Leaders of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia will gather next week from 19-23 May for General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui, which is the Anglican Church’s highest decision making body. This year the Hīnota is hosted in Hastings by Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa.

The 2024 Synod Opening Eucharist will take place after delegates have been welcomed to a pōhiri at Omāhu Marae near Hastings, one of the marae that provided iwi-based emergency relief and response for people experiencing devastation after Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

The Hīnota Whānui Opening Eucharist will include the Archbishops’ charge – where the Anglican Church’s leaders will share their vision for the Church.

The Archbishops’ charge will be livestreamed from 7pm this Sunday 19 May via Youtube and Facebook.

The two-yearly General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui gathers around 130 Anglican clergy and lay representatives, provincial staff, and members of provincial commissions from around the Pacific, to report on the Church’s ministry and mission, wānanga together, set directions and priorities for province-wide work and pass church legislation.  

For the second time General Synod 2024 will include wānanga aimed to engage delegates in reflection on the future for this Church, particularly looking at the values and knowledge that mātauranga Māori can bring to our Church's self-understanding and practice.

Anyone is welcome to join wānanga sessions online, which will be livestreamed on the first three mornings of Synod between as follows: 

Monday 20 May : 8.45am-10.30am
Wānanga on Theological Education (streamed Live on Youtube and Facebook)

Tuesday 21 May: 8.45am-10.30am
Wānanga on Mana Wāhine (streamed Live on Youtube and Facebook)

Wednesday 22 May: 8.45am-10.30am
Wānanga on Peace and Justice (streamed Live on Youtube and Facebook)

Anglican Taonga will report on all major events and decisions at Te Hīnota through the week. Background papers, bills and motions can be accessed in the General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui section of the Anglican Church’s website here.