The 2016 minutes of the General Assembly held at St David Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, from Tuesday 15 November to Saturday 19 November 2016 are now online. Read them here.

Greetings to you all as we look forward to a fine Waitangi weekend.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

I begin with a traditional Maori karakia which I pray for and over the whole Church:

He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua
He maungārongo ki te whenua
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa
Hangā e te Atua he ngākau hou
Ki roto, ki tēnā, ki tēnā o mātou
Whakatōngia to wairua tapu
Hei awhina, hei tohutohu i a mātou
Hei ako hoki i ngā mahi mō tēnei rā

Congratulations to Rina Rakuraku who will be installed as the spiritual leader, the Moderator of Te Aka Puaho, the Maori Synod of the Presbyterian Church on Friday 3 February at Te Maungarongo Marae, Ohope.

Rina (Marina) Rakuraku is of Tuhoe and Ngati Porou and Kahungungu descent, and has Scottish, English and Spanish roots. She was raised in Waimana and has been a Maori resource teacher at Paroa School in Whakatane.

Her uncle, former Moderator, the Very Rev Tame Takao, had a hand in her decision to take the role of Moderator on.

To Whom It May Concern,

Kia ora, me nga mihi nui ki a koutou hoki.

Turakina Maori Girls’ College was closed in January of this year, after 110 years of service, and the students were obliged to make alternative arrangements for the continuation of their education.

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to everyone from the Presbyterian Church Assembly Office. Assembly Office will be closed from 23 December 2016 reopening 9 January 2017.

Recently I attended a Christmas Carol service. One of the songs we sang was an old Frank Sinatra melody with the lyrics:

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.

Christmas: Giving presents, being present

Greetings

Read the latest version of Mingalaba, the Global Mission newsletter dedicated to our Ricebowl Mission partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar.