The Opening Eucharist of the General Synod Te Hīnota Whanui 2026 yesterday wove together the cultures, languages and songs of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia, supported by a 100-strong Diocese of Polynesia choir and brass band.
Bishop of Polynesia Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa presided at the Eucharist, while the the reflection was offered by His Majesty King Tupou VI, who spoke on the history of Christianity in Tonga, adding the story of his family's close connection with the Anglican Church through many being schooled in the Anglican tradition.
General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui was honoured by the attendance of several senior Tongan royals: as well as HRH King Tupou VI and HRH Queen Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho, present were HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, HRH Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho, HRH Princess Royal Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu Tuita, Lord Tuita and the Honourable Frederica Lupe'uluiva Tuita, who is a honoured member of the Anglican Church in Tonga, together with her daughter the Honorable Fahina e Paepae.
Archbishop Don Tamihere was impressed with the generosity of the King and royal family.
"I think it may dawn on Synod members what an extraordinary privilege it was to be welcomed at the Royal Palace and to find His Majesty dispensed with a lot of protocol to honour us."he said today.
"I think that the attendance of their Majesties the King and Queen and royal family members at the Opening Eucharist is a testimony to Archbishop Sione and the Diocese of Polynesia. It shows how much trust Sione's leadership and the work of his people are held in by the King."
Also attending the service was Whatumoana Paki and his wife Rangimarie Tahana, one of the two older brothers of Kuini Nga Wai Hono i Te Po, there to represent the royal whare of Te Wherowhero at the occasion.
Throughout the service themes of equity and unity came to the fore, reflecting in practice the principles in yesterday's reading from Philippians 2: 1-8.
"...in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."
Following the Opening Eucharist was a monumental banquet hosted by the four parishes of the Tonga Episcopal Unit. Each church community piled high their banquet tables with a cornucopia of edible treats for their visitors.
With the royal guests and bishops installed on the raised stage, parishioners responsible for the feast encouraged visitors to join their specially prepared tables, as young people from the Tongan parishes sang to entertain the guests during the meal.
Archbishop Justin Duckworth offered the word of thanks to conclude the afternoon's hospitality.
"I was thinking last night how seldom it is in life that you get to go to the mountain top and see into eternity." he said.
"This afternoon we got to see what it would be like to see into eternity... to see what it will be like at the end of time when we gather together for that great banquet."
"In a minute I would like you to show your appreciation, and I would like to think it would be bigger than the feast, or bigger than the hospitality that we have received, but that would be impossible."
Archbishop Don Tamihere agreed with Archbishop Justin's take on the generosity of the General Synod's hosts.
"It's a feature of the Diocese of Polynesia that their hospitality is outrageous." he said.
"But that doesn't mean it's easy. It takes a lot of love and sacrifice and effort."
"To receive such manaakitanga is an honour."
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