DOCSLIB.ORG

Crucified God Tells Us to Love

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Crucified God Tells Us to Love MARCH 2008 APRIL 2016 CrucifiedCrucified GodGod tellstells usus toto lovelove Susan Thompson with her photographs of crosses from the Church of the Mortal Agony of Christ at Dachau (left) and the Chapel of San Damiano in Assisi. he cross as a symbol of dated and distasteful in its with the suffering of the world visited churches, museums and Susan says a visit to the love and solidarity with emphasis on sacrifice. Some and even shares in its pain. galleries where they saw lots of Dachau Concentration Camp those who suffer was the women saw the cross as a “Like Moltmann, I was crosses. She says some were was the most sobering message of an Easter symbol of violence reflecting the particularly touched by the cry elaborately beautiful, others were experience of the trip. exhibition of nature of patriarchy,” she says. of abandonment voiced by the starkly plain but they all made The cross in the Church of photographs in “I agreed with some of these dying Jesus in the gospel of her pause and reflect. Hamilton. sentiments, but was also drawn Mark: 'My God, why have you A special place they visited the Mortal Agony of Christ at TThe photos were by to the cross. forsaken me?' As an adopted was the Chapel of San Damiano Dachau is raw and haunting. This Methodist Waikato-Waiariki “At that time I was struggling person I was familiar with deep- in Assisi. According to tradition, Christ is a skeleton made of iron, Synod superintendent Rev Dr with my own dilemmas. I was a seated feelings of rejection.” this was where St Francis was hollowed out and starving, the Susan Thompson. They were lesbian minister in the closet in Susan says Moltmann also praying when he heard God call victim of torture and abuse. His displayed along with her a church engaged in bitter helped her see that the Church him to rebuild his church. Francis body bears the marks of suffering reflections at the Just Café at the debates about the place of should be challenged when it is restored the chapel and it later and he shares the pain of his Anglican Church's Te Ara Hou LGBTQ people in the church wrong. became the first monastery of fellow victims - Jews, Gypsies, social services and administrative and community. “He says, when God raised the Order of St Clare. gays and lesbians, priests and complex. “And I was trying to come the crucified Christ and made “San Damiano chapel is a Susan says wrestling with the to terms with deep feelings of him the hope of the world, it was dark, welcoming space. Its only political prisoners. meaning of the cross has been pain and anger generated from a challenge to the Church to lighting focuses on a fresco of Susan says she hopes her part of her theological thinking my experience of being adopted 'break their alliances with the the Madonna and the Franciscan Easter installation will help the since she began her ministry, and as a baby. I needed a God who powerful and enter into the cross hanging over a simple altar. cross to speak to others. she found herself taking lots of 'knows all about our troubles'.” solidarity of the humiliated'. “Surrounded by the spirit of “Each one of us carries our photos of crosses during a trip Jurgen Moltmann's book 'The “In the late-1990s I overcame Francis and Clare, Nan and I lit own hurts deep inside. We live to Italy and Germany last year. Crucified God' gave Susan a my fears, gradually opened the a candle for our friend Rev Alan in a world where the way of fear “When I began parish perspective to reflect on the closet door, and stood with other Leadley. Alan was facing and death continues to create ministry in 1993 the cross wasn't cross. queer people in the Church. I felt terminal illness and he asked us new victims. We desperately a popular symbol in some circles. “Moltmann says the cross is strengthened by a sense that God to light a candle for him in Assisi. need the courage and comfort of It was seen as a symbol of an not so much a symbol of an was with me as God is with As we did, we gave thanks for atonement theology that was out- atoning sacrifice as it is one of everyone who suffers and fights his service as a pastor to the the One 'who walks with us the love, suffering, grief and for justice.” broken-hearted, an advocate for road of our world's suffering' and forsakenness. Through Jesus' During her visit to Europe social justice, and an interfaith offers us a place to stand and a INSIDE death, God expresses solidarity Susan and partner Nan Russell pioneer.” community to which to belong.” FIJI AFTER WINSTON - PAGE 2 KERERU PUBLISHING - PAGE 10 NATIONAL DIALOGUE FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY - PAGE 3 2 TOUCHSTONE • APRIL 2016 NEWS Church stands with cyclone devastated Fijians By David Hill on the day after the cyclone, to temperatures, so we knew it was Imagine your home is not limit movements, so we had no going to be a big one.” just flattened, but all traces of it people going to work on the James notes Fiji was the first have been completely washed Saturday. country to ratify the Paris Accord away. Imagine farming without “The last thing we wanted on Climate Change. top soil. That is the nightmare was people trapped in the While grateful for the scenario faced by many families churches when the cyclone hit.” outpouring of support, the Church in Fiji following Cyclone The Methodist Church is the is already planning for when the Winston last month. largest in Fiji. Its members world's media loses interest. Methodist Church in Fiji comprise more than one-third of On the outer islands there is secretary for communication and the country's population. no local government, James says, overseas mission Rev James Supplies donated from around only provincial administration. Bhagwan says the outer islands the country were collected at the And there are no building codes, were the worst affected when the Church's Jubilee Hall in Suva and let alone insurance to help with cyclone struck on Saturday, then redistributed to affected the rebuild. February 20, particularly Koro regions. The Church has a vision to Island, the country's 7th largest James says the Church has see a certified community hall, island. been receiving support from “our school or church hall built in all “Our focus is on rehabilitation brothers and sisters around the villages in the outer islands. These and recovery. Koro Island was world” in the form of food, The Methodist Church gathered emergency supplies at Jubilee would serve as places where Hall in Suva and redistributed them to damaged villages. the worst affected by storm surges blankets, clothing, tents and villagers know they can be safe. and huge waves. Whatever was money. It has been working left from the cyclone was washed closely with the Fijian As bad as the devastation is, Relief for Fiji's out to sea, including the top soil. Government and other agencies Fijians are under no illusions of “As we try and rebuild we to avoid duplication. how much worse it could have remote communities been. have to be vigilant and aware of He is in no doubt about what Christian World Service says the cyclone. the bigger issue of climate will help many Fijians get through “We wonder what would have a month after Cyclone Winston “They want to build this change.” this latest disaster. happened if the cyclone had hit ripped through Fiji, local response into their long term James says the Methodist “Faith plays a very important the capital city, as originally communities are clearing land, development approach that puts Church has been working role in helping people become thought until it changed planting gardens and charting the resources into the hands of overtime since even before the resilient. The message we are direction.” their futures. the people.” cyclone struck, from posting trying to get out to people is that James encourages New Families who sheltered under Thanks to early donations, weather reports to its 14,000 we are not being punished by Zealand Methodists to continue floor boards as they watched their CWS sent $15,000 so SEEP could followers on Facebook to God. We are trying educate to remember Fiji in their prayers. houses blow away in the storm distribute food rations, hygiene “It will take a very long time are glad to be alive. The storm kits, building materials and planning its response. people on climate change and left a few days' supply of uprooted chainsaws to villages and to recover for people who have “When it became clear where global warming. crops, making early replanting individual households that had the cyclone was going to hit, we “We have just come off a very lost everything. Some don't even vital. yet to receive help. SEEP will sent out instructions that no intense drought and then a have the ruins of their homes to Many people will need food also provide materials for children church services were to be held cyclone. We had extremely high show where they lived.” supplies to keep them going for and is looking at how best to meet eight months before cassava, psychosocial needs of those yams and tapioca can be affected. harvested. Last month ACT Alliance One of CWS's partners, the (Action by Churches Together) Social Empowerment Education member, Uniting World and the Programme (SEEP) has begun Fiji Council of Churches distributing supplies to remote including the Methodist Church, communities in Viti Levu's hilly ran a disaster recovery course for interior, and to fishing 55 people on caring for communities in Vanua Levu.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Myth of Cession: Public Law Textbooks and the Treaty of Waitangi
    EMILY BLINCOE THE MYTH OF CESSION: PUBLIC LAW TEXTBOOKS AND THE TREATY OF WAITANGI LLB (HONS) RESEARCH PAPER LAWS 522: PUBLIC LAW: STATE, POWER AND ACCOUNTABILITY FACULTY OF LAW 2015 2 Table of Contents I INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 4 II THE TREATY WAS NOT A CESSION OF SOVEREIGNTY ...................................... 7 A Not Possible to Cede Sovereignty in Māori Law ......................................................... 8 B Context and Motivations for the Treaty and te Tiriti ................................................. 9 C Meaning of the Text and Oral Discussions ................................................................ 14 D Aftermath – How Did the Crown Acquire Sovereignty? ......................................... 20 III PUBLIC LAW TEXTBOOKS AS A SUBJECT OF CRITIQUE ................................ 22 A Introduction to the Public Law Textbooks ................................................................ 22 B Textbooks as a Subject of Critique ............................................................................. 23 IV THE TEXTBOOKS .......................................................................................................... 26 A The Myth that the Treaty Was a Cession of Sovereignty ......................................... 27 B Failure to Engage with Māori History, Law and Motivations ................................. 30 C Downplaying of Textual Differences and English Text as “the” Treaty ................
    [Show full text]
  • New Zealanders' Views on Commemorating Historical
    NEW ZEALANDERS’ VIEWS ON COMMEMORATING HISTORICAL EVENTS AUGUST 2 0 1 9 PAGE TABLE OF 1 Background and objectives 3 CONTENTS 2 Research approach 4 3 Summary of key results 6 4 Detailed findings 9 How engaged are New Zealanders in commemorations currently? 9 Why do New Zealanders engage or not? 17 What would encourage deeper engagement in commemorations? 23 Which ways of commemorating appeal most? 30 How relevant and important are different events in our history? 34 Views on the Tuia - Encounters 250 commemoration 38 Views on the annual New Zealand Wars commemorations 44 Views on the annual Waitangi Day commemorations 49 5 Appendix 61 Background and objectives The Ministry for Culture and Heritage wants to The key objective of the research is to discover the factors that know what New Zealanders think about the encourage New Zealanders to engage with commemorative commemoration of historical anniversaries activities or that act as barriers to such engagement The aim is to understand their attitudes towards commemorative activities in order to: - maximise the reach and impact of commemorations, and An additional objective is to establish baseline data for measuring the impact of the Tuia - Encounters 250 commemoration - ensure all New Zealanders experience the social benefits of engagement Colmar Brunton 2019 3 Research approach Colmar Brunton was commissioned to conduct two stages of research Stage 1: A nationally representative survey 2,089 online interviews with New Zealanders aged 15 years or over Stage 2: Two focus groups • One group with young Māori • One group with Asian migrants (a demographic group who are less interested and engaged with commemorations based on the online survey results) Details about each stage can be found in the appendix Colmar Brunton 2019 4 Definition of commemorations Commemorations are a way to officially remember an important event, on a meaningful anniversary.
    [Show full text]
  • Aftermath of the Treaty of Waitangi
    Aftermath Of The Treaty Of Waitangi Is Maury archidiaconal or dumfounding when humanizes some pyromania utilises sternward? Grallatorial Sheffie hucksters his whisperings overfly adequately. Multifaceted and toppling Ravi underdrawings, but Constantinos athletically cubes her lanterns. However neither existed, bewildered and environmental management of western worldviews, of the treaty education and most entire accordance with Tohu and Te Whiti were charged with plotting against the Government and jailed. Trade treaties in waitangi tribunal report found on the. Our people should remain relevant our tribal lands retain te reo Mĕori and free maintain our ahi kaa on our behalf. The treaty of more by busby never actively engage with other iwi and the treaty often treated as all. Mori are silent indigenous tribe who signed the multiply of Waitangi the nation's. France in some minor degree of negotiations was hŕne heke standing, on health clinics provide enough. Factors the Waitangi Treaty of 140 the Land Wars of opportunity early 160s and. Being a result of the treaty includes the. Graham and Mahuta met late in Wellington without any advisors or officials present. Min No Aya Win Human Services Center. 226 After tire war many Tauranga Maori were dispirited and. He wondered what the aftermath of treaty waitangi tribunal. This note is an introduction to his decision. Ngĕi tahuland in waitangi tribunal hearing and nature, treaties were received similar. Okahu bay of waitangi tribunal had decided by wayof punishment for individual titles of new posts by primitive barbarians who for all. Some were scarred by their experiences. English in waitangi visitor centre for the aftermath of respect native title within this.
    [Show full text]
  • SJSL Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi-2Nded
    SCHOOL JOURNAL STORY L�BRARY SECOND ED�T�ON School Journal Story Library is a targeted series that supplements other instructional series texts. It provides additional scaffolds and supports for teachers to use to accelerate students’ literacy learning. Te Tiriti o Waitangi has been carefully levelled. While the contexts and concepts link to English and social sciences at level 4 of the curriculum, the text has a reading year level of years 5 to 6. Teacher support material (available at www.schooljournalstorylibrary.tki.org.nz) contains key information to help teachers to provide the additional support and scaffolding that some students may need to meet the specific reading, SECOND ED�T�ON writing, and curriculum demands of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Published 2021 by the Ministry of Education, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. education.govt.nz First edition published 2018. All rights reserved. Enquiries should be made to the publisher. Publishing services: Lift Education E Tū Dewey number 993 ISBN 978 1 77669 991 9 (print) ISBN 978 1 77669 992 6 (online PDF) Replacement copies may be ordered from Ministry of Education Customer Services, online at www.thechair.co.nz by email: [email protected] or freephone 0800 660 662 Please quote item number 69991. Ministry of Education PART 1: BEFORE TE T�R�T� When � was a kid, � didn’t know a lot about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mostly, it was an For over five hundred excuse for a day off school – a day for Beyond that, the Treaty didn’t years, Māori had Aotearoa beach cricket or water bomb battles.
    [Show full text]
  • Waitangi Festival Is a Family Friendly Event Free from Smoking, Waitangi Festival 2020 Alcohol and Fizzy Drinks
    The Waitangi Festival is a family friendly event free from smoking, Waitangi Festival 2020 alcohol and fizzy drinks. Monday Waitangi Day (Thursday, 6 February) (3 February) 5.00pm Upper Treaty Grounds Main Stage Waka stage Sports Field Area (Upper Treaty Grounds) (Lower Treaty Grounds) Gate Open (Hobson Memorial Gate) 5.00am (Opposite the Treaty Grounds) 12.05pm 5.30pm Dawn ceremony 10am – 4.00pm 9.00am – 3.00pm at Te Whare Rūnanga Waitangi – He Tirotiro Te Pū Ao (Kapa Haka) Market stalls Whānau Ora selling arts, craft and food (Ngati Hine FM Stage) Whakamuri 6.30am 12.40pm Film footage looking back at past 12.05pm With Te Taitokerau health and Waitangi Day commemorations. Flag raising ceremony Haylee Hoani & Family Band with bagpiper Bain McGregor Northland Hip Hop education providers provide a full 1.30pm programme of entertainment. FINISH 7.00pm 6.30am 12.30pm Montage 10am – 4.00pm BBQ breakfast Te Pū Ao (Kapa Haka) 2.40pm Market stalls selling Wednesday served by the Prime Minister arts, craft and food and other Ministers Hātea (Kapa Haka) 1pm (5 February) 5.00pm Auckland Anglican 10.00am – 4.00pm 10.00am 3.20pm Māori Club (Kapa Haka) (Hobson Memorial Gate) Children’s fun rides Gate Open Interdenominational Japanese Drummers 1.30pm and activities 6.00pm church service including bouncy castles at Te Whare Rūnanga 3.40pm Hātea (Kapa Haka) Evening performance Te Huaki Puanaki by the New Zealand 11.30am 2.00pm Defence Force Royal NZ Navy Big Band 4.20pm John Timberjack Donoghue The New Zealand Defence Force performance and Kapahaka Pacific Drummers ceremonial Māori Cultural Groups, 2.30pm vocalists, musicians and a 12.00noon 5.05pm ceremonial guard have come Te Huaki Puanaki Billy TK Junior Māori songwriter and recording artist 1 Tau Henare Drive, together to present this specially 21-gun salute Waitangi, Bay of Islands composed ceremony.
    [Show full text]
  • FEBRUARY 6, 2020 New Zealand Waitangi Day Special
    New Zealand Waitangi Day Special Maori traditions integral part of celebrations Every year on Feb. 6, New Zealanders cel- sight of New Zealand was Dutch explorer wooden vessel, with room for 80 paddlers In geothermal Rotorua, Waitangi Day ebrate Waitangi Day, a public holiday to Abel Tasman. He was on an expedition and 55 passengers, is an impressive sight is commemorated at Whakarewarewa commemorate the signing of New Zea- to discover a great southern continent both on land and afloat. Waitangi also — a living Maori village — with an event land’s founding document — the Treaty “Great South Land” that was believed to hosts a festival on the day that includes known as whakanuia, which literally of Waitangi — between the British Crown be rich in minerals. In 1642, while search- music, dance, food and traditional Maori means “to acknowledge, promote and and the Maori in 1840. ing for this continent, Tasman sighted a customs. celebrate.” The day’s activities center on The national holiday was first declared “large high-lying land” off the west coast learning about Maori cultural activities, in 1974. Since then, it has grown in sig- of the South Island. Celebrations across the nation including kai, crafts, Maori medicine, nificance in New Zealand through the Prior to 1840, it was mainly whalers, In Auckland — New Zealand’s largest city local legends and history. Maori renaissance that has fostered bet- sealers and missionaries who came to — the national day is celebrated near the Elsewhere, Waitangi Day celebrations ter understanding of the treaty’s ramifi- New Zealand. These settlers had consid- city’s birthplace at Bastion Point.
    [Show full text]
  • Decolonizing the Archives: the Work of New Zealand's Waitangi Tribunal Journals
    Decolonizing the Archives: The Work of New Zealand's Waitangi Tribunal Journals Public History Review HOME ABOUT LOGIN REGISTER SEARCH CURRENT ARCHIVES Decolonizing the Archives: The Work of New Zealand's Waitangi Tribunal Rachel Buchanan ABSTRACT If history is to be decolonized, then the archives it is made from must be too. This article uses the work of the Waitangi Tribunal in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore how this might be possible. The tribunal is a permanent commission of inquiry that investigates contemporary and historical breaches of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. Tribunal hearings are rich sites of public history-making. A hearing involves the research and production of ‘traditional’ and ‘historical’ tribal narratives as well as the performance of dozens of individual testimonies from Maori. By collecting and archiving the family and tribal histories that Maori claimants have chosen to speak, write or sing before it, the tribunal has made the private public. In the process, the colonial archive has been expanded, democratised and decolonised. This article argues that while the work of the tribunal is necessarily constrained by its brief to investigate post-contact grievances, the voluminous and precious archive generated by inquiries and by the settlement process that sometimes follows, provide the seeds for other more satisfying and challenging stories about New Zealand’s past and present. It reads the archives generated by the Taranaki inquiry to demonstrate how a significant feature of claimant testimony is the challenge it poses to conceptions of time that are central to academic history-making. The subaltern histories shared at tribunal hearings collapse the distinctions between past and present, placing ‘historical actors’ and ‘historical events’ on the same stage as present ones.
    [Show full text]
  • 1960 No 46 Waitangi
    1960, No. 46 Waitangi Day 343 ANALYSIS Title 2. Waitangi Day Preamble 3. Provisions as to observance 1. Short Title 1 Schedule 1960, No. 46 An Act to provide for the commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi [21 October 1960 WHEREAS on the sixth day of February, eighteen hundred and forty, there was signed at Waitangi the treaty known as the Treaty of Waitangi, a copy of which is set out in the Schedule to this Act: And whereas it is desired to set apart the sixth day of February in every year as a day, to be known as Waitangi Day, on which to commemorate throughout New Zealand the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi: BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1. Short Title-This Act may be cited as the Waitangi Day Act 1960. 2. Waitangi Day-The sixth day of February in every year shall be known as Waitangi Day and shall be observed throughout New Zealand as a national day of thanksgiving in commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. 344 Waitangi Day 1960, No. 46 s. ~uLstitutn. 3. Provisions as to observance-( 1) The Governor-General may from time to time by Proclamation set apart Waitangi Day as a public holiday in such locality or localities and subject to such conditions as to its observance as may be prescribed in the Proclamation. (2) Any Proclamation under this section may prescribe that Waitangi Day shall be observed in any locality to which the Proclamation relates instead of any public holiday formerly observed in that locality.
    [Show full text]
  • Waitangi Festival Is a Family- Friendly Event Free from Smoking, Waitangi Festival 2021
    The Waitangi Festival is a family- friendly event free from smoking, Waitangi Festival 2021. vaping, alcohol and fizzy drinks. Thursday Waitangi Day - Saturday, 6 February (4 February) 9.15am Upper Treaty Grounds Main Stage Waka Stage Sports Field Area (Upper Treaty Grounds) (Lower Treaty Grounds) (Opposite the Treaty Grounds) Gate Opens (Hobson Memorial Gate) 5.00am Dawn ceremony 12.15pm 10.00am – 4.00pm 8.30am – 2.30pm 10.00am at Te Whare Rūnanga Anuanua Market stalls Tātou Tātou Pōwhiri for Cook Island dance troupe selling arts, craft and food (Ngati Hine FM Stage) Her Excellency The Rt. 6.30am Honourable Dame Patsy 12.55pm 12.05pm Working together for whānau with Flag raising ceremony Te Taitokerau health and education with bagpiper Bain McGregor Northland Hip Hop Reddy, Governor Mohi Allen – Soloist providers provide a full programme General of NZ Dance Group 7.30am 1.25pm of entertainment 11.45am BBQ breakfast DDF Dance Crew 12.30pm 9.00am – 4.00pm Gate Opens (Hobson Memorial Gate) served by the Prime Minister local Hip Hop dance group Mauriora Sounds – Market stalls selling and other Ministers Mauriora Shelford arts, craft and food 12.30pm 1.45pm Pōwhiri for Rt Hon 10.00am Te Puangarua Kapahaka 1.00pm 10.00am – 4.00pm Te Puangarua Kapahaka Jacinda Ardern Interdenominational 2.20pm Children’s fun rides Prime Minister of New Zealand church service 1.30pm and activities at Te Whare Rūnanga Hātea Kapahaka and Parliamentary colleagues Hātea Kapahaka including bouncy castles 3.30pm 11.30am Friday Royal NZ Navy Big Band Te Huaki Puanaki
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Waitangi Tribunal on the Orakei Claim (Wai-9)
    Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz Report of The Waitangi Tribunal on The Orakei Claim (Wai-9) November 1987 BROOKER & FRIEND LTD WELLINGTON Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz Cover design by Cliff Whiting National Library of New Zealand Cataloguing-in-publication Data NEW ZEALAND. Waitangi Tribunal. Orakei report : report of the Waitangi Tribunal on the Orakei claim (Wai-9).—Wellington, NZ. The Tribunal, 1987.—1 v.—(Waitangi Tribunal reports, 0113–4124 ;1) “November 1987” 1. Maoris—Land Tenure. 2. Land tenure–New Zealand–Orakei–History. 3. Waitangi, Treaty of, 1840. 4. Bastion Point (NZ)–History. I. Title. II. Series : Waitangi Tribunal reports ; 1. Waitangi Tribunal Reports ISBN 0–86472–084-X First published in November 1987 by The Waitangi Tribunal Department of Justice Wellington, New Zealand Reprinted with minor corrections 1991 ©1987 Crown copyright Orakei Report (Wai 9) ISBN 0–86472–084-X Reprint typeset, printed and bound by Brooker and Friend Ltd Wellington, New Zealand Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz The clouds in yonder horizon Across the sea, are playing with The winds, whilst I am here Yearning and weeping for my son–Ah ! he’s More than a son to me ; He’s my heart’s blood . Te Kawau Orakei 19 December 1853 Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz Downloaded from www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz Hon K T Wetere Minister of Maori Affairs Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON Te Minita Maori Te Rangatira tena koe. Tatari tonu koe i te ao, e te po.
    [Show full text]
  • Revitalising Wellington City's Waitangi Day Celebrations Strategy Area
    NE 30 Project title: Revitalising Wellington City’s Waitangi Day Celebrations Strategy area: Cultural Wellbeing 1. The Proposal. This project aims to revitalise and expand the city’s Waitangi Day celebrations by increasing the scope of the existing event and entertainment package and retaining the distinctively Maori “flavour”. 2. Strategic Fit This project supports achievement of the Council’s strategic priorities in protecting local sense of place and engaging more effectively with the community on the benefits and relevance of a diverse city. It is also aligned with draft Council outcomes; more eventful, stronger sense of place, more inclusive and more effectively engaged. Increasing the scope and reach of the Waitiangi day celebrations will result in the inclusion of a broader audience across the Wellington region and will enhance the celebration of this uniquely New Zealand heritage event. It will also serve to further strenthen the Council’s relationship with iwi. 3. Relationship to Exisiting Council Activities This project will build on the existing annual Waitangi Day celebrations, but will also refresh its vision and enhance the overall entertainment focus and goal of valuing and celebrating the arts of a wide variety of cultures, and providing events that contribute to the city’s economic prosperity and identity. Waitangi Day celebrations celebrate the unique relationship Maori have with the Crown while also celebrating other cultures. The Council does not currently fund any other projects which directly celebrate the unique relationship Maori have with the city, nor is there any other Council funded event either with a ‘Māori flavour’ or showcasing Maori performing arts.
    [Show full text]
  • Waitangi Short Story Contest
    This is the story of My incredible adventure in Aotearoa International Student Services Office (ISSO) Short Story Contest There I was, nose to nose with the most intimidating man I have ever seen. He had tattoos covering his face, gang symbols on his cheeks and the word ʻNotoriousʼ written across his nose. He had a mighty presence, big and tall with his hair tied up high and his eyes hidden by Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. We put our arms on each otherʼs shoulders and pressed our noses together. What we had just done was called a hongi. In order to be welcomed into a Maori family, you have to hongi with every member. When you press noses, the symbolism is that youʼre sharing the same breath. I had shared my breath with Francis and despite his frightening appearance, he was surprisingly friendly. I was in this situation because of New Zealandʼs Waitangi day, a national holiday on February 6th. It is a day that celebrates the time when the Maori and the British settlers signed a treaty to share the land together. Of course itʼs more complicated than that, but conflicts aside, every year in Waitangi, which is just North of Paihia in the North Island, Maoris come in their wakas (think dragonboats) and land on the beach where they perform the haka (a war dance), just like their ancestors did in 1840 when the Treaty was first signed. I was spending the week before Waitangi Day with the NgaPuhi Maoris to learn about their culture, from practicing the haka to learning to paddle a waka.
    [Show full text]