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.


Donald Steven Tamihere
ProvinceAnglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
DioceseTe Pīhopatanga o Te Tairāwhiti Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa
Installed11 March 2017
PredecessorBrown Turei
Orders
Ordination11 March 2017
Consecration11 March 2017
by Philip Richardson and Winston Halapua
Personal details
Born
Donald Steven Tamihere

1972 (age 51–52)
NationalityNew Zealander (Māori)
DenominationAnglicanism
ResidenceGisborne
Spouse
Temukisa Saifiti
(m. 1994)
Children3
ProfessionClerk in Holy Orders
Alma materSaint John's Theological College

Before his election as bishop, Tamihere was Tumuaki (Dean) of Te Rau College and Ministry Educator for Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tairāwhiti.[1][3]

Early life

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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.[1][3]

Ordained ministry

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Tamihere was deaconed at St Mary's Church, Tikitiki, on 23 March 2003, and priested at Holy Trinity Gisborne on 5 December 2004.[3]

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.[3][4] Tamihere was ordained and installed as second bishop of Tairāwhiti at Porourangi Marae in Ruatoria on 11 March 2017.[5][6]

Personal life

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Tamihere met Temukisa Saifiti while studying at Te Nikau Bible College and they married in 1994. The marriage was officiated by Archdeacon Hone Kaa.[1] 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.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Murray, Justine (16 April 2017). "Whakapono [religion] is part of our DNA". Radio NZ. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Our People". Te Pihopa o Te Tairawhiti. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Tamihere looking to community". Waatea News. 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  4. ^ Peters, Mark (23 December 2016). "From 'Coastie kid' to bishop". Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Bishop Donald Tamihere installed as new bishop for Te Tairāwhiti". Te Karere. TVNZ. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Ordination of the new Bishop of Tairawhiti". Te Pihopatanga o Te Tairawhiti. 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
Religious titles
Preceded by Pīhopa o Aotearoa
2018–
Incumbent
Preceded by Pīhopa o Te Tairāwhiti
2016–
Incumbent