The Venerable Ruihana Paenga says she is honoured to be named Dean of Waiapu Cathedral — a role she never imagined filling.
“I thought I would hopefully one day be the minister at St Mary’s Tikitiki, like my training ministers, Reverend Te Oraiti (Nanny Dot) and Reverend Tipuna (Pāpā Nunu). I guess there is a need everywhere for spiritual uplifting.”
“I don’t think the significance of the role has quite landed for me, but I know it’s a milestone in our hāhi whakapapa. I’m honoured, excited and challenged by what it means and how I will live into it,” she says.
Originally from Tikitiki in the Waiapu Valley, Dean-designate Ruihana’s appointment ties together her whakapapa and the origins of the Diocese of Waiapu.
“I began my ministry in Te Riu o Waiapu, where the diocese began — that’s no small thing in my whakaaro and whakapapa. With my friend Reverend Merekaraka, I started by taking Sunday school and youth groups.
“As a layperson I assisted ministers in Ngāti Porou with tangi and community ministry. The minita a iwi model is what I’ve grown up with, and I see the value it has had for so many whānau.”
Since ordination, she has ministered in Gisborne, most recently as Archdeacon of Tākitimu rohe for Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Tairāwhiti and Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa. Much of her work has focused on growing a regular worshipping Mihinare community.
“Because our rural and marae-based ministry often runs on a roster, we are challenged to create consistent worshipping communities across Tairāwhiti.”
Some of that ministry style will continue in the new role, but Ven. Ruihana is excited by the challenge ahead in Napier.
“The greater focus is to grow a community that reflects and represents Napier today — Māori, Pākehā and all those surrounding the cathedral. That is what is most exciting to me.
“They are two different ways of structuring mission and ministry, but I’m not daunted. I’m excited for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Ven. Ruihana is Archdeacon of Leadership for Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa and has served the hāhi through several leadership and governance roles, including on the Women’s Council, Youth Commission, Liturgical Commission and Council for Ecumenism. One of her strongest insights from that work is that each kaupapa is connected by a shared purpose.
“They overlap and connect for the benefit of the people who need it most. Even though those things have specialised kaupapa, they integrate rather than sit in separate boxes.
“We are in such strong relationship that we can represent our tikanga partners well, fairly and with a view to flourishing for each partner.”
The shared appointment by Archbishop Don Tamihere and Bishop of Waiapu Andrew Hedge sees Ven. Ruihana become the first Dean of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa, and one of only a few Māori to hold such a position in the Anglican Church.
“With the right environment, with the right support, the work, study – when they’re right, there should be no limits on what’s possible for any one person in our hāhi and in our communities. I absolutely believe that to be a truth of the gospel.”
Dean-designate will be installed at Waiapu Cathedral on August 1.