Anglican leaders from across Oceania held their annual Fono in Taranaki this 7 -10 March, hosted by Archbishop Don Tamihere, Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa and Archbishop Justin Duckworth, in a programme led and facilitated by Archbishop Emeritus Philip Richardson and Fe'iloakitau Tevi.

The official communiqué outlining the contents of the Fono follows in full below. 

OCEANIA ANGLICAN FONO COMMUNIQUÉ

NEW PLYMOUTH, MARCH 7-9, 2025

 The 6^th gathering of the Oceania Anglican Fono (aka FONO) brought together the Primates and General Secretaries from the four Anglican Churches in Oceania from 7^th to 9^th March, 2025: Archbishop Geoff Smith and General Secretary Anne Hywood from the Anglican Church of Australia; Bishop Nathan Ingen (apologies) and General Secretary James Raurela from the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea; Archbishop Leonard Dawea and General Secretary Abraham Hauriasi from the Anglican Church of Melanesia; Archbishop Don Tamihere, Archbishop Sione Ulu’ilakepa, Archbishop Justin Duckworth and General Secretary Michael Hughes from the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia; and facilitator Fe’iloakitau Kaho Tevi.

This forum was also privileged to have as observers: Bishop Anthony Poggo, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Office; Rev. Canon Dr Stephen Spencer from the Anglican Communion Office; Rev. Canon Sammy Wainaina from Lambeth Palace; Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick from the Diocese of Hawai’i; Rev. Canon Bruce Woodcock of the Episcopal Church; and, Mr Grant Hope, CEO of the St John’s College Trust Board of ACANZP.

This 6^th FONO was hosted by Archbishop Don Tamihere, Archbishop Sione Ulu’ilakepa, Archbishop Justin Duckworth of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia, led by Archbishop Emeritus Philip Richardson of the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki. The FONO was welcomed to Taranaki with a mihi whakatau from Damon Ritai on behalf of mana whenua (local Māori) and a welcome to sites of significance to local hapū (subtribes), including the New Plymouth airport site.

This 6^th FONO met at Te Whare Hononga, part of the Taranaki Cathedral precinct. The first day included a pilgrimage with visits to various sites around northern Taranaki, including Waitara and Pukerangiora. FONO members heard stories of 19^th century warfare and land seizures. This included periods of inter-tribal conflict, particularly with raids by Waikato-Tainui in the 1820s-30s, and later conflict between mana whenua and British and colonial troops in the 1860s. The latter warfare led to great loss of life, land and well-being for local Māori. While Ngāti Te Whiti (the hapū on whose land New Plymouth was built) had assisted settlers in the early years of the New Plymouth settlement and had been heavily involved in church life, this conflict led to generations of Māori disaffection from the Anglican Church.

The Anglican Church, and the parish of St Mary’s in particular, became known as “the church that stored the gunpowder that shot our people” due to the role the church played in supporting settler forces. St Mary’s church contained the regimental hatchments from colonial forces which was an ongoing point of contention with local Māori. It was only in the latter 20th century, with the work of Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves and Archdeacon Tikituterangi Raumati, that efforts at reconciliation took place. This work has culminated in a deepening relationship between church and Ngāti Te Whiti. Te Whare Hononga (“the house that binds”), where the 6th FONO met, was built in collaboration between church and mana whenua as an expression of the hope of reconciliation and is regularly used by local Māori groups. There is an ongoing relationship and journey of justice and reconciliation taking place based out of Te Manu Hononga | The Sir Paul Reeves Centre on this site. The hosts noted that the Northern Taranaki story of warfare and conflict needs to be held in tension with the Southern Taranaki story, centred on the later development of a pan-tribal community at Parihaka, led by two prophets Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai, which fostered a pathway of non-violent resistance to colonial oppression.

As a FONO of Primates and General Secretaries of the Anglican Communion in Oceania, the members shared updates from their respective churches. This included challenges and opportunities for greater partnership and collaboration. Key themes of the 6^th FONO included financial challenges faced by dioceses and provinces, the importance and development of safeguarding practices across the region, strong geopolitical headwinds affecting member churches, dioceses maintaining autonomy and decentralised structures amid declining church capacity, and climate and disaster preparedness responses namely the close collaboration between the Diocese of Polynesia and the Diocese of Hawai’i on the waste to energy transition sector. FONO noted the 50th anniversary of the Anglican Church of Melanesia is in June 2025

The FONO acknowledged the passing of the late Archbishop Sir David Vunagi on the 7th of March, and a letter of condolence was extended to his family and the Anglican Church of Melanesia.

The concept of Centres of Excellence is an important initiative within the FONO region, aimed at creating strong relationships across key theological and educational communities. These centres, recognised for their unique identity, will help shape a collective response to regional challenges. More than a network, the Centres of Excellence will form a regional educational Ohana| Whānau—a moana family committed to indigenous-led approaches to Christian learning beyond Western frameworks. The FONO 2025 members have also committed to continuing the conversation on further developing the concept of Centres of Excellence.

Bishop Anthony Poggo outlined the processes of the Crown Nomination Commission for the next Archbishop of Canterbury and the FONO discussed the future role of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Anglican Consultative Council and in the Communion more generally. 

The FONO was updated on the establishment of the Office of the Climate Commissioner for the ACANZP with Fe’iloakitau Tevi serving as the interim Climate Commissioner, based in Suva. 

The conversations were enhanced by the presence of spouses of some of the FONO members.  The FONO acknowledged the significant ministry contribution that spouses make in our context. There was a strong programme for them to spend time together as well as be part of the FONO. 

The next FONO will be hosted by the Anglican Church of Melanesia in 2026.

The FONO thanked the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia and the people of Mere Tapu, the Taranaki Cathedral team for the excellent arrangements and hospitality.