Where Maori and Pakeha come together
Named after the river that flows under the sacred mountain Hikurangi, the Anglican Diocese of Waiapu has woven Maori and Pakeha strands together since it began with Maori and then missionary evangelists.
From the time of its first bishop in 1859, Waiapu has spanned a huge geographical area across the central and eastern North Island, divided into three regions: Hawke's Bay, Eastland and Bay of Plenty.
Some 80 parishes and social service agencies from Tauranga to Woodville, Turangi to Tolaga Bay serve provincial cities and small rural settlements, providing ministry through a variety of forms: vicar-led parishes and local team ministries, hospital chaplaincies, schools, youth projects and social service agencies ranging from early childhood centres to residential homes for the elderly.
In all that it offers, Waiapu stands for a church that is welcoming and inclusive of all, open, broad-based and ecumenical in its understanding of the Christian faith, committed to a ministry of all the baptized and committed to Tikanga Rua, a partnership with Maori built on justice and mutual respect.
Waiapu has a long history of being a friendly and informal diocese that enjoys its diversity and doesn't take itself too seriously.
patron of Growing
With Grief programme
Judy Bailey, well-known television presenter and champion for the rights and well being of children, is giving her heartfelt support to the work of the Growing Through Grief and the Seasons programme. The new national patron says: “I have long been interested in the support of those who are grieving, especially children, and am thrilled to be associated with a programme that is addressing the issue so professionally.”
Judy considers herself lucky – her own childhood was unmarred by any major loss, but in adulthood the grief of losing loved ones has become more familiar.
“Grief is part of our lives,” she says. We grieve over many things – the death of loved ones, the end of a marriage, the loss of health or a job – but people often don’t understand how grief affects us, says Judy.
Looking back, she feels that her understanding of grief really began with the loss of a young friend, who died aged 10 after battling cancers for much of her short life. This loss, along with Judy’s involvement as patron of North Shore Hospice and the wonderful work with families that occurs there, has given her real insight into the need that grieving people may have for support.