Motion #13 

Bio-Remediation And Plastics 

Moved by: Mr Fe’iloakitau Kaho Tevi Seconded by: Rev’d Winston Tarere 

That this General Synod / Te Hīnota Whānui: 

1. Receives with concern the continuing accumulation of plastic waste across ACANZP communities, coastlines and the moana, recognising the significant environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of plastic pollution upon the nations and communities of the Province; 

2. Affirms the Church's call to care for creation, to act responsibly as stewards of the natural world, and to safeguard the wellbeing of present and future generations; 

3. Recognises the leadership of the Anglican Dioceses of Polynesia in initiating Project Vaimā, a staged research, investigation and due-diligence initiative exploring the potential for biological approaches to the remediation and reduction of plastic waste; 

4. Acknowledges that any exploration of biological remediation technologies must proceed with appropriate scientific rigour, environmental responsibility, ethical consideration, cultural awareness and respect for the communities and ecosystems in which such research may take place; 

Therefore: 

5. Endorses the further development of Project Vaimā under appropriate Polynesian diocesan leadership and governance, recognising that the initiative should be developed in partnership with relevant scientific, environmental, community, cultural and other appropriate bodies; 

6. Notes the support of the Three Tikanga for the proposal and refers the initiative for appropriate review, consideration and recommendations through the relevant Synodical and governance processes; 

https://synod365.sharepoint.com/Shared Documents/GENERAL SYNOD/SYNOD 2010-/GENERAL SYNOD 2026/2026 MINUTES/Signed Minutes Thursday 20AUG26 @ 05OCT26.docx 

Vaimā, to commence in October 2026, the purpose of which shall be to investigate, test and assess the scientific feasibility, environmental implications, safety, potential effectiveness and practical application of the proposed biological remediation approach; 

7.Authorises GSSC to provide necessary resources for an initial Proof of Concept for Project Vaimā, to commence in October 2026, the purpose of which shall be to investigate, test and assess the scientific feasibility, environmental implications, safety, potential effectiveness and practical application of the proposed biological remediation approach;

8.Requires that the Proof of Concept be conducted as a staged research and due-diligence process, subject to such scientific, environmental, ethical, cultural, legal and governance oversight as may be appropriate;

9.Requires that the findings of the Proof of Concept, together with recommendations regarding the future development of Project Vaimā, be reported to the General Synod/Te Hīnota Whānui in 2028;

10.Provides that, shouldtheProofof Concept produce demonstrably outstanding results prior to the 2028 meeting of the General Synod /Te Hīnota Whānui,and should those results indicate that earlier progression to a pilot stage is scientifically justified,environmentally responsiblea nd appropriately governed, the relevant Polynesian diocesan leadership may seek approval to accelerate the next stage of the initiative through the appropriate Church governance processes;

11.recognises that any such accelerated progression shall remain subject to appropriate independent scientific assessment and to all necessary environmental, ethical, cultural, legal,diocesan and governance approvals; and

12.confirms that this motion does not authorise an operational deployment or wider implementation of any biological plastic remediation technology, and that no operational pilot or wider application shall proceed unless and until the Proof of Concept has been completed, its findings appropriately assessed, and all necessary approvals have been obtained. Agreed

Motion#14

PacificIslandsForumSolidarity

Moved by: Mr Fe’iloakitauKaho Tevi Seconded by: Rev’d Winston Tarere 

Thatthis67th GeneralSynod /TeHīnotaWhānui

1.NOTES that Aotearoa New Zealandwill enter thePacific Islands ForumTroika as incomingChair at the conclusionof the55th ForumLeadersMeeting in Palau,30 August-4 September 2026; will hostandchair the 56thForum Leaders Meetingin 2027;and willremain inthe Troika until the 2029 Leaders Meeting;

2.AFFIRMSthatthis is a covenantof trustwithinthePacific householdand that solidaritymust be demonstrated through New Zealand's domestic laws, policies, budgets andrelationships;andrecalls theThree-TikangaChurch's vocation,grounded in the AnglicanMarks ofMission,to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Indigenous dignity and tino rangatiratanga,peace andthe integrityof creation;

3.RECEIVESthe Forum Leaders' affirmationthat climate change remains the single greatest threat to Pacific wellbeing, their call to keep 1.5°C within reach, their endorsement of theBlue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration, and their member-led approachto deep-sea minerals;

https://synod365.sharepoint.com/Shared Documents/GENERAL SYNOD/SYNOD 2010-/GENERAL SYNOD 2026/2026 MINUTES/Signed MinutesThursday 20AUG26 @05OCT26.docx