Te Whakahuihui (Hui) Vercoe was born at Torere, ōpōtiki, and was educated at Torere Primary School, Feilding Argricultural High School, College House, Christchurch, and Canterbury University. He graduated with a Cert. of Soc. Studies, L.Th [JBTS] and L.Th [Aotearoa]. He was ordained into the Anglican ministry in 1951 and from 1951-53 was an Assistant Curate of Feilding. From 1953-54 he was priest in charge of Wellington Māori Pastorate and from 1954-58 he was pastor of Wairarapa Māori Pastorate. From 1958-61 he was pastor of Rangitikei-Manawatu Māori Pastorate and from 1961-71 he was chaplain in the armed forces. Bishop Hui Vercoe has been officiating minister in the Auckland Diocese (1964-65) and in the Christchurch Diocese (1961, 1965-71). He was chaplain and principal of Te Wai Pounamu College from He was Assistant Māori Missioner in Christchurch from 1971-73 and vicar of Ohinemutu from He was priest in charge of Ruatoki-Whakatane Pastorate and Te Kaha Pastorate from He was archdeacon of Tairawhiti from 1978-81, Vicar General of the Bishopric of Aotearoa from 1978-81 and was consecrated Bishop of Aotearoa/Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa at Houmaitawhiti Marae Rotoiti, 4 April, 1981. In 2004 he was ppointed Primate and Archbishop of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. He retired in 2006. He was awarded M.B.E in 1970 and in 2000 was made a Principal Commander of the Order of Merit of New Zealand for services to Māori and the community. He wrote non-fiction articles and "published many papers on the place of Māori people in the Anglican faith, and translated the Anglican prayer Book into Māori." He was a founder of the Anglican Indigenous Network, a world wide organisation. Bishop Vercoe has stated: "my contribution has been through the General Synod in the restructuring of the Anglican Board of Missions and the Commission for the restructuring of theological and total ministry training for the whole church which was passed at the General synod in the 1980s."
Biographical sources
- Correspondence and phone conversation with Archbishop Hui Vercoe on 31 Jan 1993, and 17 Aug. 1998.
- Te Ao Mārama: Regaining Aotearoa: Māori Writers Speak Out. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 2: He Whakaatanga O Te Ao: The Reality. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1993. 83
- Te Hahi O Te Porowini O Niu Tireni: Church Of The Province Of New Zealand: Clerical Directory 1988. No further details.
- Marks, Kathy. "The Right Rev Whakahuihui Vercoe: Māori Archbishop of New Zealand." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-right-rev-whakahuihui-vercoe-402903.html 20 Sept. 2007.
Biography
- "When Pākeha Were Māori." Growing up Māori. Ed. Witi Ihimaera. Auckland, N.Z.: Tandem, 1998. 162-166.
Non-fiction
- "To Go into the Unknown and Find Ourselves." Te Hikoi Ki Waitangi 1984. [Otara, N.Z.]: Waitangi Action Committee, Aug 1984. 68-71.
- Vercoe states that in this article he was ‘calling on people to have faith - and what you believe will come to fruition.’ This article also focuses on the Treaty of Waitangi in order ‘to crystalise it a bit more in terms of the aspirations of the Māori and realtionship with Māori and Pakeha.’
- "Diocesan Boundaries and Re-Structure, General Synod, 1986." Proceedings of General Synod, 1986. No further details.
- ‘It was a premonition of what was going to happen in 1992 when the new constitution was going to come in and the three tikanga principle was born out of that. It was given at General Synod to bring the Bishops much closer to their constituents and bringing the dioceses smaller.’
- "By the Rivers of Babylon." New Zealand Herald 6 Feb. 1990. No further details. Rpt. in Te Ao Mārama: Regaining Aotearoa: Māori Writers Speak Out. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 2: He Whakaatanga O Te Ao: The Reality. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1993. 83-84.
- This is the text of Vercoe’s address at the 1990 Treaty commemorations at Waitangi attended by Queen Elizabeth II. Using Psalm 137 as his text, Vercoe states that the partnership established by the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi has resulted in one of the partners being marginalised and the Treaty promises not being honoured. He urges the Government not to ‘reduce the principles of the Treaty...’
- "Waitangi Day Address: A Legacy of Promise, 1990." Bring Me Justice. Ed. Earle Howe. Auckland, N.Z.: Anglican Provincial Bicultural Education Unit, [c. 1991].
- Vercoe states: ‘The 150 years celebration had such a promise within itself for renewing our commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi and to crystalise the relationship with Māori and Pakeha with the Treaty as its foundation.’
- "Pihopatanga Initiatives in the Area of Theological and Ministry Education.’ Rotorua, N.Z.: Te Pihopatanga, 1996.
- ‘The Enablers programme was succeeded by the Whare Wananga o te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa based on the national qualification requirements for tertiary edcuation in the field of theology and ministry. That is how we train our people from five training centres throughout the Bishopric.’
- "Submissions to Government on Behalf of the Mokomoko Family. For the Pardon of Their Ancestor re Volkner murder." Bring Me Justice. Ed. Earle Howe. Auckland, N.Z.: Anglican Provincial Bicultural Education Unit, [c. 1991].
- Vercoe’s presentation to the government asking for the pardon.
Other
- Tikanga Rua. General Synod’s Commission on the New Constitution, 1988. No further details.
- Vercoe states that this was ‘the attempt by the church for an educational programme on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and partnership between Māori and Pakeha. The Bi-cultural Commission of the Treaty and Partnership.’
- Te Whakapapa o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa/The Mission Statement And Profile Of The Bishopric Of Aotearoa. Christchurch, N.Z.: Profile Partners In Mission; Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, 1992.
- A publication by the Pihopatanga and presented to the Partners in Mission in Christchurch, N.Z. about the regionalisation of the Bishopric of Aotearoa into its 5 episcopal regions that are existence today.’
Papers/Presentations
- The Enabler Training Scheme for Ordained, Layreaders, Women, Youth, Men [1989-1993.]
- ‘Those schemes were a programme set up by the Bishopric to train ministers in the field known as non-stipendiary priests.’ A whole series of lectures and training conducted over five years. No further details.
Other
- "Vietnam Padre." In ‘People and Places.’ Te Ao Hou 67 (1969): 36-37.
- "Bishop Vercoe: Bound for the Boardroom?" Tu Tangata 33 (1986/ 87): 3.
- A discussion with Bishop Vercoe concerning the rumoured possibility that he would be asked to head the Māori Radio Board.
- "Outspoken Archbishop Vercoe Dies Aged 80." Dominion Post 14 Sept. 2007. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/archive/national-news/18093