In recent years, there has been great tension between the Archdiocese and the current Ecumenical Patriarch, [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] concerning the elevation of one of the auxillary bishops of Australia, [[Joseph (Harkiolakis) of New Zealand|Joseph]], to the metropolitanate of New Zealand. While some letters were exchanged and published through the Archdiocese-owned Greek newspaper, The To Vema, the elevation of Metropolitan Joseph remains in effect and unchanged.