He Kupu Whakataki
Tena tatau te whanau a te Karaiti, i roto i nga ahuatanga o te wa, te makariri me te matao. Otira, ki o tatau mate haere, haere, haere atu ra koutou ki te ringa o te atua, okioki ai.
Kia tatau e pae nei, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena hoki tatau katoa.
Pilgrims on the Sea of Kariri
Salaam!! Well what a month it was!!
An absolute highlight was the Te Rau College group scholarship haerenga to Te Whenua Tapu o Ihu, with our Te Waipounamu whanau. It was a real blessing and humbling experience to be able to travel to the Holy land with a Maori contingent of 19 pilgrims, and to be hosted by the Qumri whanau at St George’s Guest house. It was a fully indigenous pilgrimage, from beginning to end, both travellers and those hosting. To be able to visit those significant sites we've all grown up reading and learning about, to stand in the footsteps of Jesus, to pray at the Western Wall, to reflect during sunrise over the Judean desert, to renew our commitment to our faith in the river Jordan, it was the experience of a lifetime for all and we look forward to seeing future pilgrims make the journey!!
Another highlight for us as an Amorangi was the gathering of our Kahui Wahine here in Turanganui-a-Kiwa over a weekend of whakawhanaungatanga, our first in person gathering since Covid. With more than 30 wahine coming together to celebrate each other, over karakia and kai, it was a reminder that we need more of these types of events for our whanau to gather and we look forward to creating more of these opportunities. Many thanks to our Kahui Wahine president Sharlene Douglas-Huriwai for her tireless mahi in bringing us together!!
The coming months will see us busier than ever as we prepare to co-host Te Runanganui, with Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, in Heretaunga this September. Again, a first in-person gathering since covid, covering important kaupapa for us to wananga as a Tikanga. All members should have received details & registration form, which are due to be completed by this Friday, 11th August.
Lastly, I ask that we pray for our Archbishop in his mahi both here at home and abroad, with the recent retirement of Archbishop Philip, our Pihopa is now Pihopa Mataamua for the Anglican Church of New Zealand/Aotearoa. A huge responsibility but one we know he will serve well and as always with the support of his Amorangi.
Enjoy this months newsletter e te whanau...
Treena Tapine
Registrar
Nga Tapuwae o Ihu: Pilgrimage in the Holy Land
It has been said that one doesn’t go to Jerusalem, one returns to it. And after travelling sixteen thousand kilometres over two days our ope, those who had been before and waewae tapu alike, truly felt like we had returned.
Nestled amidst the ancient landscapes of te Whenua Tapu, Hiruhārama is at once strange and familiar. Home to diverse cultures and central and sacred to so many whakapono, we know we’re manuhiri in that whenua, but we also know that we are indelibly connected to it through a Rongopai that has shaped us for centuries, and the world for millenia.
A First of Its Kind
For our Mihinare rōpū, our haerenga, from 28 June to 8 July, was a first in more ways than one. Not only did we engage in a haerenga crafted exclusively for us as a Māori ope, with 19 participants from Te Tairāwhiti and Te Waipounamu, but we also integrated online learning with our physical pilgrimage.
Spiritual Reflections and Moments of Serenity
Throughout the pilgrimage, our connection to whenua, whakapapa, and pūrākau deepened. Visits to the Mt of Olives and the Old City of Hiruhārama and the Whare Karakia of the Holy Sepulchre – the site of Ihu’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection – the Jordan River – where we renewed our baptismal vows – Nazareth and Lake Galilee – where Ihu grew and ministered – and Mt Tabor – where Ihu was transfigured – all places closely tied to Te Karaiti’s ministry, allowed us to reflectdeeply on the Rongopai and our whakapono and callings. We prayed, we wondered, we cried, we sang, we anointed one another with oil, we shared in Kai Hapa, and we stood dumbfounded and in awe (and some also found time to do some shopping).
Complexities of Coexistence and Peace
Amidst the wonders of this sacred land, our ope was also confronted with the complexities of coexistence and divisions. Going through security checks to visit sites like the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock highlighted the power of shared reverence and the need for respect and appreciation among diverse faith traditions. In the town of Peterehama, the imposing concrete taiapa separating communities and encroaching on whenua served as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the local people. The rōpū reflected on the power of understanding and rongo (peace) in the face of such challenges.
Prayers for a World of Harmony
On our last day we retraced the Way of the Cross, in the Old City, walking in the footsteps of Te Karaiti’s suffering. Each station became a tapu encounter, infused with karakia, prayers, and contemplation. The journey concluded with a final Kai Hapa at Emmaus, where we reflected on Te Karaiti’s sacrifice and a timeless yet ever urgent message of aroha and redemption. The haerenga, filled with profound moments of spiritual connection and cultural appreciation left our rōpū deeply inspired to strive for peace, love, and understanding in a world often marred by division and conflict.
Building on this year’s success plans are already underway, expanding the number of Hui Amorangi involved, for next year’s haerenga.
Kahui Wahine Wananga, 21-23 July
Kahui Wahine ki te Tairawhiti came together for a Wananga in Turanga, 21-23 July. The wananga was co-funded by Te Korowai Whetu social cohesion community funding. It was a weekend to build our social networks, to realise this amazing group of wahine as our support system, to meet new members and foster belonging, fellowship, and engagement.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25a)
The Church needs womens’ ministries like Kahui Wahine.
For unity. This was the first time our Kahui Wahine could gather since Cyclone Gabrielle (actually since last year!). Wahine are essential in creating community. When we gather together, we do so in God’s name, we grow, the new are mentored, the old are honoured, we reach out to the lost, the spiritual needs of all are met.
For growth. In Wananga, we shared about our experience through Cyclone Gabrielle, how confronting it was, the difficulties we experienced, the manaaki we offered and were offered in return. We are all wonderfully and fearfully made, we are all different. Wahine learn from one others’ experiences. We don’t confine our conversations to one type of women, single women, married women, mothers, rather the totality of wahine experience is both centred and honoured.
For the old and the young. We are a ropu of all ages, we had one pepi join us for our entire Wananga, and I won’t name names, but a couple of our members are in their 80’s! We seek to be just as God has intended us to be. Wahine Maori are authentic, emotional, compassionate, strong beings. We gain wisdom from our peers and respect the balance of a tuakana-teina model.
Kahui Wahine are retreating on a leisurely cruise to the Pacific Islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu, with plenty of time to reflect on God’s call, times for prayer, and times for fellowship and whanaungatanga. Please keep calm oceans, sunny days and our wahine in your prayers as we embark on our journey in September.
But for now, please pencil in your diaries our next meeting: Saturday 11th November, Wairoa.
Naku nei, Sharlene.
Rumaki Karakia
As many of our readers are aware, Te Rau Theological College are hosting a series of Rumaki Karakia wananga throughout Te Tairawhiti, for the purpose of developing our Kaikarakia and whanau who are discerning their calls to ministry. It has been an absolute pleasure to join in fellowship with so many wonderful and exceptional servants of God.
We have been honoured to have the Rev. Zhane Tahau-Whelan providing spiritual leadership, with the estimable support of Rev. Canon Isaac Beach. As our brother in Christ often says “It has truly been a joy and a blessing”.
On the weekend of the 28th of July, we hosted our third wananga instalment in Te Matau-a-Maui.
During this wananga, we delved into a subject that invariably touches at the heart of our work in ministry, tangihanga and hura pōhatu.
For 2 days, we immersed ourselves in Karakia, Hīmene and Whakapono. This space allowed all our cohorts to share and reflect, springing forth invaluable discussion, particularly with comforting our whanau through grief with love and compassion.
It was a humbling experience to bear witness to formation, and further development of our Kaikarakia, recollecting the contributions they have made, and looking forward to the great works yet to come.
Our next Rumaki Karakia is this coming weekend, from the 11th, and will be held in Turanga-nui-a-Kiwa, at Te Rau College, 9 Temple Street.
If you have any pātai, please contact our Kaiwhakaako Tuāpapa/Ministry Formation Enabler, Haumoana Kopua-Irwin at haumoana@tairawhiti.onmicrosoft.com.
He Panui Aitua
The Reverend Canon Mona Scott (nee Munro) passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on the 14th of July.
Mona was born on the 2nd of February 1943 in Whakaki. On the 21st of April 1962, Mona married Anthony Bruce McKenzie Scott, whom we know better as Joe, in Nuhaka. They had many sons, but one daughter, Geraldine, who sadly passed away in 2017.
Mona served as Chaplain and Administrator for the late Archbishop Brown Turei for many years, from way back when the Hui Amorangi office was situated at Hukarere up on the hill. She would often recount times when she would have to hand-write letters, reports, and would laugh about the financial ledgers she helped to prepare alongside her friend, the late Rev. Sue Wolff. Both wahine were members of Kahui Wahine since its very beginnings. Their commitment to serve the Lord was inspiring.
Mona served at Nikora Tapu in Te Rohe o Turanga-Whangara. She was seldom without her guitar, singing praises to the Lord, until the winters hit and it would be too hard on her hands to strum. When she and Joe moved to Hawke’s Bay, she joined the ministry team in Te Rohe o Te Matau-a-Maui until her recent retirement.
Jesus declared to his disciples, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve."
“Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,”
Mona left a legacy of her love for Christ. A legacy of loving and serving the church. A legacy of loving and serving her whanau, the baptisms of many of her mokopuna and mokopuna tuarua, the weddings, the tangihanga, and for the many both in the church and in the community. Mona left a legacy of being a dependable friend to both young and old. She was a woman of great manaaki, always greeting manuhiri with a smile, and sharing her scones or walnut date loaf.
Mona always said she was not scared of dying, that is how great her faith was. That when it was her time, she would be excited to join her Creator in heaven.
Moe mai ra te pononga o te Karaiti, te Mareikura o te Kahui Wahine, haere atu ra.
UPCOMING DATES
11-13 Aug: Tangihanga & Hura Kohatu Wananga, Turanga
15-17 Sep: Wananga Tikanga Karakia mō Te Kaihapa, Turanga
22-24 Sep: Wananga Tikanga Karakia mō Te Kaihapa, Te Matau a Maui
28 Sep-1 Oct: Te Runanganui o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa
11-12 Nov: Hui Amorangi o te Tairawhiti (AGM), Wairoa
2 Dec: Tairawhiti Ordinations
9 Dec: Kaumatua Ball, Turanga
Click here for more info on TRC’s Wananga.
Emailing the Particulars to Births, Deaths & Marriages
Here is an update from the Registrar-General on how to email a copy of the Marriage License following a wedding.
It is important that true and correct information is recorded in the registers. After you have married the couple and the Copy of Particulars of Marriage are fully completed (date, specific place, couples signed, witnesses signed and addresses, celebrant's name and signature and denomination) email a scan or photo to bdmtoregister@dia.govt.nz:
When you send the email include the surname of both parties in the subject line.
Before you email us the Particulars, make sure the scan or image is of good quality so it is clear and easy for us to read. Attach for example, a good quality PDF or JPEG to the email. Otherwise, we may ask that you redo it.
Do not save a copy to a website so you can send us a weblink as the Particulars contains personal information that you, as the celebrant, are responsible for destroying after 4 weeks.
It is the marriage celebrant's responsibility to email the Particulars to bdmtoregister@dia.govt.nz and this should be done as soon as you can after the ceremony. BDM can only issue the couple a marriage certificate once the marriage is registered.
Retain the Copy of Particulars of Marriage for 4 weeks in case the photo or scan needs to be redone. After four weeks the Copy of Particulars must be destroyed and the email deleted.
Vacancies
Hospital Chaplain - Te Tai Tokerau 0.7FTE
Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy
Whangarei Hospital, Northland
Closes 4pm, Friday 11 August.
Hospital Chaplain 1FTE (General and Mental Health)
Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy
Middlemore Hospital, Counties Manukau
Closes 4pm, Friday 11 August.