Bishop takes on Waikato too

He knows the new arrangement will be demanding.

Waikato’s Anglican bishop has gone back to England and the church isn’t replacing her.

Instead, Waikato will share Taranaki’s bishop - an arrangement expected to last at least two years - while the diocese gets its finances sorted.

Waikato’s Right Reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley took up a role in Leeds in February 2018.

The Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki doesn’t have enough money to fund two bishops, so the Waikato work is being added to the job description for the Bishop of Taranaki.

The Most Reverend Philip Richardson, who is also Archbishop of New Zealand, is used to the roads between Taranaki and Waikato.

One recent trip was for Midnight Mass at St Peter’s Cathedral on Christmas Eve 2017 - one of the last services led by Hartley.

Richardson was there and managed to return for services in Taranaki the next day.

‘‘I had already picked up my motel room key in Te Kuiti on the way through. I travelled down to Te Kuiti, got a few hours’ sleep, then left about six in the morning,’’ he said.

He knows the new arrangement will be demanding, but has the support of his family and diocese colleagues.

Having two bishops in the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki had put the bishop budget into deficit in recent years, Richardson said.

So the diocese will have one bishop until it works out how to get the money for a second, and will review the decision yearly.

It will take about two years to get a clear picture of the financial situation, he said.

One bishop has covered both areas before - there was no Taranaki Bishop until 1999 and Richardson managed when the Waikato was between bishops.

Richardson will be in Hamilton every alternate week for the foreseeable future, he said, and the main difference for parishes will be longer between bishop visits.

Some church services or education sessions will be held in a central location instead of separate spots - for example, the Chrism Mass, when the bishop blesses the holy oil for the year.