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Minutes of the General Assembly 2012
and places. She was courageous in her long working life and faced the challenges of
change in the role of women in the Church’s ministry and in the PSSA.
We give thanks to God for Beryl's long service as a deaconess, nurse and minister.
Poutasi, Rev Samuelu
17 September 1944 – 21 September 2011
Rev Samuelu Poutasi’s work history was grounded in counselling, pastoral care, client
management and chaplaincy. He worked with a hands-on approach to facilitate change
in people’s lives. Sam had a deep empathy for those who experienced loss and grief.
Sam had a sensitivity and sensibility for working with people. He was a quiet and warm
person. He could be still and reflective in an ever-changing environment that he could
convey to others to allow them to be still as well.
Sam’s work and interest with different languages and cultures was a result of
understanding his Samoan roots and the Aotearoa New Zealand context and a deep
respect for difference in belief, race and culture.
Sam immigrated to New Zealand in 1966 with the support of an uncle. From 1964-
1973, he served as Senior Laboratory Assistant in the National Cancer Research
Laboratories at Otago University Medical School. Sam supported professionals with
research in cancer for over 10 years. He had noted the full circle of his involvement
here as he believed his father passed from cancer and Sam was finally diagnosed with
bowel cancer.
He was married in 1962 to Karen Davidson. Then they travelled overseas to Europe. It
was in Europe that Sam thought of joining the ministry and the call became more
persistent during his journey of understanding a more personal God and with arrival of
three children, Catherine, Namouta, Makerita and Apinelu, who were born after Sam
was ordained.
Sam graduated from Knox Theological College with his Licentiate in Theology in 1984,
and was ordained by the Presbytery of Auckland in 1986. Sam viewed his work as a
minister as lightening the burden of those who are heavy laden by being a vehicle for
God’s love to inspire and transform their hurts and pain into new lives.
He particularly focused on pastoral work with those who were ill. Sam did further
clinical pastoral education training at the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston
in 1984-1985, which he viewed as a time of major growth for him. In 1988, he received
full accreditation as a hospital chaplain by the InterChurch Advisory Council on Hospital
Chaplaincy.
Sam was a chaplain for 12 years, including nine years at Wellington Hospital. His work
included visiting clients at the psychiatric day unit as Sam was interested in mental
health issues. He encouraged and supported clients, given his previous work in
chaplaincy at Carrington Psychiatric Hospital. Sam’s work contributed to the
therapeutic environment of the Psychiatric Unit as he was always available and always
willing to provide support. Staff described him as warm, supporting and encouraging. A
clinical nurse specialist described him as a “helper to the dispirited”. The trust clients
showed in Sam was evident by their willingness to open up to him.
Sam also worked with families in crisis when a loved one was sick or terminally ill. He
also worked with people with disabilities in the hospital and community environments.
46 Session 2