New role for bishop

Wellington: The Pope has appointed Christchurch Bishop Paul Martin to a role where he can potentially become the future Archbishop of New Zealand.

Pope Francis has made Bishop Martin coadjutor — Archbishop of Wellington.

In the role he will assist the current Metropolitan Archbishop of Aotearoa, Cardinal John Dew.

The Catholic Church said coadjutors usually stepped into the role they were assisting with when the incumbent bishop retired.

Bishop Martin has served as Bishop of the Diocese of Christchurch since 2018.