Telling the history of Waiapu from the inside out

The Gift Endures – a 300-page history of the Diocese of Waiapu – was launched at a special service at Napier’s St John’s Cathedral at Queen’s Birthday weekend.

The new book, which was commissioned to mark 150th anniversary of the diocese, was launched in the presence of six of the seven last bishops of Waiapu, and the 10 authors of the history.

Bishop John Bluck, who guided the project through to its completion, told those present:

“We produced this book in the Waiapu Way; no big budgets, no reliance on academic experts; simply a team of people who have lived the Waiapu story and could tell that story from the inside out, and give us a glimpse into why this gift we’ve been given will continue to endure.

“The first Waiapu history, written by Watson Rosevear in 1960 sets the church in a world long gone. The new book anchors us in the turmoil of today and will help us map a way through to the future that awaits us as Mihinare people, both Maori and Pakeha.”

The Rev Canon Dr Ken Booth, recently retired as the Director of Theology House in Christchurch, has reviewed The Gift Endures:

“This is an inviting book to dip into as well as to read fully..... In the custom of the day, Rosevear’s history was more institutional and concerned with bishops, clergy and officials. The new history throws its net more widely with local stories and people at many points. The two accounts complement each other.....

"As with all collections of work done by multiple authors there is some unevenness, but the Diocese of Waiapu is to be congratulated on this production.

“In order to know where you want to go to, you need to know where you have come from. The people of the diocese will benefit from this account of their story so far, and the wider church and community will find many useful insights and wisdom as well.”

The weekend’s celebrations also included drinks in the new All Saints facilities on Friday night, a rollicking dinner at Kohupatiki Marae on Saturday evening and a regional Pentecost Eucharist at the Cathedral on Sunday.