Harold Koi
SUVA (The Fiji Times: Pacific Media Watch): He was one of the true sons of the Pacific people who strode for peace and tranquillity.
For Fiji, it was Sir Paul Alfred Reeves who went on to chair the Fiji Constitutional Review Commission from 1995 until 1997, culminating in Fiji's readmission to the Commonwealth.
On 12 December 2007, Sir Paul returned to Fiji to dialogue with the government to try to resolve Fiji's political situation after the 2006 transition.
New Zealand's media reports called him the man of two cultures.
Reports said the features of Sir Paul Reeves' character — his rascally humour, deep sense of what was right and wrong and strong faith was celebrated at the state funeral.
The former Archbishop of New Zealand, and latterly chancellor at the Auckland University of Technology, died last weekend after a short battle with cancer.
He was 78.
Following a three-day public tangi, the state funeral was held on Thursday at the Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral in the suburb of Parnell.
The funeral service was broadcast live on Radio New Zealand National with commentary.
A life of service
Sir Paul Reeves became Archbishop of New Zealand in 1980 and served as Governor-General from 1985 to 1990. At the end of his term as Governor-General, he moved to New York as the first Anglican Consultative Council representative at the United Nations.
He was among church leaders who set off from Cape Reinga on the Hikoi of Hope against poverty.
In later roles, Sir Paul chaired the Bioethics Council, directed and chaired the QEII National Trust Board, and was briefly dean of the Maori Anglican Theological College. Sir Paul was made an honorary member of the Order of New Zealand on Waitangi Day in 2007.
Education
Sir Paul was educated at Wellington College and at Victoria College, University of New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington), where he graduated a BA in 1955 and an MA in 1956. He went on to study for ordination in the Church of the Province of New Zealand at St John's College, Auckland, receiving his Licentiate in Theology in 1958.
Sir Paul was ordained deacon in 1958. After serving a brief curacy at Tokoroa, he spent the period 1959-64 in England. From 1959 until 1961 he was an Advanced Student at St Peter's College, Oxford (BA 1961, MA 1965) as well as Assistant Curate at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. He was ordained priest in 1960. He served two further curacies in England, first at Kirkley St Peter (1961-63), then at Lewisham St Mary (1963-64).
Returning to New Zealand, Reeves was Vicar of Okato St Paul (1964-66), lecturer in church history at St John's College, Auckland (1966-69), and director of Christian education for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland (1969-71).
Ministry as bishop, archbishop, and primate in 1971, Reeves was appointed Bishop of Waiapu and consecrated to the episcopate. He was Bishop of Auckland 1979-85 and Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand 1980-85.
Involvement in politics
During this time, he also served as chairman of the Environmental Council (1974-76); he was a supporter of Citizens for Rowling (the campaign for the re-election of Labour Prime Minister Bill Rowling); and he served as president of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand (1984-85).
In 2004, Reeves made a statement in support of a New Zealand republic, stating in an interview: "... If renouncing knighthoods was a prerequisite to being a citizen of a republic, I think it would be worth it".
He is survived by his wife Beverley, Lady Reeves, and their three daughters.
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