Don Tamihere Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Grace The Most Reverend
Donald Steven Tamihere
Province:Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Diocese:Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tairāwhiti Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa
Enthroned:11 March 2017
Predecessor:Brown Turei
Ordination:11 March 2017
Consecration:11 March 2017
Consecrated By:Philip Richardson and Winston Halapua
Birth Name:Donald Steven Tamihere
Birth Place:Gisborne, New Zealand
Nationality:New Zealander (Māori)
Religion:Anglicanism
Residence:Gisborne
Children:3
Profession:Clerk in Holy Orders
Alma Mater:Saint John's Theological College

Donald Steven Tamihere (born 1972) is Te Pīhopa o Te Tairāwhiti (Bishop of Te Tairāwhiti). He was ordained as a bishop in March 2017, succeeding Archbishop Brown Turei.[1] [2] Since April 2018, Tamihere has also served as the Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa, the Bishop of the Maori Anglican Church and Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand.

Before his election as bishop, Tamihere was Tumuaki (Dean) of Te Rau College and Ministry Educator for Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tairāwhiti.[3]

Early life

Tamihere was born in Gisborne in 1972 to Don and Catherine Tamihere. His early childhood was spent in Te Puia Springs and Ruatoria, and his teenage years in Tokomaru Bay. At age 12 Tamihere was confirmed by Bishop Peter Atkins at Mangahanea Marae in Ruatoria. He began teaching Bible in schools at the age of 15. At 19, Tamihere left Tokomaru Bay to study at the Apostolic Church's Te Nikau Bible College in Paraparaumu. In 2001 he graduated from Saint John's Theological College with a master's degree in theology.

Ordained ministry

Tamihere was deaconed at St Mary's Church, Tikitiki, on 23 March 2003, and priested at Holy Trinity Gisborne on 5 December 2004.

In October 2016, following Brown Turei's resignation as Bishop of Te Tairāwhiti, Tamihere was nominated to succeed Turei at an electoral college held in Toko Toro Tapu church in Manutuke.[4] Tamihere was ordained and installed as second bishop of Tairāwhiti at Porourangi Marae in Ruatoria on 11 March 2017.[5] [6]

Personal life

Tamihere met Temukisa Saifiti while studying at Te Nikau Bible College and they married in 1994. The marriage was officiated by Archdeacon Hone Kaa. Tamihere has three children. Tamihere's two younger brothers are also involved in the Anglican church, the Ven Michael Tamihere succeeded his brother as Dean of Te Rau College, while Andrew is the Diocesan Registrar for Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tairāwhiti.

Notes and References

  1. News: Murray, Justine . Whakapono [religion] is part of our DNA ]. 5 May 2017 . Radio NZ . 16 April 2017 . 17 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170517230229/http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/teahikaa/audio/201840168/%27whakapono-religion-is-part-of-our-dna%27 . live .
  2. Web site: Our People . Te Pihopa o Te Tairawhiti . 5 May 2017 . 25 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171025021816/https://tairawhiti.org/people/ . live .
  3. News: Bishop Tamihere looking to community. 5 May 2017. Waatea News. 10 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171025073315/https://waateanews.com/Waatea+News.html?story_id=MTU4NDM=&v=117 . 2017-10-25 . dead.
  4. News: Peters, Mark. From 'Coastie kid' to bishop. 5 May 2017. Gisborne Herald. 23 December 2016. 27 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180227210827/http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2601199-135/from-coastie-kid-to-bishop. dead.
  5. News: Bishop Donald Tamihere installed as new bishop for Te Tairāwhiti. 5 May 2017. TVNZ. Te Karere. 12 March 2017. 29 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200829130811/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY6XdPB0cD8&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  6. News: Ordination of the new Bishop of Tairawhiti. 5 May 2017. Te Pihopatanga o Te Tairawhiti. 15 February 2017. 24 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171024154246/https://tairawhiti.org/news/2017/2/15/ordination-of-the-new-bishop-of-tairawhiti. live.