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Story: Pacific churches in New Zealand

Changing churches

Video file

With the formation of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) or Ekalesia Fa’apotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa (EFKS) in 1963, Pacific church communities were divided into those with a parent church based in the Pacific Islands and those based in New Zealand. In some cases Pacific-based churches sought to join New Zealand parent churches. This 2006 clip shows the Reverend Don Ikitoelagi announcing to the congregation of the Cook Islands Presbyterian church in Flaxmere, Hastings, that they have been recognised as an official parish of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

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TVNZ Television New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Cluny Macpherson, Pacific churches in New Zealand – History of Pacific churches, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/26715/changing-churches (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Cluny Macpherson, published 21 February 2011.