Donald Tāmihere
An Evening Honoring the Most Reverend Don Tāmihere,
Archbishop of Aotearoa/New Zealand
Nov. 21, 2019 | 5:30 p.m.
The Marymount Institute
Loyola Marymount University
- About the Event
- About the Honoree
- Photo Gallery
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General Information
On Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 we honored Archbishop Donald Tāmihere with the LMU President's Award. For over twenty years, Archbishop Don has been a friend, partner, and colleague of the LMU community, facilitating cross-cultural exchange and interfaith dialogue for hundreds of students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. In his role as host and guide for numerous BCLA and School of Education global immersion and study abroad trips to Aotearoa/New Zealand, he has fostered an environment of engaged learning and global citizenship that LMU endeavors to provide all of its students with.
Throughout his career of faithful service and leadership within the Māori Anglican Church, Archbishop Don has led with passion and respect for all peoples. He has embodied humble grace, profound dedication, and an inspiring vision for the future of the Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Loyola Marymount University and the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts recognize and honor him for the many ways he has and continues to nurture and preserve the indigenous culture and faith traditions of his people, and we thank him for allowing our students to experience this great work first-hand.
The LMU President's Award
The LMU President's Award is the highest non-degree honor given by Loyola Marymount University. It recognizes those who have made a profound and enduring contribution to the greater good of society. The award is conferred on a selective basis to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition for genuine achievement and distinction that enriches humanity and supports the mission of the University.
About Loyola Marymount University
LMU is a private Catholic university with 6,000 undergraduates, 2,200 graduate students and 1,100 law students from diverse backgrounds and many perspectives. Our seven colleges and schools boast best-in-the-nation programs in film and television, business, education and more. Our stunning campus in West Los Angeles is a sun-soaked oasis overlooking the Pacific coast and a model of sustainability. We're rooted in the heart of Los Angeles, a global capital for arts and entertainment, innovation and technology, business and entrepreneurship. Our mission is grounded in a centuries-old Jesuit educational tradition that produces extraordinary men and women dedicated to service and social justice. We're proud of more than 85,000 LMU alumni whose professional achievements are matched by a deep commitment to improving the lives of others.
Sponsorship
This event is made possible through the generosity of the Theological Studies Department at Loyola Marymount University, in conjunction with the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts.
The Most Reverend Donald Tāmihere
The Most Reverend Donald (Don) Steven Tāmihere was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, in 1972. He was raised on the rural East Coast where he was baptized and confirmed in the Anglican Church - a faith tradition followed by his people since 1834. He has tribal affiliations through Ngāti Porou to the iwi of the Tairāwhiti, Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, and Ngāti Kahungunu regions.
Archbishop Don studied at the College of St. John The Evangelist in Auckland from 1997 to 2001, where he majored in Church History and Biblical Studies, and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Theology. Since then, he has served in numerous management and governance capacities within the Anglican Church, both regionally and nationally, alongside roles held on various charitable trusts and volunteer initiatives. He is currently chair of the Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust, which provides social services and advocacy to at-risk youth and young families; chair of the Te Aute Trust Board, which oversees Te Aute College for Boys and Hukarere Māori Girls College; trustee for the St. Johns College Trust Board, which funds theological education; co-president of the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia; and volunteer chaplain for the St. Johns Ambulance Service in Tairāwhiti.
Ordained as a deacon in 2003 and as a priest in 2004, Archbishop Don has ministered in rural and urban communities throughout Tairāwhiti and Aotearoa. From 2013 – 2017, he served as the Tumuaki (Dean) of Te Rau Theological College in Gisborne, and as the Ministry Educator for Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Tairāwhiti (Māori Anglican Bishopric). In March 2017 he was ordained as the 2nd Bishop of Tairāwhiti, and in April 2018 he was installed as the 6th Bishop of Aotearoa and as one of the three Archbishops and Primates of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. In this three-primate system, whereby each primate corresponds to and oversees a specific Tikanga, or geographical and cultrual stream, Archbishop Don represents the Māori. At the time of his installation, he was the youngest Anglican Archbishop in the world.
Archbishop Don is passionate about Māori Anglican ministry, indigenous theology and education, social justice, climate justice, and economic development for rural and indigenous communities. He has been happily married to his wife, Temukisa (Kisa), since 1994, and together they have three children – Tiana Marie (23), Danielle (21), and Ethan (19). His two brothers, Canon Andrew Tāmihere and the Venerable Michael Tāmihere, also serve the Anglican Church as Diocesan Registrar and Dean of Te Rau College, respectively.
Please enjoy a selection of photos from the event below:
