Presbyterian Research Centre

Presbyterian Research Centre Presbyterian Research Centre comprises
Hewitson Library & the Presbyterian Archives,
located at Knox College in Dunedin

The Archive & Library for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

11/10/2026

The Presbyterian Research Centre Archives will be closing early today at 2.30pm. We're sorry for any inconvenience this might cause.

We were saddened to hear of the recent death of the Very Rev. Bruce Hansen. Bruce was born in Wellington in 1943 and gre...
11/10/2026

We were saddened to hear of the recent death of the Very Rev. Bruce Hansen.
Bruce was born in Wellington in 1943 and grew up there. He was a keen junior sportsman, playing both rugby and cricket. After completing a Bachelor of Commerce Degree at Victoria University in 1965, he entered the Theological Hall in 1966, and in the same year he and Alison were married.
After completing his studies in 1968 he served briefly at Green Island, before travelling to the United States where he studied for his Masters in Theology at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, focusing on Pastoral Psychology.
In 1971 Bruce and Alison returned to New Zealand and Bruce began ministry in the Popotunoa Parish at Clinton in South Otago. They stayed there for five years before moving to St. Andrew’s, Hastings, which also included a Cook Islands congregation. This was followed by a move to Knox Church, Christchurch in 1985, where Bruce was to remain for the rest of his ministry.
In 1998 he was elected as Moderator of the General Assembly. This was a difficult time in the life of the Presbyterian Church and Bruce urged the need to be reconciled and accepting of each other.
He retired in 2001 and received the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) in 2002. Bruce had always been involved in a wide number of fields, including with the Bible Society, Birthright, and the ecumenical movement. This continued in retirement, where he took on roles including Chairperson of the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees and co-ordinator of the Retired Minister’s Group. He also had roles with the Law Society and the Anglican Church and had a long involvement with the Maurice White Native Forest Trust, responsible for a regenerating native forest at Hinewai on Bank’s Peninsula.
Our condolences are with Alison and the family at this time.

"Feasting on the Word" is a very helpful series of aids for pastors and lay leaders, based entirely upon the Bible readi...
07/10/2026

"Feasting on the Word" is a very helpful series of aids for pastors and lay leaders, based entirely upon the Bible readings for each and every Sunday in the three-year Common Lectionary cycle. Hewitson Library now holds these complete series as unlimited ebooks, for your use:

Preaching:
https://hewitson.mykoha.co.nz/cgi-bin/koha/opac-shelves.pl?op=view&shelfnumber=449&sortfield=title

Worship:
https://hewitson.mykoha.co.nz/cgi-bin/koha/opac-shelves.pl?op=view&shelfnumber=450&sortfield=title

Children's sermons:
https://hewitson.mykoha.co.nz/cgi-bin/koha/opac-shelves.pl?op=view&shelfnumber=448&sortfield=title

01/10/2026

The Presbyterian Research Centre Archives will be closing at 2.30pm today. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Address

3 Arden Street, Opoho
Dunedin
9010

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+64 (03) 4730777

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