Media Releases
Pacific Islands Synod strengthened as Pacific Presbytery
6 October 2018
The Presbyterian Church General Assembly gave overwhelming support today for the Pacific Islands Synod to be renamed the Pacific Presbytery.
Presbyterian Church elects Tokelauan-Samoan minister as new leader
The Right Rev Taimoanaifakaofo (Fakaofo) Kaio of Auckland is the new Moderator or elected leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. He begins his two-year term from the evening of Wednesday 3 October 2018.
Retain Jesus and the Queen in the parliamentary prayer says Church
The Presbyterian Church is urging parliamentarians to keep Jesus’ name in the prayer that traditionally opens each sitting of parliament.
Presbyterian archive awarded UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand award
Presbyterian Research Centre Ng New Zealand Chinese Heritage Collection has been awarded coveted UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand status.
The Memory of the World Register lists documentary heritage which has regional and world significance and outstanding universal value.
Give presents and be present this Christmas says Presbyterian Church
Bucking current thinking that gift-giving at Christmas is consumerism at its worst, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, Rt Rev Richard Dawson, believes that presents are a welcome and important part of Christmas.
“Presents are a great way to remind others that they are important to us.
“This year as you consider your gift giving, think about how the simple act of giving someone a present, or simply being present, can make them feel wanted, loved and cherished,” says Richard.
Presbyterian Church re-elects leader as Moderator-designate
In an exceptional move the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has re-elected its recent leader as its future leader.
The Very Rev Andrew Norton of Auckland has been elected Moderator designate and will take up the role of Moderator in 2018. The result of the election was announced at the Church’s General Assembly 2016 in Dunedin on Friday 18 November.
Church leader appointed White Ribbon Ambassador, calls on churches to support campaign
19 November 2016
White Ribbon’s newest ambassador is calling on churches to support the campaign opposing violence towards women.
Presbyterians reject that earthquakes are ‘divine punishment’
Fri 18 Nov 2016
At its General Assembly in Dunedin today the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand rejected the view that natural disasters, including the recent earthquakes, are a form of divine punishment.
The Presbyterian Church expressed its “prayerful solidarity” with all those affected by the civil emergencies which have resulted from the current earthquake and storm disasters.
Presbyterian Church elects new leader full of hope
Tues 15 Nov 2016
The Right Rev Richard Dawson of Dunedin is the new Moderator or elected leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. He begins his two year term from Tuesday 15 November 2016.
Richard is minister at St Stephens/Leith Valley Presbyterian Church in Dunedin. Born in Dunedin, he studied at the University of Otago. After graduating in 1980 he worked for Youth For Christ and then as a forestry contractor until 1985. He then studied at the Presbyterian Theological Hall completing his training in 1988.
Presbyterian Church condemns attack on gay nightclub in America
The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has condemned the murder of 49 people earlier this week at Orlando gay nightclub, Pulse.
The Rt Rev Andrew Norton says: “This heinous act that has taken the lives of innocent people and injured many more, and it has been done in the name of a religious and political ideology, which is truly deplorable”.
Rev Norton believes that the shock waves of events like this sweep around the world and are acutely felt within communities in every corner of the globe, including New Zealand.