E NEWS 11th September 2026
Talofa lava, tēnā koutou, kia ora, and warm Pacific greetings.
Last Friday at SAOTT we hosted the Spirituality, Wairua Healthcare Conference in our church hall for the whole day. It was a great opportunity to catch up with some former “Scarfy” colleagues who are now working as chaplains. Among them was Richard Egan, now Associate Professor of Health at the University of Otago, and it was also lovely to see Ross Scott there. We studied together close to 40 years ago at Otago.)
Kate Sanders Catholic Chaplain at Wellington Hospital on the left we flatted for 2 years together, me and Richard Egan.
On Saturday, I attended the opening of Alison Leauane’s exhibition, Mālamalama, at Pātaka Art + Museum in Porirua. Mālamalama speaks of light or illumination, and the exhibition explores the relationship between light and darkness, the reminder that even in the darkness, there is light.
Alison’s work, created from intricately embroidered wire, is quite extraordinary and clearly a labour of love. If you happen to be passing through Porirua, I encourage you to stop in and have a look. The exhibition is on until around the middle of October and is well worth a visit.
Then on Sunday, after worship, we had the pleasure of joining Michael Parker in celebrating his 80th birthday. It was lovely to mark such a special milestone together as a church community. Happy 80th birthday again, Michael!
I’ve just come from the welcome event at the New Zealand International Convention Centre for the Independent Schools of New Zealand conference. It was good to catch up with three teachers who have come from Jakarta, Indonesia, and are part of the wider independent schools community. Our friend David Seymour gave the opening address.
It was also good to meet up with a fellow Presbyterian minister and to catch up with our Chair from Queen Margaret College. I didn’t know many others there, but tonight was really about welcoming everyone and making those first connections.
The conference begins officially tomorrow morning at 8.20am with a mihi whakatau and continues through until Saturday afternoon. Hopefully, once it finishes, I’ll have a little time to catch up with family before flying back to Wellington on Sunday morning.
On Sunday afternoon, I’ll be taking part in Dying Matters at Wellington Library from 2.30–4.30pm. It promises to be an interesting and important conversation, and hopefully I might see some of you there.
This Sunday Rosemary Lawrence is leading our “Singing Sunday service with favorite & special hymns”. Should be great.
For now, though, I think an early night is called for before tomorrow’s early start! Hopefully the Auckland weather stays warm and, even better, dry. Have a lovely weekend, everyone. Tofa soifua, Fei
You can read the full E-newsw here: https://mailchi.mp/a3537b848211/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-10142436
