By Michael Morrah
For the first time in 35 years, a new archbishop of Polynesia has been installed in the Fijian capital, Suva.
Winston Halapua, an academic and former bishop in Auckland, takes up the role following the death of his predecessor.
Mr Halapua has been a critic of military rule in Fiji, but says he is prepared to work alongside the interim government.
It was a historic occasion; around 2000 supporters of Mr Halapua, including bishops from around the South Pacific, filled the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Now Mr Halapua is back in Fiji he says he has already been made aware second hand of threats about how he should behave.
Mr Halapua has come back from Auckland where he had been teaching theology at Auckland University. There he wrote an article published in 2003, in which he stated:
“The coups of 1987 and of 2000 are both linked in their contribution to Fiji's social and moral ills. Militarism [he says] weakens the economic strength of the nation, creating stress within the family unit and...leads to a breakdown in law and order."
"The truth is....it is going on. And this is not heaven. This is the reality of where I was sent to work."
Emergency regulations increasing police powers and allowing media censorship remain in place in Fiji, following Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama's military takeover of the Government in 2006, and abrogation of the Constitution last year.
Even parts of the ceremony for Mr Halapua required government permission.
Mr Halapua says he wants to reserve his judgement of the current regime.
“As you enter any new context, to be wise you need to not say too much but listen more,” says Mr Halapua.
His supporters are adamant he is the right man for the job.
“There will be challenges to any archbishop anywhere - any archbishop with face cultural, political challenges and it's no different here,” says Archbishop of New Zealand, David Moxon.
The largest church in Fiji, The Methodist Church, has already had trouble with the emergency regulations, after the government ruled it couldn't hold its annual meeting.
The general secretary of the Methodist Church was reluctant to be interviewed by 3 News, saying it could be detrimental to the church. It's a sign of the fear still felt by some in the wake of the military crackdown.
Archbishop Halapua will also have to tread carefully as he begins his new role.
3 News