In February 1840, hundreds of Māori gathered at Waitangi to consider a treaty that would shape the future of our country. The English text was translated into te reo by Anglican missionary Henry Williams and his son Edward, before being presented to the chiefs on 5 February. The following day, chiefs began signing Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Archbishop Justin Duckworth once called the church the “midwives of the Treaty”, standing in the in-between places. Missionaries worked to build relationships between Māori and Pākehā, then rolled their sleeves up to support and guide a new beginning. Afterwards, they worked to nurture and protect the commitments that had been made. 186 years later, Waitangi Day invites us once again to remember that historic event and reflect on our part in it – back then, and today.
I had the honour of sitting down with Bishop Justin to talk about the relevance and responsibilities of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Bishop Justin: Because it helps us to be at home in our land – to be more fully the people that God created us to be in this land. It is the covenant that underpins our belonging in this land, so it is central to us becoming who we were meant to be.
Bishop Justin: After a tumultuous year, with the Treaty Principles Bill and all of that, I’m interested to see what the relationships in the Māori and political spaces will look like leading into an election year. I’m interested in getting an idea of which way the country is moving – are we moving more fully in the direction of appreciating and treasuring our living history in Te Tiriti or are we choosing to turn our back on it? I’m interested in seeing where we settle after the events of last year, as a country, and also as the Church.
I went to the Rātana just last week for the Rātana celebrations, and it was really good to be there.
Bishop Justin: Yes, because we were the midwives of the Treaty, that’s right – Christians need to understand that we do have a special relationship with the Treaty that we need to take seriously. We shouldn't be ambivalent about the Treaty because we were historically so central to it.
Bishop Justin: I suppose for us as individuals to belong here we should be in a good relationship with the whenua. To enjoy – in the true sense of joy – the land. And for those of us who are Pākehā, to be in good and meaningful relationship with mana whenua. Our relationships with the whenua and the mana whenua are critical to being part of the Treaty.
Bishop Justin: I'm going to Waitangi!
Hosted by Pīhopa Te Kitohi Pikaahu (Bishop in Te Tai Tokerau), I’ll be part of the 5am Dawn Service along with other church leaders, which is a deep privilege.
Most people don't realise that on the actual day of Waitangi, other than the two church services, there are no formalities. The political stuff is done the day before. Most of it is just a really lovely festival, starting with karakia, people being together, celebrating, remembering. It's a really great day to be together and just enjoy people in a really interesting place in the world.
Bishop Justin: I think there is. Using a Celtic term, it’s one of those “thin places” where you feel like heaven and earth meet in a special way.
It's a real privilege, as a Christian, to find a place there. I'm always surprised how many people in Aotearoa don't realise that in places like Waitangi or Rātana, we can actually touch history, breathe history, and be a part of that history now. It's a real privilege. I'm always surprised that people don't live into that privilege more.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
In February 1840, hundreds of Māori gathered at Waitangi to consider a treaty that would shape the future of our country. The English text was translated into te reo by Anglican missionary Henry Williams and his son Edward, before being presented to the chiefs on 5 February. The following day, chiefs began signing Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Archbishop Justin Duckworth once called the church the “midwives of the Treaty”, standing in the in-between places. Missionaries worked to build relationships between Māori and Pākehā, then rolled their sleeves up to support and guide a new beginning. Afterwards, they worked to nurture and protect the commitments that had been made. 186 years later, Waitangi Day invites us once again to remember that historic event and reflect on our part in it – back then, and today.
I had the honour of sitting down with Bishop Justin to talk about the relevance and responsibilities of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Bishop Justin: Because it helps us to be at home in our land – to be more fully the people that God created us to be in this land. It is the covenant that underpins our belonging in this land, so it is central to us becoming who we were meant to be.
Bishop Justin: After a tumultuous year, with the Treaty Principles Bill and all of that, I’m interested to see what the relationships in the Māori and political spaces will look like leading into an election year. I’m interested in getting an idea of which way the country is moving – are we moving more fully in the direction of appreciating and treasuring our living history in Te Tiriti or are we choosing to turn our back on it? I’m interested in seeing where we settle after the events of last year, as a country, and also as the Church.
I went to the Rātana just last week for the Rātana celebrations, and it was really good to be there.
Bishop Justin: Yes, because we were the midwives of the Treaty, that’s right – Christians need to understand that we do have a special relationship with the Treaty that we need to take seriously. We shouldn't be ambivalent about the Treaty because we were historically so central to it.
Bishop Justin: I suppose for us as individuals to belong here we should be in a good relationship with the whenua. To enjoy – in the true sense of joy – the land. And for those of us who are Pākehā, to be in good and meaningful relationship with mana whenua. Our relationships with the whenua and the mana whenua are critical to being part of the Treaty.
Bishop Justin: I'm going to Waitangi!
Hosted by Pīhopa Te Kitohi Pikaahu (Bishop in Te Tai Tokerau), I’ll be part of the 5am Dawn Service along with other church leaders, which is a deep privilege.
Most people don't realise that on the actual day of Waitangi, other than the two church services, there are no formalities. The political stuff is done the day before. Most of it is just a really lovely festival, starting with karakia, people being together, celebrating, remembering. It's a really great day to be together and just enjoy people in a really interesting place in the world.
Bishop Justin: I think there is. Using a Celtic term, it’s one of those “thin places” where you feel like heaven and earth meet in a special way.
It's a real privilege, as a Christian, to find a place there. I'm always surprised how many people in Aotearoa don't realise that in places like Waitangi or Rātana, we can actually touch history, breathe history, and be a part of that history now. It's a real privilege. I'm always surprised that people don't live into that privilege more.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
