The Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa Commission on Episcopal Leadership gathered at St John’s Theological College on 18 September to hold an urgent inquiry focused on authority and relationships – mana and whanaungatanga and how leadership is wielded and practised, and where the boundaries are.

Last week's hui followed on from an earlier hui on leadership where COEL members considered input from experts on church doctrine, civil society, iwi organisation and canon law. 

Episcopal leadership Commission Chair, Khylee Quince who brings her skills as a Māori lawyer and academic, facilitated the 18 September session. Khylee now will work to synthesise the kōrero into a working plan and draft principles for the Pīhopatanga.

Commissioners examined the relationship between the five Hui Amorangi and the Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa; discussing guard rails to necessitate support; embedding iwi, hapū and Mihinare tikanga into decision-making and ways of being and drew on the collective knowledge and experience of the Church.

The group also reviewed canons and best practice models from all tikanga streams to inform the discussion. 

As part of the hui, Archdeacon Sue Fordyce spoke about the work she and Te Korowai are doing to create a safer church in response to the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith Care.

She highlighted the ambivalence the Church has about power, which impacts decision-making and discussed how the Church's current funding structures contributed to the underfunding of Archbishops' work.

Rev Dr Hirini Kaa brought a historical perspective, speaking on the whakapapa of the first Pīhopa o Aotearoa, and how Sir Apirana Ngata’s concept of mana whakapapa “continues to shape us.” 

“It’s important to understand what our tipuna were thinking when they formed us [and similarly] why it was decided not to have canons in Te Pīhopatanga." he said.

“The need to be prophetic and courageous was the feeling at the time.

“We integrated our tikanga into our way of being, but this has had its limitations, such as moments of conflict resolution for which there are no written rules.”

Rev Ruihana Paenga reported the general feeling in the room at the end of the day.

The Hui Amorangi have never questioned our unity – We are one Pīhopatanga. The Church can know that we look to scripture and tikanga for how we care for our whole being and for others."