Please note that only the Opening Service and Closing Service will be live during GA25, however, there will be recorded video of daily business shared here as it becomes available. As per GA23, there will not be a series of GA news emails but instead a daily summary of key decisions as noted by the Assembly Business Work Group during business - this will be uploaded as soon as information to include is available so check back for updates.
- Download the GA25 Daily Summary Monday 20 October 2025
- See Assembly minutes on the GA25 website
General Assembly opens: installation of Moderator Right Rev Peter Dunn
During the opening service of General Assembly on Monday 20 October our new Moderator the Right Rev Peter Dunn was installed. The service involved the laying on of hands by past Moderators, and the transfer of a ceremonial cloak Te Korowai Tapu. Download photos by the GA25 photographer of formal and more casual photos from the opening service of Assembly.
Watch the opening service of GA25
On Monday 20 October our General Assembly began at St Paul’s Trinity Pacific Presbyterian Church in Christchurch. The opening service began around 12.50 pm with a Mihi Whakatau in the carpark, the live stream of the opening service began shortly after filmed from inside St Paul's Trinity. Peter spoke to Assembly of his Moderator theme, "We Believe" (download text of Peter's address below). Watch the opening service of the Assembly below or on vimeo here.
Moderator's theme: We Believe
During the opening service our new Moderator Right Rev Peter Dunn spoke to his theme, "We Believe".
The catalyst for Peter's theme was engagement with people in his church associated with its community outreach. He says they come from non-Christian backgrounds, with no experience of what it means to belong to a Christian Community, and they are given space and time to find their sense of belonging. He said what most want is a safe place, so they will watch with suspicion how we, as a Christian Community, interact with them and each other. If they see that we do not live out our faith, it is over between us, he says. People often can come to our church two or three years before they come to faith in Jesus Christ."
Over the coming two years Peter will be asking those in the Presbyterian Church to affirm what we believe together as faithful Christians, which he says is, “the heart, the soul, the mind and the integrity of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand”.
"The 'We Believe' logo can move in the imagination as you like. In a moment, I will be introducing the analogy of a braided river to consider who we are as the Presbyterian Church. The Cross is the anchor feature. Being in the stream of Reformed Theology, the Cross is empty because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The wavy lines represent a braided river. Even if you are colour blind, I do hope you can play with that image. But one night I was lying there thinking about things, as old men do, without worrying about anything, when it came to me that the wavy lines might also represent a howling norwester you get in these parts. And a howling norwester drifted my mind to thinking about the wind of the Holy Spirit reviving the good old PCANZ, and anyone else who wants to join in. Old men dream dreams."
Download here a pdf of the Moderator Right Rev Peter Dunn's opening service address.
Watch live GA25 Opening & Closing services
- From 12.50pm on Monday 20 October you can watch the General Assembly Opening Service live, click on this vimeo link.
- From 12.50pm on Thursday 23 October you can watch the General Assembly Closing Service live, click on this vimeo link.
You do not need a password or to register, just click on the links which will be live from 12.50pm.
Afternoon Assembly business session 1, 20 Oct
The summary below of today's business is provided by the Assembly Business Work Group. For full context, please see below or download here video of business 20 Oct.
Business session 1:
- A raft of Procedural Motions were agreed (003-016).
- Te Aka Puaho presented to the Assembly. As part of that presentation it was agreed that the change of name from Te Aka Puaho to Te Aka Puahou be noted, and that the Book of Order and all related documents be amended accordingly (017-018).
- Very Rev Rose Luxford gave her Retiring Moderator’s address (watch from 49.08).
- Introduction to Dialogue Groups.
Video from Te Aka Puahou - Ohope Marae - played for the Assembly
Watch below or here.