St Paul’s Church at Rangiaowhia.
Reconciliation and partnership – these ideas have been discussed in Aotearoa for some time as we consider what a true treaty partnership looks like.
Soon it will be Waitangi Day which marks the beginning of our joint journey towards nationhood, so it is appropriate to think about what real meaning we give these words.
Christine Bryant
It is 162 years since the tragic events at Rangiaowhia, 50 years since the Waitangi Tribunal was set up and almost 40 years since Māori became an official language. How far have we come towards genuine understanding of our different world views?
The Ministry of Education endeavoured to bring Te Ao Māori and Te Matauranga Māori into all aspects of the curriculum.
The goal was in part to improve educational success for Māori ākonga. It has worked better in some areas than in others, but now it seems the pendulum may swing back towards a greater emphasis on content. This will suit some learners better than others.
However, it is obvious that the life-long work of people like Professor Tom Roa has resulted in today’s ākonga being much more at ease with te reo and more knowledgeable about Māori cultural icons and kaitiakitanga of the environment.
We have also briefly trialled a Māori Health Authority to sit alongside the Ministry of Health to improve outcomes for Māori in health.
Of course, there are questions about whether a separate authority, with all the backroom costs that implies, is the best way to achieve this goal. Perhaps the goal should have been broken down into smaller chunks, for example, by focusing on 0-5 year-olds over the first five years. Unfortunately, the initiative never had time to bed in.
In the environment space, we have been able to show how together Māori and Pakeha can restore our whenua and protect it. One of the most visible aspects is the fencing of waterways along with native plantings.
Much of this has been accomplished on a tiny budget and with a huge contribution from local marae, Forest and Bird and farmers.
From any high point around Te Awamutu, you can see burgeoning bush. The “Taiea te Taiao”/”Cherish the environment” scheme, following the Mangapiko Stream from Pirongia to Maungatautari, is already becoming a reality.
In the first month of 2026, the geo-political space is extremely unsettling. Will Europe stand firm in support of Greenland? Will the mayor of Minneapolis continue to condemn the use of force by ICE? Will Putin ever retreat from Ukraine?
As we celebrate Waitangi Day, let us give thought to how we can enhance life for everyone in our community. Let us make this more than a pious hope. It is what Jesus calls us to do. When he sends his apostles to invite people to the banquet, he says: “Go out and bring in everyone”. When he accepts the loaves and fishes from the young boy, he feeds all who are there. In our community and in our churches, there should be room for everyone to flourish.
Christine Bryant, left, and Rev Julie Guest. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
