Church feud back in court

Rev Te Kitohi Pikaahu. Photo / Northern Advocate

Two religious leaders are returning to court in an ongoing battle over $430,000 of church cash.

Bitter emotions have surfaced in the eight-year row between former friends Rev Dennis Urquhart and the Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau, Rev Te Kitohi Pikaahu.

Two bank accounts holding a combined $430,000 have been frozen since the legal wrangle began. It's hoped an Auckland High Court hearing in July will finally resolve who controls the money.

Urquhart was sacked as a priest in the Far North in 2002 by a committee headed by his former junior, the then-newly appointed Pikaahu.

However, he remained at the church property and conducted services at 19 churches in the district.

He also refused to give up signatory rights to the bank accounts.

The High Court ruled in 2007 that Urquhart must leave the property, but also that the accounts did not belong to the Anglican Church trust, Te Hui Amorangi Ki Te Tai Tokerau Trust Board. However, it did not rule which body could claim them.

Urquhart said almost all the Anglican Maori families in the area followed him and he still conducted regular services.

Pikaahu said because Urquhart would not follow church authority he was "no longer a priest of the Anglican Church".

"It's been very divisive. It's similar to Maori land claim disputes, the division is based on loyalties, for over 30 years he was at the parish.

"It's contrary to what we are actually about. Unfortunately, there will be no satisfactory outcome whatever the decision."

Bishop Pikaahu said he was an 8-year-old living in Kaitaia when Urquhart arrived at the church as priest.

Pikaahu said he studied at Oxford University and Urquhart struggled to accept his qualifications, a situation which came to a head when they both went for the Bishop's position.

"I was once the junior and I think he is jealous but won't acknowledge it."

But Urquhart said the power had gone to Pikaahu's head.

Anglican Church media officer Lloyd Ashton said Pikaahu spoke with the authority of the church.

"Whatever he says is our position."