 As vicar of Avondale, Auckland from 1968 to 1971, he gained further experience through secondment to Egglescliffe on Teesside in the United Kingdom as an industrial chaplain.On his return, he became director of the Interchurch Trade and Industrial Mission (ITIM) in Wellington.From 1980 to 1985 he was a lecturer at St John's College, Auckland before being ordained as a bishop on 7 December 1985.