2010 AGM
While the Cook Island drummers drummed and their dancers danced, the Moderator (The Rev Tau BenUnu)
forgot to get the members of the Synod Executive up to join in! They were relieved as none of the Europeans present at the dinner of the 2010 Synod Annual meeting would have been able to match the Cook Islanders! The Cook Islanders were celebrating the induction of the first ever Pacific person as Moderator of the Synod, and what's more it was one of their own. This marked this AGM as a significant event in the Synod's life. The evening was simply great. Great food provided by the people of the Mataura parish and wonderful dancing and
singing from the Cook Islanders which provided the opportunity for the majority European culture to see and share the Pacific culture of the Cooks. The Invercargill people drummed and danced in Cook Island fashion and the Dunedin people sang an action songs and a rua metua (Cook Island hymn) composed by one of their members. The contribution of these two groups was greatly appreciated by the gathered guests. The Pacific flavour was continued on the Saturday when the Rev. Karima Fai'ai, one of the guest speakers, highlighted the involvement of Pacific people in the Synod's life. You can read his address here.The Mataura parish hosted the gathering because the incoming Moderator the Rev. Tau BenUnu pastors that parish. Mataura people responded to the challenge and provided the catering for the dinner and other meals including breakfast on Saturday morning. Over a hundred and seventy sat down to dinner on Friday night. A great effort.
The meeting began on Friday evening the 16th of April with Christine Hansen, the outgoing Moderator, inducting Papa Tau into the Moderator's role. Saturday was the main business day and each of the funding committee's presented their reports and each highlighted that this year there has been less funding than in the past few years which made their work more difficult. It had been hard to have to say no or not be able to give as much too very worthwhile applications. Their reports can be accessed here: Educational Fund: Ecclesiastical Fund: Mission and Evangelism Fund
As well as the Funding Committees, the non Funding Committees and staff of the Synod also reported along with the National Mission Enabler (John Daniel). These reports can be accessed here: Ministry Resource Committee: Synod Life: Mission Advisor: Mission 
Advisor Address: Youth Coordinator: Youth Coordinator Address: Kids Friendly Advisor: Kids Friendly Advisor Address: National Mission Enabler Report.Between reports other guests spoke. Roger Harrington of St. Andrew's Invercargill told of the new life that is becoming apparent in their congregation and of things that are happening since last year's report on the Synod web site. There are continued signs of growth and new life as the congregation builds on its contact with a local primary school. Roger also challenged others – if this can happen in St. Andrews, many who thought was on it's last legs, then why is it not possible for others as well. St. Andrew's story is on the web here.
Yvonne Wilkie presented the Church Archives report, Bruce Aitken the report for Knox and Salmond Colleges and Kevin Ward the one for the Knox Centre for Ministry and LeadershipThe meeting closed with communion on Saturday afternoon lead by the Moderator.
