Media Releases

Give presents and be present this Christmas says Presbyterian Church

Friday 16 December 2016

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

Saturday 19 November 2016

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.

Presbyterians reject that earthquakes are ‘divine punishment’

Friday 18 November 2016

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

Friday 18 November 2016

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

Friday 17 June 2016

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.

Presbyterians extending the hand of friendship this Easter

Thursday 17 March 2016

This weekend Presbyterian parishes around the country will be extending the hand of friendship to their neighbours.

Neighbours Day weekend, the national initiative to build stronger, more resilient neighbourhoods, falls close to Easter, so the Church is encouraging its congregations to be neighbourly and share Easter buns with nearby families and schools, explains the Rt Rev Andrew Norton, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Former Presbyterian Moderator elected as head of CWM

Friday 21 August 2015

Palmerston North Presbyterian minister, the Very Rev Pamela Tankersley, has been elected as the head of Singapore-based Council for World Mission (CWM).

Pamela has been appointed Moderator of CWM Ltd with immediate effect, and will serve in that capacity until the organisation’s next Assembly in June 2016. While the role will be fulfilled from her home base in Palmerston North, she expects that frequent travel will be required.