The Anglican church in New Zealand has elected a new leader.
The Bishop of Taranaki, Philip Richardson, has been elected Archbishop and becomes one of three men who jointly share leadership of the church in this country.
Bishop Richardson says he is overwhelmed by the appointment but feels assured by the confidence expressed in him.
The 55-year-old, who is married with two adult children, has been the Bishop of Taranaki since 1999 and wants to continue to live and work there.
He was ordained as a priest in 1982 and has worked in Auckland, Dunedin and Whangarei.
Bishop Richardson will share leadership duties with the leader of the Maori arm of the church, Archbishop Brown Turei, and with Archbishop Winston Halapua who is Bishop of Polynesia.
He replaces Archbishop David Moxon who is stepping down in April to become the Anglican communion's chief representative to the Catholic Church in Rome.
