A former Sydney minister who moved with his family to serve in Tasmania, has died in a hiking accident.

James Poland, 48, was reported missing by his wife Elizabeth when he failed to return from a solo hike while on holiday in New Zealand.

Mr Poland, a father of four, was holidaying in the Fiordland National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island.

Police believe he fell about 100 metres to his death on a steep slope near Lake Adelaide.

A helicopter retrieved his body on Sunday afternoon.

University ministry

Mr Poland did ministry training at the University of New South Wales in the 1980’s, before going to Moore College.

He held a variety of ministry positions, including working at the Anglican Church in Kangaroo Valley before the family moved to Tasmania.

Most recently, Mr Poland had been a Chaplain working with students on UTAS Launceston campus and associated with St John’s Anglican Church in Launceston.

Memorial details released

It has now been announced that Mr Poland’s body will be cremated in New Zealand, and there will be a thanksgiving service at St John’s Anglican Church in Launceston at 11am on Thursday 3rd Feb.

There will be a memorial service in Sydney at St Matthias, Centennial Park, on Friday 4th Feb at 2pm.