by Heeni Collins

Rev Tuliea has been clerk of the pilot synod for the last four years, and was nominated as moderator by the Niue Fono Motu at the Synod's fourth conference in Otara in July. He replaces Rev Bill Cuthers, and before him, the Rev Leite Setefano.

At the time of writing Pacific Island leaders were looking forward to presenting their vision and hopes for the Synod to Assembly at its meeting in Upper Hutt in September. Assembly would be considering a proposal for formal establishment of the Synod.

The Synod is important for the vitality of the Pacific Island sector of the church, because it not only facilitates the distinctive cultural expression of each island group, but it also supports the shaping of its future, says Rev Tuleia.

"By developing the kinds of mission we'd like to see happening, we believe we have something to contribute to the life of the Presbyterian Church," says Rev Tuliea. "We need to strengthen our identity as Pacific Islanders, not as a separate church, but as part of the wider church".

Pacific Island church leaders hoped Assembly would support the formal establishment of the Synod, though issues relating to funding, constitutional detail, and structure might need further discussion.

The number of Pacific Islanders in New Zealand, particularly Samoans, is growing rapidly and expected to make up an increasing proportion of our population - from 6% in 1996 to 12% by about 2051. Presbyterianism is the most common denomination listed for Pacific Islanders.

The Pacific Island population in New Zealand is also increasingly young and New Zealand-born. Of the 101,754 Samoans now in New Zealand, more than half were born here and 66% are under thirty years old (compared with 45% of the total population).

Rev Tuliea says involving the young is an important aspect of his vision for the church, while also continuing to meet the needs of the older generations. It's touching for a minister to see children attending Sunday school, then staying involved and active in church through their school years and beyond as they move into leadership roles, he says.

Rev Tuleia is a minister at the Otara Pacific Island Presbyterian Church in South Auckland, which has a congregation of over 200 mainly Samoan, Cook Island and Niuean families.