The first Māori Dean of Waiapu
Shared from
Anglican Taonga
First published 6 July 2026
The Venerable Ruihana Paenga, Archdeacon for Leadership in Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa, has been appointed Dean of Waiapu, the first Māori dean of the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Napier.
It is the first appointment since the cathedral became home to two bishops’ seats, and was made jointly by the Bishop of Waiapu, Rt Rev. Andrew Hedge, and Archbishop Don Tamihere. Bishop Hedge described it as a step towards authentic bicultural ministry in the region. The new dean comes from Tikitiki in the Waiapu Valley.