Leaders of the Anglican Church in  Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, led by its three Archbishops, have called for a special day of prayer for Kanaky – New Caledonia and Ma’ohi Nui-French Polynesia to mark this ‘Freedom’ Sunday 14 July

The Anglican Church’s parliamentary executive – the General Synod Standing Committee (GSSC) – made the call in solidarity with the Pacific Conference of Churches’ day of prayer for Kanaky and Ma’ohi Nui this Sunday.

The Anglican church leaders’ statement comes in response to tensions in Kanaky and Ma’ohi Nui in recent months, and stands in solidarity with the Kanak people calling for peace and justice. It strongly affirms the right of the people of Kanaky-New Caledonia to self-determination. 

GSSC went on to voice this Church’s support for the Pacific Conference of Churches’ ongoing work of peace, justice and decolonisation in the Pacific context and Anglican solidarity with our Pacific church whānau in l’Église Protestante de Kanaky Nouvelle Calédonie, the Etaretia Porotetani Maohi, and the Catholic Church represented through CEPAC (The Episcopal Conference of the Pacific).

“As Christians, whose life and attitudes are grounded and formed by prayer, we call on all people of good will to raise their voices in prayer, by observing the Pacific Conference of Churches’ Freedom Sunday day of prayer for Kanaky (New Caledonia) and Ma’ohi Nui (currently known as French Polynesia) on Sunday, 14 July 2024.”

The members of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia General Synod Standing Committee are as follows:

Archbishop Don Tamihere
Archbishop Sione Ulu’ilakepa
Archbishop Justin Duckworth
Rev Wiremu Anania
Ven Ruihana Paenga
Sir Selwyn Parata
Ven Mere Wallace
Ms Ema Weepu
Rev Canon Isaac Beach  
Rev Peter Bargh
Rev Toby Behan
Rev Dr Andrew Burgess
Rev Canon Jenny Chalmers       
Dr Penny Field
Rev Ivica Gregurec
Mr John Whitehead
Ms Jessica Hughes
Ms Bolivia Smith
Rev Winston Tarere
Mr Fe’iloakitau Tevi                    
Rev Canon Michael Hughes
Rev Kat Maxwell