A statement from the Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia at the time of Archbishop Justin Welby's resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Today we have received Archbishop Justin Welby's news that he has resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury, giving up his leadership of the Church of England and of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

We believe his decision to stand down is a principled one and shows he has taken both personal and institutional responsibility for the Church of England's failure to bring the late child abuser John Smyth to justice in 2013, as highlighted in the Makin Report released earlier this month. 

We endorse Archbishop Justin Welby's own call for the Church to embrace the urgent and continuous need to monitor and improve safeguarding practices and the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia pledges to do so. 

At this time we give thanks for the leadership and service Archbishop Justin Welby has offered our worldwide Anglican Communion over the last 11 years, and in particular, we acknowledge the manaakitanga he has shown all communities.

We will continue to meet, listen to, and support abuse survivors.

Archbishop Don Tamihere

Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa

Archbishop Justin Duckworth

Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia