| Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand | |
|---|---|
 Burning bush logo | |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Reformed |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Moderator | Taimoanaifakaofo Kaio |
| Region | New Zealand |
| Origin | 1901 |
| Separations | |
| Congregations | 419[1] |
| Members | 29,000[2] |
| Ministers | 400 |
| Official website | www |
ThePresbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) is a major Christian denomination inNew Zealand. A part of theReformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in New Zealand,[3] and known for its relatively progressive stance on doctrine and social issues, in comparison with smaller Presbyterian churches in the country.Presbyterianism was introduced to New Zealand by early 19th-century settlers, particularly from Scotland and Ireland. It was historically most prevalent in theOtago region. The PCANZ was formed in 1901 by amalgamating southern and northern Presbyterian churches. It claims around 29,000 members.[2]
The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was formed in October 1901 with the amalgamation of churches in theSynod of Otago and Southland (which had a largelyFree Church heritage) with those north of theWaitaki River.[2]
Unlike other major Christian churches, the Presbyterians did not sendmissionaries to New Zealand.[4] Presbyterians had come to New Zealand as settlers fromScotland,Ireland andAustralia.Dunedin (founded in 1848) andWaipu (founded in 1853) were specifically Presbyterian settlements,[4] but significant numbers of Presbyterians settled in other parts of the country, includingChristchurch,Port Nicholson (Wellington), andAuckland. Ministers came with the first European settlers to Wellington, Otago, and Waipu, but generally, nascent congregations were called ministers from Scotland. Missions to theMāori people focused on theTuhoe people and led to the establishment of the Māori Synod, now known asTe Aka Puaho.[citation needed]
In 1862, the Presbytery of Auckland had support from thePresbyterian Church of Ireland and applied for support from theUnited Presbyterian Church of Scotland.[5]
In 1906, 23 per cent of New Zealanders (203,600) identified as Presbyterians.[4]
Ethnic diversity grew after World War II with the arrival ofDutch and otherEuropean immigrants, and more recently withPasifika andAsian migrants. In 1969, the majority ofCongregational churches joined the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. The word "Aotearoa" became part of the denomination's title in 1990, affirming thetreaty partnership between the indigenous Māori and the subsequent settlers. As of 2014[update], PCANZ has 419 congregations.[1]
The Presbyterian Church is governed by a series of courts (councils) at local, regional and national levels. The church's leader is called amoderator and is elected by the national court.[6]
In 2006, the denomination claimed 29,000 members in 430 congregations and 400ministers.[2] According to the2013 census, a significantly higher 8.5 per cent of the New Zealand population, or 330,516 adherents, claimed some form of affiliation with the Presbyterian Church.[7]
The Presbyterian Social Services Association (PSSA) – subsequently known as "Support" – began operating in the early 20th century.[8]
In October 2022, Presbyterian Support Otago's (PSO) chief executive, Jo O'Neill, acknowledged during theRoyal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care that at least six historical cases of abuse had occurred at its Glendining Presbyterian Children's Homes inAndersons Bay in Dunedin. O'Neill also testified that records about children housed under PSO's care had been deliberately destroyed by an alleged paedophile ring between 2017 and 2018. O'Neill also apologised to abuse survivors.[9] In response to O'Neill's testimony, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand launched an inquiry into an alleged pedophile ring operating within Dunedin's Presbyterian community.[10] On 5 November, the Presbyterian Church confirmed that it had appointed aKing's Counsel to investigate the paedophile ring allegations.[11]
In September 2023, theOtago Daily Times reported that the Presbyterian Church's general assembly moderator, Right Rev Hamish Galloway, had declined to compensate a sexual abuse survivor known as "Anna" because the Presbyterian Support Services Association (PSSA) was a separate organisation from the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. During her childhood, Anna had been raped, drugged, and trafficked among a paedophile ring of PSSA members inSouthland,Otago, andChristchurch. Anna has asserted that the two organisations were linked and criticised the Church for its perceived unwillingness to take responsibility for the wrongs committed by its support organisations. Network of Survivors in Faith-based Institutions spokeswoman Liz Tonks criticised the Presbyterian Church's abuse redress process.[12]
In late July 2024, former Presbyterian Support Otago CEO Gillian Bremner was named in the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care as having instructed a staff member between 2017 and 2018 to destroy records linked to historical abuse. The only records preserved were the registers of names and dates of children and young people in the organisation's care. Male Survivors Otago denounced Bremner's actions as "despicable."[13] On 26 July, Cooper Legal partner Sam Benton lodged a formal complaint against theNew Zealand Law Society's president, Frazer Barton, after revelations that he had advised the PSO that it could destroy the records of all children in its care. Barton had previously served as a PSO board member at their destruction.[14][15] Barton subsequently took leave from his position as president of the Law Society. Barton toldThe New Zealand Herald that he had only provided "informal advice" to Bremner and denied advising her to destroy the documents.[16] On 26 July, PSO CEO Jo O'Neill resigned for undisclosed reasons. O'Neill had succeeded Bremner as CEO following her resignation. O'Neill had stated that "destroying the records was not a decision I would have made."[17]
In late September 2025, moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford issued an apology to abuse survivors who had been in the care of the Presbyterian Church. This apology was in response to the findings of theRoyal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care into historical abuse at religious and state-run institutions. 50 survivors attended the first apology ceremony at theOtago Museum in Dunedin on 27 September.[18] A second apology ceremony was held in Auckland on 4 October.[19]
Several groups have broken away from the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand because of itsliberal theology.
In the late 1940s, migrants from the Netherlands settling in New Zealand expected to find their spiritual homes in existing churches of Reformed persuasion, particularly the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Instead, they found it "less Reformed in doctrine and practice than they had hoped."[20] They felt that the Declaratory Act of 1901 (which said that "diversity of opinion is recognised in this Church on such points in the Confession as do not enter into the substance of the Reformed Faith therein set forth"[21]) had "opened the doors of the Presbyterian Church to various 'winds of doctrine'."[22] As a result, theReformed Churches of New Zealand were officially established in 1953.
One group under George Mackenzie left in the 1960s and formed the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.[citation needed]
The other breakaway church isGrace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, which was formed from a group of pre-existing independent churches and several churches that left the PCANZ after the homosexual controversy of 2003. These united into a new Presbyterian denomination for New Zealand.
In 2003, the Church decided to allow ministers in sexual relationships other than marriage. This was overturned in 2004, and in a meeting of theGeneral Assembly of the Church on 29 September 2006, this was confirmed by 230 votes to 124 (a 65% majority). This prevents people in de facto or gay relationships from becoming ministers in the church. It does not apply to people ordained before 2004.[23] However, some liberal clergy have opposed this policy. In particular, St Andrew's Church on the Terrace in Wellington has announced that it supports same-sex marriage.[24] St Andrew's church has been blessing same-sex civil unions since 2005.[25] In 2014, when same-sex marriage became legal, St Andrew's Church also began performing same-sex marriage ceremonies.[26] Other congregations have also chosen to support same-gender marriage.[27]
At the beginning of the 20th century, life was harsh in Dunedin for those on the margins. [...] The plight of orphaned and neglected children moved a group of deaconesses, headed by Sister Mary McQueen, to open a series of children's homes under the banner of Presbyterian Social Services Association (PSSA), now Support.
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