te Rūnanga Whāiti (the executive of Te Rūnanganui) on December 9 for more extensive discussion.
Te Rūnanga Whāiti voted not to move the motion as it stood, and then moved to establish a reference group to develop the terms of reference, budget, timelines for a commission enquiring into issues arising from the proposal. This Commission proposal was supported unanimously.
This reference group is to be comprised of a member of each Hui Amorangi and the legal advisor with a balance of lay and clergy, gender and that they report back to the next hui of Te Rūnanga Whāiti in March.