WELLINGTON New Zealands bishops have asked their Maori advisory body to discourage people from lobbying for candidates to be a Maori bishop. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference met with the executive of Te Runanga o te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa in Wellington on October 17.

The executive presented their priorities for 2010, including promoting vocations among Maori and increasing the participation of youth at Mass.

The bishops assured Te Runanga they are taking aspirations for a Maori bishop seriously and explained the appointment process takes some time.

The bishops advised the executive to discourage Maori from lobbying for particular candidates and encouraged them to focus instead on praying unceasingly for all involved in the formal process to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The late Bishop Max Takuira Mariu, SM, auxiliary bishop of Hamilton from 1988 to 2005, was New Zealands first Catholic Maori bishop.

Te Runanga treasurer Danny Karatea-Goddard said the passing of Bishop Mariu was of great significance for all Maori, and there has been much discussion about a Maori bishop since.

Discussions on marae or at gatherings are in accordance with Maori custom or tikanga, he said.

But Rome has its own process for the appointment of bishops, which is respected by Te Runanga, and it is a matter of communicating this to Maori, he said.

Asked if Maori were becoming frustrated at the length of time being taken, he said they werent, and they realise the process takes time.

Te Runanga conference deputy, Bishop Barry Jones of Christchurch, said the bishops found the meeting very productive and they were impressed by the frank and clear exchange of views.

It is important for us to know what Maori Catholic people are thinking and what their concerns are.