Wiremu Netana Panapa (1898–1970) was a New Zealand Anglican Suffragan Bishop in the second half of the 20th century. He was born on 7 June 1898, educated at St John's College, Auckland and ordained in 1921. After

curacies A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'') ''of souls'' of a parish. In this sense, "curate" means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy ...

in the Diocese of Auckland he was its

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

Diocesan

Missioner A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

New Zealand Māori squad to play Australia in 1937

In 1937 he was a selector for the New Zealand Māori rugby league team along with

Jim Rukutai Puhipi James Rukutai (1877 – 11 January 1940) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) and coached New Zealand. The Auckland Rugby League's minor premiership, the Ruku ...

, and

Ernie Asher Ernest "Ernie" Asher (21 April 1886 – 10 April 1973), also known as Te Keepa Pouwhiuwhiu, was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand Māori and New Zealan ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

he was a Chaplain to the New Zealand Forces. When peace returned he held incumbencies in Rotorua and

Taupō Taupō (), sometimes written Taupo, is a town on the north-eastern shore of Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, in the central North Island. It is the largest urban area of the Taupō District, and the second-largest urban area in the Wa ...

before being appointed Suffragan Bishop of Aotearoa in 1951. In the

1954 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1954 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1954 to celebrat ...

, Panapa was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

. He retired in 1967 (before 29 October) and died on 10 June 1970.

Notes

1898 births New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Anglican bishops of Aotearoa 1970 deaths New Zealand military chaplains World War II chaplains 20th-century Anglican bishops in New Zealand New Zealand military personnel of World War II New Zealand Māori people {{Anglican-bishop-stub