This morning, as the first light touched the hills of Whakatū, I stood among a gathering at Anzac Park for Parihaka Day – a dawn blessing to honour Te Whiti-o-Rongomai, Tohu Kākahi, and the community of Parihaka. The air was filled with karakia and waiata, voices rising to remember a legacy of peace and unwavering faith. Among those present were members of the Anglican community, including a group from the Nelson Cathedral and a number of young adults who are preparing for a hīkoi to Waitangi next February.
Parihaka, founded in the late 1860s, stood as a beacon of peace during a time when conflict and land confiscations were tearing apart Māori communities. Te Whiti and Tohu led this community with deep conviction, drawing on both Māori tikanga and Christian teachings to establish a place where non-violence and justice were core principles. Their leadership was shaped by the teachings of Jesus, particularly the call to be peacemakers. As he says in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
This wasn’t just an idea at Parihaka, it was a way of life. The true test of this commitment came on November 5, 1881, when Crown troops invaded Parihaka. Instead of meeting them with force, the people of Parihaka offered songs and bread, embodying Christ’s radical love in the face of aggression. The aftermath was devastating. Homes were destroyed, leaders arrested, and the community scattered.
Being there this morning, surrounded by our Anglican whānau, I felt the profound relevance of Parihaka’s story. It’s not just history, it’s a call to action for us as Christians in Aotearoa. Te Whiti and Tohu’s approach showed that faith is not passive. It demands that we confront injustice with peace, personifying the teachings of Jesus in a way that transforms not just ourselves but our communities. Parihaka teaches us that the gospel is about action – about being peacemakers and advocates for what is right.
As we reflect on the legacy of Parihaka and the way of Jesus, the great peacemaker, may we be inspired to embody those principles every day, in every space we inhabit.
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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.
This morning, as the first light touched the hills of Whakatū, I stood among a gathering at Anzac Park for Parihaka Day – a dawn blessing to honour Te Whiti-o-Rongomai, Tohu Kākahi, and the community of Parihaka. The air was filled with karakia and waiata, voices rising to remember a legacy of peace and unwavering faith. Among those present were members of the Anglican community, including a group from the Nelson Cathedral and a number of young adults who are preparing for a hīkoi to Waitangi next February.
Parihaka, founded in the late 1860s, stood as a beacon of peace during a time when conflict and land confiscations were tearing apart Māori communities. Te Whiti and Tohu led this community with deep conviction, drawing on both Māori tikanga and Christian teachings to establish a place where non-violence and justice were core principles. Their leadership was shaped by the teachings of Jesus, particularly the call to be peacemakers. As he says in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
This wasn’t just an idea at Parihaka, it was a way of life. The true test of this commitment came on November 5, 1881, when Crown troops invaded Parihaka. Instead of meeting them with force, the people of Parihaka offered songs and bread, embodying Christ’s radical love in the face of aggression. The aftermath was devastating. Homes were destroyed, leaders arrested, and the community scattered.
Being there this morning, surrounded by our Anglican whānau, I felt the profound relevance of Parihaka’s story. It’s not just history, it’s a call to action for us as Christians in Aotearoa. Te Whiti and Tohu’s approach showed that faith is not passive. It demands that we confront injustice with peace, personifying the teachings of Jesus in a way that transforms not just ourselves but our communities. Parihaka teaches us that the gospel is about action – about being peacemakers and advocates for what is right.
As we reflect on the legacy of Parihaka and the way of Jesus, the great peacemaker, may we be inspired to embody those principles every day, in every space we inhabit.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
