Te Waipounamu Bishop the Right Reverend Richard Wallace has died.

His death was announced by his daughter on Saturday afternoon.

Wallace took on the role of Bishop of Te Waipounamu, which was established in 1996.

He was second to be elected, and the first of Ngāi Tahu descent and was ordained at Ōnuku in January 2017.

His first role was as an assistant minister in Christchurch, but in 1989 he was installed as the first Māori Missioner for Nelson.

Over 12 years in Nelson he progressed through the ranks of Canon and Archdeacon, before relocating to Hokitika to become the Archdeacon of Te Tai Poutini.

Born at Little River in 1945, Richard Wallace grew up in a Rātana and Anglican home.

He completed high school in Motueka, before joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force, serving as an aircraft technical engineer for 11 years. 

His daughter Susan Himemoa Wallace said “we are still processing the devastating & unexpected loss of our pāpā & Pīhopa o Waipounamu Richard Wallace.

“I wanted to confirm on behalf of our whānau that overnight he heard & answered the call of our kaihanga, “Haere mai koutou e taimaha ana, a, māku koe e whakaokioki”.

“He left us here bereft & heartbroken having spent the last few days doing what he has always done, looking great & fulfilling his calling in service & pastoral support of our Uncle’s final journey back to Wairoa.

“We are on our way with māmā to bring the love of her life home to Te Waipounamu & while we have yet to finalise arrangements, we’ll be back Monday (time to be confirmed) & taking him to Te Pā Mihinare o Waipounamu – The College where he will lay.

“We will share more details as they are firmed up but we are so grateful that he is surrounded by & in the safe hands of people who love him.

“Thank you for the much needed prayers, aroha & messages, they are all appreciated.

As my pāpā loved to say, “he tangata poto, he kōrero poto”, so I will keep this short.

E te pāpā, ki au tō moe.”

Speaking at the time of his episcopal declaration, Wallace said his term would be a time to forge new relationships between the Maori Anglican Diocese of Te Waipounamu and tangata whenua of the South Island.