Here's the reaction of a number of church and civic leaders to the news that Bishop Philip Richardson has been elected as Archbishop of the New Zealand dioceses. The contributors are in alphabetical order.

Bishop Ross Bay, Auckland

I welcome the appointment of Bishop Philip to this role. His many years of experience in the episcopate means he is well able to offer leadership among us.

He has developed tremendous gifts of entrepreneurship through his work in the Taranaki, and he’s been part of building fresh confidence in that region, both in Church and in the wider community.  

We are looking to our new senior bishop to help us develop greater depths of collegiality in our life as bishops together in Tikanga Pakeha.

We achieve so much in what we each do in our respective dioceses. But there is much more that we could achieve together as we seek to offer leadership to God’s Church and to our nation.

Our prayers are with him and Belinda and their family as they prepare for the new demands which will be placed upon them.

Mary Bourke – ex Mayor, South Taranaki, governance consultant, Chair of the WITT Polytechnic Council and the Taranaki District Health Board – and member of the Bishop’s Action Foundation

Philip has left big footprints on the Taranaki landscape. One of his achievements has been to interpret the principles of mission for this place – and to do so in a way that we all might feel comfortable and be motivated to participate. 

We are all grappling with the same fundamental issues. His great legacy has been helping us keep our eye on the end objective, rather than on the vehicle we might use to get there – and that is an achievement that is definitively transferable to the national stage.

Archbishop John Dew, Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishop’s Conference.

I was delighted to hear this news.  

I have known Bishop Philip for several years and have been with him at many meetings and gatherings of the Anglican and Catholic bishops.

Philip will bring with him to this new role great leadership skills, a sharp mind, a great interest in people and a deep and committed relationship with the Lord. It is this relationship with the Lord which will speak volumes to the people he is called to serve in a new way.

I am honoured to wish Philip every blessing on behalf of the Catholic Bishops and, indeed, of the Catholic Church in New Zealand.

Harry Duynhoven, Mayor of New Plymouth and former MP

I’m absolutely delighted that Philip has been chosen.

It’s a very appropriate recognition of an absolutely marvelous man who has done a huge job for the Anglican Church in our region – and for our community as well.

I have the highest regard for him, and I’m chuffed that he is staying here. He’s built up such a network of relationships here, and he is involved in so many of the things that are going on for the good of our region.

Bishop Richard Ellena, Nelson

When we first gathered as Tikanga Pakeha Bishops to consider who we might nominate to be our next Archbishop I thought: ‘Well, there’s really only one name in it.’

However, no decision was made then, and we were encouraged to take 6 weeks to pray and reflect on what sort of person we feel is needed and who we felt God was calling.

I took that challenge seriously. But in my prayer and reflection I kept coming back, over and over, to the same name – Bishop Philip Richardson.

I am thrilled that IDC has now confirmed that nomination and that Philip is to be our new Archbishop. I am thrilled because I am convinced that he has the skills and gifts to unite us and keep us focussed.

He is a man of great integrity and yet deep humility. He thinks things through and will carefully listen to different perspectives.

He doesn’t suffer ‘fools’ gladly and gets really frustrated when having to attend meetings for the sake of attending them. He is passionate about using the gifts and talents we have to do the work of the Kingdom, not to attend meetings that do nothing but justify the existence of the institution.

He is a man of vision and also a man who can put legs on that vision. He is loyal and he is respected. But he is also a leader who knows what he doesn’t know and surrounds himself with wise advisors.

Above all, he is a family man who knows that he can only do what he does because of the amazing support of Belinda and their two children, Joshua and Clare.

Archbishop Winston Halapua, Bishop of Polynesia

Over many years Philip has proven himself as a gifted visionary and, at the level of governance strategy, a talented administrator.

He has also been a very thoughtful theologian.

I also appreciate his depth of spirituality and I believe that he will be able to carry on the work of shared primacy with skill and care.

Philip’s gifts will be welcome. 

Archdeacon Tiki Raumati, Taranaki iwi leader, and Priest Kaumatua of the Cathedral Church of St Mary, New Plymouth

The church in Aotearoa New Zealand needs a person like Bishop Philip. He has an easy way about him, but is firm and clear in his direction.

He came to us, looking toward a united future – and he had a very good guide in Ta Paora (Bishop Sir Paul Reeves). He ordained him, and nurtured him. Philip has shown us all that he is committed to peace at all costs.

Bishop Philip would have been nurtured by his close association with Archbishop David Moxon, too.

We couldn’t wish for a better home-grown leader than Bishop Philip – and we are over the moon that this honour has come upon our bishop and Taranaki.

He will certainly have the support of all our people.... we have been hoping and hoping – and there couldn’t be anyone more suitable. Thanks be to God.

Beverley Lady Reeves, widow of Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves

I have a great regard for Bishop Philip Richardson and I know my husband did too, as was demonstrated abundantly at the end of his life. 

From time to time Paul spent periods of reflection with both Bishops David Moxon and Philip Richardson as they worked through a new model of a shared episcopate in the Diocese of Waikato. 

I spent a week in New Plymouth in 2010 when Philip  involved the whole city in the preparations for St Mary's becoming a Cathedral when the main guest was the Archbishop of York. 

This time was also 150 years since the beginning of the Land Wars in Taranaki and with the help of Archdeacon Tiki Raumati Philip has been very active biculturally in encouraging Te Atiawa ( Paul's people) to re-discover St Mary's as a place of worship. 

He is a communicator and teacher and not afraid to think in creative ways.  He has the gift of the 'common touch' and an inclusiveness about all he does.

Belinda Holmes, his wife, is a great support but is her own person, with her own gifts to share. 

Val Riches, Regional Dean, North-East Taranaki Ministry Region

I first met Philip as a fellow single student at St Johns.

He tended to be the quieter, maybe more conscientious student.

He was open to real live challenges seen by the fact that he took the opportunity to spend time in India and then working in a house in Glen Innes, helping him to be in touch with the marginalized in real and practical ways.

I have enjoyed renewing my relationship with him as Bishop in Waikato and Taranaki. He is well grounded, approachable and keen to look at the bigger picture of ministry and mission.

He expresses a deep love and belief in the church which often translates into a belief and faith in the local congregation no matter how small and isolated.

+Philip has strength in management yet also able to seek out the best

advice from people experienced in a particular field and also able to delegate in appropriate ways.

Belinda believes deeply in his ministry and supports him in her own very special way.

Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York

This is wonderful news.

When I first met Bishop Philip I was struck by his passion for issues of reconciliation and his commitment to the importance of holding justice and love together.

This found practical expression when he set up a charity to meet the needs of communities within Taranaki.

Bishop Philip is a man of great intelligence, energy, humour, and prayer. He has a heart for community and the humility of spirit which will enable him to work together with members of all the churches as he approaches the challenges of this post.

When I visited New Zealand I was deeply moved by the traditional welcome of hongi in which the breath of life from God is shared, and our common humanity is affirmed. In that custom, all of us, however great or small, have to approach each other on the same level. Bishop Philip’s ministry is built on this same understanding that we are all equally valued and loved in the eyes of God. 

He is a man who is able to reach out in welcome and fellowship to all, and I pray that he will be a blessing to the Church and all the people of New Zealand as he takes up this new role serving others and nurturing unity in that beautiful country.

When my wife Margaret and I heard the news, we burst into a waiata: He Honore, he kororia, (All honour and glory to God):

He Honore, he kororia,
Maungarongo ki te whenua
Whakaaro, pai e
Ki nga tangata katoa
Ake ake, ake ake, Amine
Te Atua, te piringa
Toku oranga  toku oranga

Bishop Philip, may this be your song too. For we are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song. 

Peter Tennent, former Mayor of New Plymouth, and community leader

Like all of us in Taranaki, I am so pleased to hear this news.

Philip has had a huge positive influence on the lives of so many. He is a visionary, recognising the very best in this community and all of us that call this place home – he sees all that we are, and all that we could be.

A number of projects big and small are directly attributable to his leadership. The Bishop’s Action Foundation has become a formidable organisation driving positive change.

Often the love, the care, and the support of this community are needed further afield – invariably, Philip is the first to ensure that happens.

I join all from Taranaki in congratulating Philip, and wishing him well in his new role. The church and this country are in very good hands!

Phil Trotter, Youth Advisor for the New Zealand dioceses

Bishop Philip is a sharp and strategic thinker whom I have quickly come to respect.

He is well attuned to the needs and issues faced by New Zealanders and works to bring a positive and practical Christian response, from the Provincial level down to the flax-roots. 

He is easy to connect with, warm and approachable. I believe Bishop Philip is journeying with Christ in a way that keeps him open - ready to learn and to lead this church in the name of Christ.

I greatly look forward to working further with him in this new role.

Stuart Trundle, Chief Executive Venture Taranaki, and member of the Bishop’s Action Foundation

+P brings academic rigour, strategic thinking guided by the Holy Spirit and a strong commitment to social justice to his community leadership.

He has shown what can be achieved by mobilising resources into a common purpose and bringing change into our social structures and strategies. He is inclusive and has ensured the Church is visible & credible within central and local government policy making.

His ability to build teams and develop capacity and capability has re-empowered and re-energised the Taranaki Anglican congregation into fulfilling their potential.

As a mentor and team coach, he reflects the best traditions of Church leadership at the centre of everyday life.

He is a caring and compassionate leader well suited to driving forward the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.