Archbishops’ statement on Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti
18 November 2024
E Ihowa Atua, o ngā iwi mātou rā.
Āta whakarongona
Me aroha noa.
Kia hua ko te pai
Kia tau tō atawhai
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa
Ngā rārangi maunga, tu te ao, tu te pō. Ngā rārangi tangata, ngaro noa, ngaro noa.
Toitū te kupu o te Atua, me ōnā manaakitanga. Toitū te Tiriti o Waitangi ki te whenua, ki ngā iwi o katoa o Aotearoa.
The Treaty Principles Bill calls us to embody our Christian values in action. Archbishop Don and Archbishop Justin will join thousands at Te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Wellington to protest the bill and reaffirm our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Powerful images of the national hīkoi emphasise the kotahitanga between Māori and Tauiwi—people singing, praying, and walking in solidarity, symbolising a nation of peace and harmony.
Many of us stand firm in the pursuit of partnership, social justice, and equity, which can be achieved by supporting Te Tiriti o Waitangi. A cause we began as Anglicans in the early 1800s, and one we must see through to the end.
Some of us have hesitated on this issue as a response to the fears and anxieties that true partnership can evoke. As with Christianity, Te Ao Māori is rooted in values of hospitality and respect, always extending manaakitanga to others.
We are the Church of Te Tiriti, integrating a Te Tiriti o Waitangi-based framework that upholds the principles of partnership and bicultural development. Our Three Tikanga streams represent a forward-looking approach to co-governance, thoughtfully shaped in response to the legacy of colonial oppression.
Each Tikanga has enriched the Church through its unique expression of Anglicanism. The Tikanga model is not flawless, but as Anglicans, we have the capacity for self-reflection and critical assessment, enabling the Church to adapt and grow over time.
As Galatians 3:28 (NRSV) reminds us, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." This verse speaks to the equality of all people, each person is accorded the same dignity in Christ, challenging the Church to break down barriers and seek unity in Christ.
We encourage our communion to continue working across Tikanga, to learn, speak openly, march, and actively engage in conversations about the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We must continue to give voice to its significance and keep it alive in the national consciousness.
Archbishop Don Tamihere
Archbishop Justin Duckworth
Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa
Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia