Celebrate Te Rā o Waitangi

Bishop Justin writes,

For me as a follower of Jesus, I thank God for what happened at Waitangi. I thank God that in 1840 we were welcomed here. Christians were welcomed here. We see that the missionaries were in some senses the midwives of the treaty, that gives us a beautiful place to belong in this land, where we can all flourish in this land.

And in some senses, we can live more fully into what God wants us to be in this place. So, for me, I thank God for Waitangi. I thank God for what happened back then. I know there are many cases, particularly as Pakeha, where we have not lived into the promise of it in the way we should have but, for me, I still think that promise is a promise that I totally want me and my children's children to continue to live into and want to continue to live for.

I think the promise of this land, the beauty of this whenua and the blessing of this land is enhanced by the Treaty and it allows us to create something wonderful here, something beautiful.

So, as followers of Jesus, we should be, we should be contending, contesting to make sure that reality comes into being and we should not allow the Treaty to be put on the mat to be shuffled aside but understand that God works through the Treaty to bring His fullness and His kingdom in this place. So, I encourage you to get involved and to celebrate Waitangi and to take responsibility, wherever you are to live into that reality more truly.

Bless you.

Te Rā o Waitangi events:

We know many of us enjoyed tuning into the events from Waitangi (online) and taking part in events locally.

The dawn service, organized by Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau, is always a highlight and this year was no exception.

View the dawn service here (the sermon begins at the 30 minute mark).

Of note, was the sermon by Dr Alistair Reese. Recommended!

View the dawn service here (the sermon begins at the 30 minute mark).

Locally, there were many events on to celebrate Waitangi day and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi’s place in Aotearoa.

A march to parliament drew thousands of supporters to speak against the Treaty Principles Bill. Members of St Tom’s Wellington South at the March.

While National Library was open for tours to view and learn about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and He Whakaputanga (Declaration of Independence 1835).

Next week, Rev Jax Clarke will share on her visit to the Waitangi celebrations but for now, please tell us what you or your parish did to celebrate Waitangi day.