The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) is the main Presbyterian church in the country of New Zealand.

History

The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was formed in October 1901 with the amalgamation of churches in Synod of Otago and Southland with those north of the Waitaki River.

Presbyterians had by and large come to New Zealand as settlers from Scotland, Ireland and Australia. Dunedin and Waipu were Presbyterian settlements, but significant numbers were found in other parts of the country including Christchurch, Port Nicholson (Wellington), and Auckland. Ministers came with the first European settlers to Wellington, Otago and Waipu, but generally nascent congregations called ministers from Scotland. Missions to the Maori people focused on the Tuhoe people and led to the establishment of Maori Synod, now known as Te Aka Puaho.

Ethnic diversity grew after World War II with the arrival of Dutch and European

International Connections

• World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC)
• Council for World Mission (CWM)
• Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)
• World Council of Churches (WCC)

Breakaways

Several groups have broken away from the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand because of its liberal theology. One group under George Mackenzie left in the 1960's and formed the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.

Often confused for a breakaway church is Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand , which was actually a group of independent churches that united. The confusion is sometimes made because the church contains a large number of former members of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zew Zealand who have sought a more theologically conservative alternative.