epiScope

Tribute to Hillary

Nine days of intense preparation
The New Zealand Herald
January 22, 2008

The Rev Ross Bay, Dean of Auckland, said the final details of Sir Edmund's funeral service had been arranged after nine days of intense preparation and planning.

"It will be a very good occasion, one that we believe is going to be a very fitting tribute to Sir Ed in the music that's included, the things that are read, the tributes that are made by family and friends," he said.

"I think [the service] will allow us as a nation to remember well, and to honour, and to make our farewells."

The Hillary family wished for a culturally inclusive service.

The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, John Paterson, who will officiate the state funeral service, said the eyes of the world would be on New Zealand during the service.

"For decades, Sir Edmund has been the most trusted, the most respected New Zealander, and this is providing an opportunity for the people of the nation to pay their respects to Sir Ed in a respectful and worthwhile manner."

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Anger in New Zealand over royal 'snub' to Hillary's funeral
Matthew Weaver
Guardian Unlimited
January 21, 2008

The royal family's decision to "snub" the funeral tomorrow of Sir Edmund Hillary has prompted anger in New Zealand as thousands of people filed past the explorer's coffin today.

Hillary's body lay in state in Auckland's Holy Trinity Anglican cathedral, to let ordinary New Zealanders pay their respects but the row about the absence of any royal family member travelling to New Zealand for the funeral, is threatening to tarnish the service.

A palace spokesman said the governor general, Anand Satyanand, would represent the Queen and that a rare memorial service would be held for Sir Edmund at Windsor Castle in April.

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News from all over

Anglican Bishop accuses Govt. of interference
By Sam Strangeways
Bermuda Royal Gazette
November 8, 2007

The Anglican Bishop has accused Government of interfering in church affairs in an "entirely inappropriate" way over the issuing of work permits to non-Bermudian clergymen.

Bishop Ewan Ratteray has reignited a long-running row with the Department of Immigration about the issue in his November newsletter to churchgoers — and hit out at some members of his own flock whose behaviour he describes as "reprehensible".

Bishop Ratteray, who said relations with current Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess were greatly improved, writes that the Anglican Church's relationship with Government with respect to appointments to parishes has long been a "matter of deep concern" to him.

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Archbishop demands Govt apology for raids
By DAN EATON
The Press (NZ)
7 November 2007

New Zealand's top ranking Anglican archbishop has waded into the row over last month's anti-terror raids, comparing police treatment of Maori to the persecution of the Jews in ancient Egypt.

Archbishop Brown Turei, leader of the Maori strand of the church and the most senior of New Zealand's three Anglican primates, called for the Government and police to apologise for the way the raids were executed.

He likened the Terrorism Suppression Act used in the raids to efforts early last century to assimilate Maori.

"This is Pharaoh and the Hebrews in Egypt all over again," Turei said.

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Uganda: Bank Officials Arrest Impersonator
John Augustine Emojong
The Monitor (Kampala)
7 November 2007

SECURITY officers at Orient Bank Kampala on November 1, arrested Sekisambu Godfrey alias "Joshua" for impersonating the Chaplain of the Bishop of Bukedi Diocese, Rev. Joshua Iroota.

Godfrey Sekisambu from Nfufu Zone in Zaana,Wakiso district was after his arrest detained at CPS Kampala. Sekisambu who was also in possession of a fake ID purporting to be a driver of Global Transporters used Postal Add ress 70 Pallisa in his transactions.

Tororo District CID Officer Mr. Stephen Akol told The Daily Monitor that Sekisambu communicated to Canon Keith Price from the Anglican Church in UK claiming to be Rev. Joshua Iroota from Bukedi Diocese. Canon Keith is a friend and development partner of Bukedi Diocese.

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Fighting bishop

Bishop Vercoe fights Agent Orange from grave
By KRISTIAN SOUTH
Sunday News (NZ)
4 November 2007

BISHOP Te Whakahuihui Vercoe is fighting for the rights of Maori Vietnam War veterans from beyond the grave.

The former head of New Zealand's Anglican Church who died aged 79 in September after a lengthy battle with brain cancer gave a chilling deathbed testimony pleading that his landmark $170 million Waitangi Tribunal claim for the vets shouldn't die with him.

"When it was clear that he wasn't going to live, we videotaped a deposition to be used in the proceedings and when we switched the cameras off he sat me down with him and his exact last instructions were, `This has to go on for the wives and the children'," the lawyer spearheading the claim, Paul Harman, last night told Sunday News.

Bishop Vercoe lodged the Waitangi Tribunal claim on behalf of Kiwi Vietnam veterans not covered by the government's controversial Agent Orange compensation package.

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+Vercoe

Eminent Anglican church leader dies
TVNZ (New Zealand)
Fri 14 Sep 02:29:01 2007

An eminent Anglican church leader not afraid of controversy has died. Bishop Whakahuihui Vercoe aligned himself with groups seeking justice and championed the rights of the poor.

He also had strong views on the Treaty of Waitangi and raised the hackles of the gay community and women bishops.

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Maori Party mourns the loss of a 'radical bishop'
By Maori Party

Aue, aue! Kua tau te hau tonga, ara te hau makariri o te ringa kaha o Aitua. Kei te rangatira, kei te Pihopa Matamua, haere atu ra ki o taua tupuna matua. He whariki mo matou nga morehu o nga waka. Haere te rangatira, haere.

The Maori Party today expressed its sadness at the passing of the first Maori Bishop of the Anglican Church and the former Archbishop of New Zealand, the Most Reverend Whakahuihui Vercoe.

“Bishop Vercoe lived a life which fully reflected the spirit of his name, Whakahuihui, to gather together” said Dr Pita Sharples.

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