The Diocese of Polynesia has a new Archdeacon for Aotearoa New Zealand.

He is The Ven ’Amanaki Tu’itavake, who was installed by Archbishop Winston Halapua on Sunday September 5 at Holy Trinity Otahuhu – which is the Diocese of Polynesia's 'cathedral' in New Zealand.

Archdeacon Tu’itavake, who ministers at Holy Trinity, is the second Archdeacon for Aotearoa New Zealand.

He succeeds Archbishop Winston, who was installed as Archdeacon in 1996 when he came to this country to lecture at St John’s College. He continued in that role when he was elected bishop in 2005 – but as Archbishop, he’s now based in Suva.

Archdeacon Tu’itavake’s installation was the culmination of a weekend gathering of all the diocesan clergy in New Zealand. They’d met in the Holy Trinity parish hall on the Saturday, considering leadership and how best to do mission in this country.

The archdeaconry is also celebrating the achievements of another of its better-known Auckland-domiciled sons.

The Rev Vaotogo Frank Smith, who is based at St John’s College, and who leads Ekalesia Agelekana, the Mangere-based Samoan Anglican worshiping community, was capped with his doctorate in theology by The University of Auckland on September 28.

Dr Smith, who is Tokoni (in the Tongan and Fijian language, tokoni means ‘helper’), or Research and Resources Coordinator at St John’s College, wrote his doctoral thesis on St John’s gospel.

Meanwhile, Huni Mancini, the youngest daughter of the Rev Eleanor Mancini, and niece of Archbishop Winston, also graduated from the University of Auckland with a BA Hons. She achieved First Class Honours, majoring in Film, Television and Media Studies.