The Māori Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia (Te Hāhi Mihinare ki Aotearoa ki Niu Tīreni, ki Ngā Moutere o te Moana Nui a Kiwa) has hosted a pilgrimage to deepen ties between Māori and Pasefika communities and enabling international guests from the Anglican Communion to learn more about Māori Anglicanism and ministry. The visit was made from February 19 to March 2.

The province serves as a model of co-governance, having revised its constitution in 1992 to adopt a three-Tikanga system. This structure ensures equal representation at the General Synod for Tikanga Māori (indigenous Māori), Tikanga Pasefika (Polynesian communities across New Zealand and the Pacific), and Tikanga Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent). Each Tikanga has its own Archbishop and Primate, all working within a single province.

Taking part in the pilgrimage was the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo (the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion), Canon Sammy Wainaina (Lambeth Palace) and members of the Compass Rose Society, including Bishop Todd Townshend of the Diocese of Huron, Canada and Canon Doug Horner, representing Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez. Since 1994, The Compass Rose Society has provided funding towards the work of the Anglican Communion Office and other communion projects.

Experiencing Māori Customs and Ministry

Hosted by the Most Reverend Don Tamihere (Archbishop and Primate of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia), the pilgrimage involved a series of services and community visits, where the group heard more about themes of indigenous Anglicanism, surviving colonisation Moana theology and climate resilience.

The Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion (left), and the Most Revd Don Tamihere, Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia (right), stand together in The Waiapu Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Napier

The pilgrimage began in Hawkes Bay, on the East Coast of New Zealand from February 19-23. A visit was made to Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Tairāwhiti, the bishopric and home of Archbishop Don Tamihere. Here, the group were immersed in the rich traditions of Māori Anglicanism, where faith and culture are inextricably intertwined.

The pilgrims went to the Cathedral, where the group saw intricate Māori woven designs inspired by the Porourangi Poutama pattern (a pattern favoured by the Ngāti Porou weavers on the East Coast). They also visited Te Aute College, a prestigious Māori Anglican boarding school. There, the Principal Rachel Kingi welcomed the visitors with a pōwhiri (ceremonial welcome) and showcasing Māori customs including the waiata (song) and haka (dance) performed by the students.

Learning about Climate Resilience

Significant time was given during the pilgrimage to meet Anglican leaders and environmental advocates to discuss pressing climate challenges facing the region, which is causing sea level rise and extreme weather events.

The Most Revd Sione Ulu’ilakepa, Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, addresses the delegation, explaining the increasing severity of the cyclone season due to climate change and its impact on communities across the Pacific.

In Hawkes Bay, the pilgrimage visited the former site of Hukarere Girls’ College in the Esk Valley, which was devastated by the floods caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. The students were evacuated just hours before a flood rushed the valley and school.

In Fiji (the pilgrimage continued to Suva, Fiji between February 24-26), the group heard from the Most Reverend Sione Ulu’ilakepa (Archbishop and Primate of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia) who explained that the cyclone season now lasts all year-round due to climate change.

Climate advocate Fe'iloakitau (Fei) Tevi spoke warned that climate change could destroy up to 80% of coral reefs, threatening vital services for 11 million Pacific people, a region rich in marine life and contributing 57% of global GDP.

The Church is involved in some influential and impactful work in climate resilience, through the Moana Water of Life conference and the Community Integrated Resilience Assessment (CIRA). Run by young Anglicans in Tonga, CIRA maps each household in a community to ensure all are resilient to climate disasters. It also mobilises church youth to support people at risk in a disaster scenario. It is now featured in a key report from the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the “human right to a healthy environment.”

The pilgrimage also incorporated a voyage on the va’a Uto Ni Yalu, accompanied by some of the youngest certified traditional navigators in the world. Some of them have spent 6-8 months on blue water voyages, navigating to destinations such as Hawaii, the Americas, Chile, Easter Island, Rarotonga, and New Zealand. They observed how climate change has altered the coastline in Suva Harbour.

Archbishop Sione said, “Our voice alone is not strong enough,’ urging the pilgrims to amplify the Pacific’s message. ‘This is a matter of life and death for us.”

Attending the Te Matatini Kapa Haka festival

The final part of the pilgrimage was to New Plymouth (February 27-March 2), to attend the biennial Te Matatini Kapa Haka festival, one of the largest gatherings of Māori people and culture. Here, they were guests of Sir Selwyn Parata, Chair of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa and Te Matatini Festival.

Members of the Compass Rose Society immerse themselves in Māori traditions at the Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival in New Plymouth, experiencing the rich cultural heritage and artistic expression of Aotearoa’s indigenous communities.

On their final day, the pilgrims attended a Eucharist at Mere Tapu (St. Mary’s). Once a symbol of colonial oppression for Māori in the 1800s, has since become a place of peace making. A trip was also made to Te Whare Hononga, an educational centre dedicated to Sir Paul Reeves, the first Māori Archbishop and Governor-General, which offers programmes and events supporting the ongoing process of reconciliation for local hapū Ngati Te Whiti, Puketapu, and the people of New Plymouth.

The pilgrimage fostered global Anglican connections, showcasing indigenous resilience, faith, and climate action. Pilgrims returned with a renewed commitment to partnership and a vision for a potential indigenous chapter of the Compass Rose Society, amplifying Māori and Pasefika voices within the Anglican Communion.

Speaking about the visit, The Secretary General said:

“This has been an enriching visit and time of fellowship, where I have learned more about lives and ministry of Māori Anglicans. They honour the land, their heritage and their relationships. Hospitality and community is central to how they live and embodies God’s call to “love your neighbour as thyself”. I have been inspired by the CIRA project and Archbishop Sione encouragement to have hope and resilience in the face of climate change. It has also been a joy to pilgrim alongside members of the Compass Rose Society, whose generous support to the Communion is deeply valued. I give thanks to Archbishop Don Tamihere and all the communities of Māori Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia for their wonderful hospitality and example to us.”

The Most Reverend Don Tamihere (Archbishop and Primate of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia) said:

“The whole purpose of the visit was to strengthen relationships… to find ways to help one another as a global Anglican family. Everyone has powerful stories to tell… Collectively the group have seen the reality of the context in which we live and work and minister. I give thanks for our Anglican sisters and brothers for pilgrimaging with us and for our global Anglican family."

Compass Rose Member The Venerable Richard Jones said:

“We have been presented with many concepts and ideas new to us.  One that has caused me to think and rethink is that moana (the ocean) is the lungs of the world.  Moana takes up vast amounts of carbon and releases oxygen for us to breathe.  It is being challenged by our current climate conditions.  We, in the west often overlook the "liquid continent" because we do not know how important it is to the world's survival. We were given the opportunity to travel on a waka and it gave us time to reflect on these concepts and God's great gift to us. We were challenged to be ambassadors of this knowledge when we return home.”

Compass Rose Member Sally Goss said:

“This immersive experience in Fiji and NZ was eye-opening and filled with joy, where the warmth and love of the hospitality and the ritual of welcome deeply resonated. Through the Anglican Communion Office and Compass Rose Society, I’ve discovered our broader connections within the Anglican Communion.”

Find out more about the ministry of Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia here.

Find out more about The Waiapu Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Napier here

Find out more about the Diocese of Polynesia here