The Rev’d Di Woods will be installed as the new Dean of Waiapu Cathedral in a special church service on Thursday 19 May at 7pm.

Waiapu Bishop Andrew Hedge will officiate at the installation service at the Cathedral and diocese clergy will welcome Di to her new parish. 

For the last six years Di ahas been serving in Wellington as Principal Chaplain, Class 2 (Wing Commander) for the New Zealand Defence Force.  

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Band will play during the service to ‘hand over’ Di to her new parish.  Di has been a member of Wellington’s Bach Choir and some of the singers will travel to Napier to join with the Cathedral Choir for her installation, accompanied by the cathedral organist and the Cathedral Strings.  

Originally from the United Kingdom, she fell in love with Hawke’s Bay on her overseas experience.  She describes Waiapu as her tūrangawaewae in Aotearoa, “so I have a sense of going home”.  

“I am looking forward to the ‘helter skelter’ – going round again but going deeper at each revolution – to a greater depth of ministry with fresh eyes. Discovering who the Waiapu family are now, years on from when I was last there, and helping to rebuild and renew the faith community after the ravages of Covid,” she said.

Di Woods trained for the ministry at the Bible College of New Zealand in Auckland (now Laidlaw College). She has enjoyed parish ministries in Tauranga, Taradale and Remuera, and defence chaplaincy in Wellington, East Timor and Crete. 

All are welcome to the installation service.  So we can provide hospitality for all, please advise if you are coming to admin.cathedral@waiapu.com.