River redemption in Palmerston North
Palmerston North’s Māori name, Papaioea, means “how beautiful it is” – and several Palmerston North Anglicans pitched in on a project recently that gave new life to that description.
Te Kawau Stream. Photo: Rev. Andy Hickman
The group, organised by Rev. Andy Hickman from our Milson Combined Church whānau, gathered at Te Kawau Stream on the 14th of March for a joint clean up operation with tāngata whenua. The clean up coincided with our diocesan Mission for Submissions on climate change, which was a perfect opportunity for practical outreach on the broader theme of creation care, said Andy. “People told me ‘stop telling me information, what is it that I can practically do?!’”
Because it was an easy on ramp to bringing God’s redemptive love to His creation, Andy said that many people – not just from the church – were keen to take part, including children.
Taking such a step was one way Anglicans could contribute towards ecological justice, but the collaboration with tāngata whenua meant that the clean up became an opportunity to demonstrate positive and redemptive actions as Treaty partners. “For tāngata whenua, streams are a food basket. They’re a great indicator of ecological health for Māori,” said Andy. “Many people I talk to are sick of feeling ashamed of colonisation, so since this was an issue that is important to iwi, we were able to back it.”
Photo: Rev. Andy Hickman
Their efforts are making a difference. Eels have long been a source nourishment for Māori but in colonial times, they were actively killed by anglers due to their eating of trout, an introduced species. Teanau Tuiono, a representative from Rangitāne iwi, told Andy that freshwater eels are gradually returning to the stream, and this is a sign that the mauri ora (life force) of the awa (stream) is being renewed.
The collaboration between church and iwi is something that keeps bringing people back, says Andy. “This is a practical expression of a spiritual reality,” he says. “God loves our world, even down to the smallest of streams, and the story of Jesus who reconciles all creation to Himself is what we get to be a part of.”
You too can be part of the ongoing clean up activities in and around Te Kawau Stream. Palmy Plastic Pollution Challenge, a City Council-backed iwi initiative, is organising ongoing clean ups of the stream, and you can see more about the next event on Facebook here.
Pray that collaborations between Anglicans in Papaioea, tāngata whenua and other sectors of society continue to bring God’s redemption to all of His creation in the city.
