The Cook Islands community in Auckland and Tokoroa is mourning the passing of the Rev William (Bill) Cuthers this week, known to many as “Tima”.
A stalwart of the PIPC church in Ferguson Road Otara for many years, Rev Cuthers entered the seminary relatively later in life, at the age of 50.
Prior to that he had lived a full life in Otara, helping to found the Otara church – where he served as Session Clerk for many years – and support the wider Cook Islands community.
He’s credited with helping to get the Cook Islands congregation’s Uapou Fellowship off the ground from 1973, an event that’s now a part of wider church life which continues to this day.
Rev Cuthers was Born in the Cook Islands in 1934, one of eight children born to Mama Aeretakitai Cuthers (Nee Utanga) and Papa William Cuthers.
Raised by his paternal Grandmother, Mama Ngara, he attended Avarua School in Rarotonga and led an active life playing rugby for the Avatiu Club and joining the Avarua Boys Brigade.
In 1954 he married Jean Maggie Samuel in Rarotonga before the couple and their young children at the time decided to move to New Zealand three years later.
Work took him to the forests of Tokoroa and Rotorua – where many other Cook Islanders had found gainful employment at the time – before he moved the family to Otara where he and Maggie bought a home to raise their children in. In all, the couple had seven children.
In 1984, Rev Cuthers decided to attend the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand Theological Hall, Knox College in Dunedin, to study for the ministry and in 1986 he was duly ordained.
Not long after, he moved to Tokoroa to head the St Luke’s PIPC Parish, a community with a large Cook Islands population which Rev Cuthers was very familiar with.
Understandably he made a seamless transition and remained in the parish for nearly18 years, taking a full part in community and church life leading an extensive building project for the current manse and Church Hall, completing the project in July 1999.
In 2000 he was appointed moderator at the Pacific Islands Synod’s annual conference and held this role for two years. And in 2003, he was recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list with a QSO for community service.
He retired from his position at St Lukes in 2004 but continued to serve the community over the next few years on National Committees, including the Assembly Business Committee and the Council of the Assembly.
Among the many bereavement posts on social media, was one made by members of the Tokoroa parish community who expressed their sadness in the following tribute:
“Throughout his ministry, Papa Bill was more than just a spiritual leader; he was a true visionary who brought together individuals from all walks of life, fostering unity and understanding within our diverse community. His warmth, kindness, and commitment to serving others will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Rev Cuthers is survived by his wife Maggie and many children, grand-children and great grand-children.
