<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wayne |first=Hilda |last2=Lester |first2=Kim |last3=Lucas |first3=Rachael |last4=Sistas |first4=Dan Smith for |last5=Talk |first5=Let's |date=2023-05-17 |title=Women have historically been excluded from church leadership — but in the Pacific, that's changing |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/pacific-women-taking-on-church-leadership-roles/102352034 |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=ABC Pacific |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vakasukawaqa |first=Arieta |date=2020-10-21 |title=Rev Lomaloma: Churches no longer silent on violence against women and girls |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/rev-lomaloma-churches-no-longer-silent-on-violence-against-women-and-girls/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=The Fiji Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-24 |title=Fiji churches urged to practise what they preach |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380794/fiji-churches-urged-to-practise-what-they-preach |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonelevu |first=Salaseini |date=2024-06-23 |title=Church cleans up mess |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/church-cleans-up-mess/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=The Fiji Times |language=en-US}}</ref> {{Infobox diocese | jurisdiction = Diocese | name = Polynesia | image = Guard Suva MatthiasSuessen-8368.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = Holy Trinity Cathedral in Suva | coat = File:Diocese_of_Polynesia_Coat_of_Arms.jpg | coat_size = | coat_alt = | coat_caption = Coat of arms of the Diocese of Polynesia | country = Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa | cathedral = Holy Trinity Cathedral, Suva | parent_church = Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia | bishop = Sione Uluʻilakepa | bishop_title = Bishop and co-primate | assistant_bishops = Gabriel Sharma (Viti Levu West)<br />Henry Bull (Vanua Levu and Taveuni) | dean = Orisi Vuki | archdeacons = Famausili Chris Solomona<br />Taimalelagi Fagamalama Tuatagaloa-Leota<br />Kensington Fifita<br />Henry Rogo<br />Orisi Vuki<br />Henry Manulevu | website = {{URL|https://www.anglican.org.nz/Directory/Diocese-of-Polynesia/Diocese-of-Polynesia}}
}}The '''Diocese of Polynesia''', or the '''Tikanga Pasefika''' serves Anglicans in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands, within the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The diocese's first bishop was consecrated in 1908. The diocese's cathedral is Holy Trinity Cathedral in Suva, Fiji.
Polynesia is a diocese, and its Bishop is automatically accorded the style ''archbishop'' and the formal prefix ''Most Reverend''. Under the model of leadership adopted by the Anglican Church in New Zealand, the Bishop of Polynesia is automatically one of the three primates and archbishops. Each of these three is metropolitan archbishop to his respective ''tikanga'', share the primacy and can serve in the one position held for the province on the international Anglican Communion Primates' Meeting.
==Bishops== ===Bishops of Polynesia=== * 1908–1921: Clayton Twitchell * 1922–1962: Stanley Kempthorne * 1962–1968: John Vockler * 1969–1975: John Holland * 1975–2010: Jabez Bryce (also: Acting Primate of New Zealand, 1997–1998; Co-Presiding Bishop / Pīhopa Aporei (Pasefika), 1998 2008; Primate / Pīhopa Mātāmua and Archbishop, 2008 onwards) * 2010–2018: Winston Halapua (also Primate / Pīhopa Mātāmua and Archbishop) * 2019–2021 (d.): Fereimi Cama<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader|url=https://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/cama_ordained|access-date=2021-10-20|website=www.anglicantaonga.org.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader|url=https://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/features/extra/fereimicama_dp|access-date=2021-10-20|website=www.anglicantaonga.org.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-12 |title=New Bishop of Polynesia named |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/375728/new-bishop-of-polynesia-named |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> (also Primate / Pīhopa Mātāmua and Archbishop) * 2023–present: Sione Uluʻilakepa (also Primate / Pīhopa Mātāmua and Archbishop; nominated November 2022;<ref name="su-nom">{{cite web |website=Anglican Taonga |title=Nine go forward for +Polynesia |date=13 March 2023 |url=https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/dop_ec |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123211713/https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/dop_ec |archive-date=23 January 2023 |access-date=17 May 2023 }}</ref> sanctioned December;<ref name="su-san">{{cite web |website=Anglican Taonga |title=Polynesia elects new Archbishop |date=13 March 2023 |url=https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/polynesia_elect |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205050229/https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/polynesia_elect |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=17 May 2023 }}</ref> and consecrated 11 March 2023)<ref name="su-con">{{cite web |website=Anglican Taonga |title=+Sione Polynesia takes the lead |date=13 March 2023 |url=https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/sionedop |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322052126/https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/sionedop |archive-date=22 March 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mateboto |first=Pauliasi |date=2023-03-13 |title=Ulu’ilakepa ordained as Bishop of Polynesia |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/uluilakepa-ordained-as-bishop-of-polynesia/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=The Fiji Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Suffragan bishops=== Anglicanism first came to Samoa around 1890; in 1897, Alfred Willis, Bishop of Honolulu, visited Apia to baptise eight and confirm eleven people; he retired to Tonga in 1902 and was licensed assistant bishop in Tonga by Twitchell in 1913.<ref>Honoré, Christopher. "The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia" in ''The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to the Anglican Communion'' (2013) (p. 381.)</ref>
On 27 August 1967, Fine Halapua<!--Fine Tengaʻila Halapua--> was consecrated a bishop, to serve as an assistant bishop of the diocese and called suffragan Bishop of Nukuʻalofa;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MV3kAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA70|title = The Living Church|year = 1967}}</ref> he retired at the end of 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kinderlibrary.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/44#idx15871|title = Proceedings of the General Synod: 43rd General Synod, 1978}}</ref> On Lady Day (25 March) 1994, Viliami Halaʻapiʻapi<!--Viliami Lausiʻi Maealiuaki Halaʻapiʻapi--> was consecrated Assistant Bishop of the diocese;<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://anglicat.kinderlibrary.ac.nz/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=408404|title=The episcopal ordination of the Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Polynesia the Venerable Viliami Lausi'i Maealiuaki Hala'api'api and the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Association of Anglican Women, Holy Trinity Cathedral Suva, Fiji on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 25th March, 1994 at 10.00 a.m|year=1994}}</ref> called Father Bill, he died in office in early 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Proceedings of the General Synod: 56th General Synod, 2004|url=https://kinderlibrary.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/56|access-date=2021-10-20|website=John Kinder Theological Library}}</ref>
Between 2004 and 2006, the diocese created six "units": three Episcopal Units (i.e. led by bishops) and three Archdeaconry Units (i.e. led by archdeacons). By 2006 these were: Northern (the Bishop in Vanua Levu and Taveuni); Vitu Levu West; and the Archdeaconries of Suva & Ovalau, of Tonga, of Samoa, and of American Samoa;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Proceedings of the General Synod: 57th General Synod, 2006|url=https://kinderlibrary.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/57|access-date=2021-10-20|website=John Kinder Theological Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-28|title=Mission Units - Anglican Diocese of Polynesia|url=http://www.dioceseofpolynesia.org/mission-units.html|access-date=2021-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828042109/http://www.dioceseofpolynesia.org/mission-units.html|archive-date=2016-08-28}}</ref> the diocese's Episcopal Units Act 2008 founded three units: in Vanua Levu and Taveuni, in Viti Levu West and in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dioceseofpolynesia.org/uploads/2/3/8/5/23858056/_acts_of_the_diocese.pdf |title=THE DIOCESAN SYNOD ACT 1997 |publisher=Diocese of Polynesia |access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref>
On 10 April 2005, three assistant bishops were consecrated for the diocese: Halapua, who served Polynesians in mainland New Zealand until 2010; Apimeleki Qiliho, Bishop in Vanua Levu and Taveuni (until 2017), in Viti Levu West (2014–2017), and an Assistant Bishop (2017–18); and Gabriel Sharma<!--Gabriel Mahesh Prasad Sharma-->, Bishop in Viti Levu West (until 2013 and again 2017–present).<ref name="lec19">[http://anglican.org.nz/content/download/50400/254201/file/2019%20Lectionary%20.pdf ACANZP Lectionary, 2019] (p. 145)</ref>
On 17 September 2017, 'Afa Vaka<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-19 |title=First Bishop ordained for Anglican Church of Tonga |url=https://matangitonga.to/2017/09/19/first-bishop-appointed-anglican-church-tonga |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-23 |title=Tonga funeral for bishop of Anglican Diocese of Polynesia |url=https://matangitonga.to/2025/04/23/tonga-funeral-bishop-anglican-diocese-polynesia |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}}</ref> was consecrated a bishop; he served as "Bishop in Tonga", overseeing the newly constituted episcopal area;<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-19|title=First Bishop ordained for Anglican Church of Tonga|url=https://matangitonga.to/2017/09/19/first-bishop-appointed-anglican-church-tonga|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Matangitonga|language=en}}</ref> he retired effective 23 July 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url-access=limited |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/712235738912252/1488483707954114 |archive-date = 2022-04-27| url = https://www.facebook.com/Diopolynesia/posts/1488483707954114 |title = Anglican Diocese of Polynesia on Facebook |website=Facebook}}{{cbignore}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> Henry Bull<ref>{{Cite web |last=Silaitoga |first=Serafina |date=2017-12-10 |title=Bull ordained as North bishop |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/bull-ordained-as-north-bishop/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=The Fiji Times |language=en-US}}</ref> was consecrated bishop on 3 December 2017 to serve as bishop in Vanua Levu and Taveuni.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-14|title=NEWS/EVENTS|url=http://www.dioceseofpolynesia.org/newsevents.html|access-date=2021-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114160354/http://www.dioceseofpolynesia.org/newsevents.html|archive-date=2017-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader|url=https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pasifika/stones|access-date=2021-10-20|website=anglicantaonga.org.nz}}</ref>
== Other notable people == Taimalelagi Fagamalama Tuatagaloa-Leota, also known as Archdeacon Tai
Reverend Sereima Loimaloma<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vakasukawaqa |first=Arieta |date=2020-10-21 |title=Rev Lomaloma: Churches no longer silent on violence against women and girls |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/rev-lomaloma-churches-no-longer-silent-on-violence-against-women-and-girls/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=The Fiji Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Bishops of Polynesia}} {{Province of New Zealand}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Diocese Of Polynesia}} Polynesia Category:Anglicanism in Fiji Category:Anglicanism in New Zealand Category:Anglicanism in Samoa Category:Christianity in American Samoa Category:Christianity in the Cook Islands Category:Anglicanism in Tonga