The announcement Dr James would be the 12th dean was made at a 10am service at the cathedral yesterday.
The dean's warden, Hugh Campbell, said Dr James (62) would move to the city with his wife Christine, and would be installed as the dean on March 15.
He replaces the Very Rev David Rice, who finished at St Paul's after six years in the role in May and became the youngest bishop in the country when he was ordained Bishop of Waiapu at St John's Cathedral, Napier, in June.
Dr James has more than 30 years' experience in parish ministry and in teaching theology, in New Zealand and internationally.
He has a PhD in theology from Kings College in London.
He has taught in universities in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong and served as a priest in parishes including Hampstead, Murupara, Darwin and Kowloon.
His wife is an ordained deacon and has a masters degree in counselling.
St Paul's Cathedral people's warden Meg Kornmayer said Dr James had also held roles as the vicar of St Mary's Anglican Church, Hawera, and was the Waikato diocese's theologian.
He has written extensively on New Zealand and commonwealth literature and English literature of the 17th century.
His passions include crime fiction, fly fishing, cooking and dogs.
Dr Campbell said the dean elect had "very strong" university and community links and he expected the cathedral's involvement with the community to continue.
