Tui Motu InterIslands monthly independent Catholic magazine September 2013 | $6

75th anniversary of the . editorial a breath of fresh air

ecently Pope Francis, in talk- is a breath of fresh air . When it is the for not taking the ‘opportunities’ that ing to the Missionaries of Pope, we sit up and take notice . It is the free market creates . David Clark Charity sisters in Rome, has an opportunity for people of faith, gives us the story of Nordmeyer, Rcontinued his critique of the domi- an opportunity which should not be McMillan and Davidson (minister, nance of capitalism in our world . lost here in Aotearoa New Zealand . doctor and school principal living in “Unbridled capitalism has taught the Because the same problems and indif- Kurow — “Could any good come out logic of profit at any cost, of giving ference to suffering lie at the heart of of Kurow?”) . These Presbyterian gen- in order to receive, of exploitation the economic system which controls tlemen saw the effects of the depression without looking at the person … in this country . Could we not look at Pope and believed that faith without works the crisis we are now living through ”. Francis’ idea when judging our current is dead . They followed so clearly in the When Bangladesh garment factories economic system? He says, “Concern footsteps of the Reverend Rutherford recently collapsed killing many, we for the fundamental material and spir- Waddell, minister of St . Matthew’s saw on TV the appalling conditions itual welfare of every human person Church in , and father of the which the workers suffered, condi- is the starting-point for every political anti-sweating legislation of the 1890s . tions which are at the heart of our and economic solution and the ulti- Together these men certainly fulfill the current global economic system (the mate measure of its effectiveness and criteria for true leadership of which garment market in Bangladesh earns its ethical validity” . The Pope places Mike Riddell speaks when talking 19 billion US dollars annually for concern for each human being before about the current lack of such a grace in those who control it) . Pope Francis questions of efficiency and profit . this country . According to him, leader- called this system “slave labour” . On This month we are celebrating the ship requires conviction and courage . a journey to Lampedusa, the south- 75th anniversary of the passing of Waddell, Davidson, McMillan and ernmost point of Italy where many the Social Security Act 1938 . As Pat Nordmeyer can each claim these migrants arrive, the Pope spoke of Harrison reminds us, this Act was a virtues . They have left a permanent the “globalization of indifference” response to the great depression pov- mark on the history of Aotearoa New towards immigrants, saying we have erty, heralded the desire for an inclu- Zealand . Who, now, has the courage become too used to the suffering of sive society and was concerned with of their convictions and the vision to others . “It doesn’t affect us . It doesn’t each human being . John Hughes traces follow in their footsteps? interest us . It’s not our business ”. carefully the slow dismantling of the We need that breath of fresh air . To hear someone talking about Act, moving from a vision of inclusion KT the logic of our world in this way to one where the poor are now blamed

Editorial...... 2 Myths to debunk ...... 19 Brian Turner and Murray Horton contents Caritas and the constitutional review ...... 3 Glimpses in the vastness ...... 20–21 Letters to the editor ...... 4 Jeph Mathias Comment: witness ...... 5 Nakba and memoricide ...... 22–23 Jim Consedine Lois Griffiths Without a vision ...... 6–7 St Hilda of Whitby ...... 24–25 Mike Riddell Susan Brebner Look to the future through the Lazarus outside the door ...... 26–27 eyes of a child ...... 8–9 Kathleen Rushton Pat Harrison Book and film reviews ...... 28–29 Insight, leadership, compassion ...... 10–11 Crosscurrents David Clark ...... 30 Jim Elliston The politics of exclusion ...... 12–13 A model of kindness and humility John Hughes ...... 31 Peter Norris Egalitarianism revisited ...... 14–15 A mother’s journal Jenny Te Paa Daniel ...... 32 Kaaren Mathias Staying at Noeline’s ...... 16–17 Robin Kearns Front cover L-R: Dr David Gervan McMIllan, Mr Andrew Faith and light celebrated 25 years on . . . . . 18–19 Davidson, and the Rev , architects of the Anne-Marie Pike principles behind the Social Security Act 1938, in the Waitaki Valley . [Illustration by Donald Moorhead]

2 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 caritas and the constitutional review

n a previous issue (TM July 2013, p3) we referred to a formal observation of a set of rules but is the fruit of a the current constitutional review and the discussions convinced acceptance of the values that inspire democratic regarding a written constitution for Aotearoa New procedures: the dignity of every human person, the respect IZealand . Caritas has contributed thoughtfully to the debate of human rights, commitment to the common good as the in an excellent submission to the Constitutional Advisory purpose and guiding criterion for political life . If there is Panel . We include here the preamble and a brief summary no general consensus on these values, the deepest mean- of the key points of that submission . ing of democracy is lost and its stability is compromised ”. “An authentic democracy is not merely the result of (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church #407) n

Summary of key points

• Caritas welcomes the Constitution o Waitangi is the fundamental need to be more comprehensive, Conversation . agreement on which is based our it needs to be superior law, and • Catholic social teaching provides lives together as tāngata whenua/ the Courts must have the ability to fundamental principles about the first peoples and all who have uphold it . role of the State and the exercise of subsequently settled and are • Caritas believes there continues to political power which are useful in settling here . Our constitutional be an argument for maintaining Māori considering the questions raised in arrangements must reflect and seats, but notes that all positive the Constitutional Review . honour that agreement . discrimination measures must be • The New Zealand Catholic Bishops • New Zealanders need to recognise monitored and reassessed . Conference have proposed a that while historic injustices under • Better structures than Māori seats preamble to a written constitution in Article 2 of the Treaty/te Tiriti may are likely to be found through their submission, and their previous have been addressed to some extent dialogue and discussion about how statements on matters such as the through the settlement process, there our constitutional arrangements place of the Treaty of Waitangi also are significant Article 1 questions better reflect the Treaty of Waitangi/te offer guidance on how Catholic about sovereignty/tino rangatiratanga Tiriti o Waitangi. social teaching applies in our and governorship/kāwanatanga • In the absence of better checks and context . which are yet to be addressed . balances and stronger human rights • Caritas recognises both positive • The passing of the New Zealand protections one of the few existing and negative aspects to our present Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBoRA) protections against abuse of power ‘unwritten constitution’ . However, was a step forward in recognising in New Zealand is our short three- on balance we favour a superior- human rights . However, NZBoRA year electoral term . Caritas does law, written constitution, to ensure has not prevented New Zealand from not support extending the term of that New Zealand law-makers and passing discriminatory legislation, government under the constitutional the public alike are better informed and it does not sufficiently recognise status quo . about constitutional matters and all New Zealand’s commitments To see the full submission go to: more easily able to see where under international human rights www .caritas org. .nz/resources/ fundamental constitutional matters agreements and instruments, submissions/2013/constitutional- are being changed . particularly the right to life . review-2013 • The Treaty of Waitangi/te Tiriti • The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act

Tui Motu – InterIslands is an independent, address: Independent Catholic Magazine Ltd, P O Box 6404, Dunedin North, 9059 Catholic, monthly magazine. It invites its phone: (03) 477 1449 readers to question, challenge and contrib- fax: (03) 477 8149 ute to its discussion of spiritual and social email: [email protected] issues in the light of gospel values, and in website: www.tuimotu.org the interests of a more just and peaceful TuiMotuInterIslands society. Inter-church and inter-faith dialogue is welcomed. editor: Kevin Toomey OP assistant editor: Elizabeth Mackie OP The name Tui Motu was given by Pa Henare Tate. illustrator: Donald Moorhead It literally means “stitching the islands together...”, directors: Susan Brebner, Rita Cahill RSJ, Philip Casey (chair), bringing the different races and peoples and Neil Darragh, Paul Ferris, Robin Kearns, Elizabeth Mackie OP faiths together to create one Pacific people of ISSM 1174-8931 God. Divergence of opinion is expected and will honorary directors: Pauline O’Regan RSM, Frank Hoffmann Issue number 175 normally be published, although that does not typesetting and layout: Greg Hings necessarily imply editorial commitment to the printers: Southern Colour Print, 1 Turakina Road, Dunedin viewpoint expressed. South, 9012

3 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 letters to the editor suffering from unsound Mass daily and am still active in the letters to the editor economics parish, but when my children and I We welcome comment, die, we will all be in the presence of I have just read Bishop Cullinane’s discussion, argument, debate . Jesus . Of this I am sure . perceptive article (TM July 2013, p24) But please keep letters under Paddy Mc Cann, Paraparaumu “Human Dignity — the starting point 200 words . The editor reserves of economic planning” and rejoice in when the spirit is ready the right to abridge, while not it . But what a challenge it is to accepted changing the meaning . values in our current society . My admiration for another splendid We do not publish anonymous He cites big business lay-offs of issue and for once again being una- letters otherwise than in workers to maintain profits . The fraid to tackle the hard issues of the exceptional circumstances . removal of whole enterprises overseas day: in this case same-sex marriage Response articles (up to a to utilise considerably cheaper work- (TM, August 2013) . With sincere page) are welcome — but forces, is another example . Both respect to the statement so carefully please, by negotiation . often damage the lives of both the prepared by our bishops, I don’t workers involved and their families . believe the issue can be wrapped And collateral harm is frequently up that neatly, logically and finally . done to their communities . It hurts I’m in sympathy with Amy and Paul people; and it is, in the long run, Armstrong . As the parent of roughly somehow a defective part of God’s unsound economics . Our whole NZ the same varieties of contemporary creation is unlikely to produce emo- economy has suffered . marriage/’marriage’ as Paul describes tional or spiritual wholeness . Somehow, we must get human are present in his family, I cannot see Could long unexamined labels and values respected in our capitalism . any difference in the quality of love laws be laying impossible burdens on And that constitutes a real challenge and commitment in my children’s gay-lesbian people and their families? to many of us: Christian business- relationships . Thank God, then, for Does the Church do anything to help men, directors, shareholders, work- the reminder that Jesus still has many them carry the burden? ers, and even the buying public . things to say that we cannot yet bear . It is interesting that the most pas- Rev Peter Stead, Huapai Presumably the Spirit of Truth will sionate workers in social justice for the one dad’s story declare them when we are ready, gay community are young ex-Catholics, that is, receptive to her gentle yet who are inspired by this teaching to work I have just read “One woman’s story” ultimately insistent voice . for social justice outside the Church . by Judith Collins who at 72 has Sally Dunford, Lyttelton Is it likely that our church could decided to let her active role in the lead the way by making itself a place Church wind down . As an 87 year seeking human relationships of welcome and understanding for old father of a homosexual son and its gay members? a lesbian daughter I can empathise A heartfelt thank you to Tui Motu, Is it possible that a committed same with all that you say about the way and to all who wrote thoughtfully . I sex relationship might at very least be these people are treated . However, have been part of a group, for 14 years, dignified by a blessing? After all, as I I would disagree with you on one which provides support for gay and heard someone say, “They will even point . You say that they walked away lesbian people and their families . bless a battle ship!” from the Church . They walked away For too long the Church’s laws, The following was written by a tal- from ‘the Institution’ but they are the have caused alienation to many fami- ented and compassionate gay man . He Church, and they are still doing what lies . Sexuality is the bedrock of human had been in a partnership for 44 years . Jesus told them to do . My son, Pol, is life, and our relationships . Wherever It was found amongst his writings and a professor working with all sorts of we belong on the continuum of male read at his funeral: gay people . He does not attend Mass and female, sexuality is the God-given “We are not heterosexual or homo- on a regular basis, but he spends his energy that drives us to love and sexual beings, when you ‘peel it all back ’. life in this field, doing what he can search for relationship with others . We are marvelously and wonderfully to help make their life better . My Each of us needs to gain a healthy made creations of the Creator . All of us daughter, Maire, lives in Vietnam self-knowledge and be at ease with constantly have to do the hard work of where she had set up a small charity ourselves in every aspect of our living and ‘finding good in everyone, which she keeps going by working sexuality to grow towards a fully inte- finding God in everyone’ ”. in Australia for some months and grated life . This lifelong task can be How does this line up with our then back to Vietnam . The charity impossible for gay and lesbian people church’s present teaching? works with deaf children . Again, not within the church . Sue Thompson,Dunedin a regular Mass-goer . I myself attend Self-hatred and a feeling of being

4 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 comment wellington witness Jim Consedine

he Court of Appeal hearing covert operators . Sadly this Bill universally ignored, they have been of an application by the now has the force of law . Greater forced to find new dramatic ways of Waihopai Ploughshares trio secrecy, not less, is what is on the putting their views, confronting the —T Sam Land, Fr Peter Murnane OP Government’s agenda . It’s the very violent with non-violence . They take and Adi Leason — was held from 8 thing the Ploughshares action was inspiration from the vision of the bib- May over two days in Wellington . trying to highlight . lical prophets Isaiah and Micah, who The trio sought a full civil trial to In another amazing coincidence, present the Kingdom of God in terms enable them to defend their posi- while the Appeal Court hearing was of a peaceful world in which believers tion of needing to disarm the secret proceeding, around the corner and are encouraged “to beat their swords Waihopai spybase because of its less than 100 metres away, a meeting into ploughshares and their spears into involvement in terror operations . was underway with the Attorneys- pruning hooks, so there will be no The Government has claimed $1 .2 General of Canada, the US, the UK, more training for war ”. million in summary damages . The Australia and New Zealand in attend- I first met Sister Megan Rice at court hearing was preceded by a six ance . Their agenda was secret but Jonah House in Baltimore in 1999 . day fast held at St Andrew’s on The New Zealand’s security relationships She was in her late 60s and had Terrace, Wellington . would have formed part of it . As NZ worked with the poor in Africa . She The appeal revolves around has cozied up more and more to the was a friendly, quietly spoken woman . strictly legal matters . Pro bono US in recent years, our freedoms have So it was something of a surprise when lawyers Mike Knowles, Tony Shaw been eroded, Government surveil- I heard that Sr Megan, now 83, had and Tim Cockram, speaking for the lance of people who hold ‘different’ been indicted, along with Catholic trio, argued they wanted a full trial views expanded, and the penalties for Workers Greg Boertje-Obed and to counter the Crown claim for violations extended . Michael Walli, for a non-violent disar- summary damages issued last year This is important . Under pressure, mament action at the Y–12 National in the High Court . Some would say Western governments are increasing Security Complex in Tennessee . the argument is a long shot to suc- penalties on dissidents and peace- Calling themselves the Transform Now ceed except that there is ‘an elephant makers attempting to oppose US Ploughshares, they had been charged in the room’ — the Holy Spirit, economic and foreign policies . And with sabotage (a new more punishing brought into focus there by a week as the ex-CIA whistleblower Edward tack by prosecutors to try and stem of prayer and fasting . Naturally, the Snowdon’s leaks have shown, we don’t such protest), as well as destruction Crown replied that their arguments know the half of it . Secret surveillance of property . In early May, the three were not valid . The judges were left appears to be everywhere and on the were found guilty as charged and were with several volumes of documents to increase — phones, emails, the whole remanded in custody . Potentially, they peruse . They reserved their decision . electronic caboodle . No one seems face several years of imprisonment for What the judges made of the accountable . It should be of concern their action . vigil kept by peacemakers outside to all who love freedom . Clearly nonplussed, the judge the Court and a lunchtime march The stakes have rarely been higher . expressed dismay that they had been and rally is unknown . Outside charged under new anti-terrorism Parliament, twelve of the marchers laws recently passed by Congress and took part in a disrobing protest argu- As a footnote to this Waihopai action, aimed at stopping terror, not peace- ing ‘if John Key wants their shirts, I would like to highlight the latest of ful protest . The defendants told the he can have their trousers as well ’(cf. a series of more than 100 non-violent court that they were the ones seeking Matt 5:40) They removed their shirts Ploughshares protest actions con- to stop the terror, terror unleashed by and trousers and handed them into ducted since 1980 at military facilities nuclear warheads, drones and other a couple of MPs . Coincidentally that around the world . These actions are weapons of war from the base they afternoon, less than 400 metres from done by concerned people — usually had entered . the Appeal Court, the Government Christian, and more often Catholic For the Transform Now peace- introduced the GCSB Amendment — living their Gospel vision, seeking makers, these penalties could be Bill into parliament . It seeks to new ways to stem the planet’s surge severe as the US Government cracks expand the powers of the GCSB, towards self destruction . They argue down on such actions . n absorbing into it the SIS and other that since conventional protests are

5 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 75th anniversary of the social security act

without a vision . . .

Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi: without a vision, the people perish.

Mike Riddell

uring my time at secondary scripture suggests (Prov 29:18) . If democratic society were inspired by school in , this is so, we in this distant corner of some grand notion of how this nation came to the Pacific must be close to receiving should conduct itself both internally Dspeak . It was before he became the last rites . Politics, like television, and externally . Political platforms Prime Minister . He was a big man, a has become a degrading scramble were therefore strategies for moving working class grafter from Kaiapoi . I for the lowest common denomina- toward that goal . remember that his voice was rather soft tor . Policy is determined by polling; The job of the leader was to pro- and gentle, considering his substantial pragmatism trumps idealism; and mote a particular vision of society to physical presence . leadership is a popularity game as the people, and ask their support in I wasn’t much interested in politics, shallow as The X Factor . attempting to achieve it . The differ- but ‘Big Norm’ won my attention . He ences between parties in those halcyon did it in a non-cynical way by talking Without leadership, days were easily determined by the about the dream of a nation in which nature of the vision they promoted . citizens had equal opportunities . Kirk they follow their An election was a contest of creeds . may have been a stationary engine own self-rewarding driver, but he spoke with a clear and schemes . Without legislation inspired by vision honest passion about the place of New When intro- Zealand in the world, and how we a destination, they duced the Social Security Bill in aspired to egalitarianism . I was caught wander aimlessly . 1938, it provided for a universal free up in it all . Without companions, health system covering general practi- I recall this now because I feel a tioners, public and mental hospitals, keen loss; not so much that of Norm they travel alone . and maternity care; a means-tested Kirk, but of political vision . I long old-age pension of 30 shillings a week for some form of leadership in which Times have changed, of course . for men and women at age 60; and a a politician can describe the sort of The sound bite has displaced ora- universal superannuation payment at society they seek to foster; can lure tory . Artful lies supercede integrity . age 65 . me toward such new possibilities; and The photo-shoot prefers surface over This was not an ad hoc collection who can ignite my passion to support depth . Personality is the arbiter of suc- of economic proposals . It was legisla- the journey toward it . Instead I find cess rather than conviction . But the tion inspired by vision: myself increasingly disinterested in demise of vision is not due to these “I should think it was the inal- the tawdry banality of what passes for developments entirely . There are more ienable right of every person to be debate in Wellington . fundamental issues at stake . secured against distress of any Political philosophy was once the form . That is only commonsense . I scramble for lcd child of an imagined future . Those do not know whether I would call “Without a vision, the people perish”, who vied to represent us in our it ‘sound economics’ or not … I do

6 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 not think it is any use talking about national wealth unless we can use it for national purposes … In a word or two, I would say that is applied Christianity ”. But in order to operate from such a foundation, it is necessary to begin with the concept of society . If we are to believe, with Margaret Thatcher, that “there is no such thing as society,” then we should not be surprised that the poor are despised and the weak steamrolled . The Darwinian concept of human interaction requires no corporate dream . If we are atomized as a society, then the task of politics is simply leading us? We don’t know because community where the least are included to provide a playing field on which neither he nor his party feels it and listened to? competing interests can battle . It important to tell us . And it may be Is it because our blackened hearts would be a world in which the suspected that even if he did have a are deaf to hear, or is it rather that there wealthy and powerful triumph; larger agenda, John Key would be are no leaders left among us? Or is it where corporate lobbyists influence incapable of articulating it or igniting because our potential leaders are con- government to their own ends; and a following for it . fused and demoralized by a splintered everyone is driven by their own self- This might not be such a problem society bent on blame and punishment? interest . A world, in short, much if there were a credible alternative . Are they so measured in their speech for like the one we live in . The leader of the Opposition, David fear of being misunderstood? Shearer, may be a man of personal collapse of social conscience principle — but he appears not to two essential qualities The current state of politics in New have a clue about how to communi- Political vision requires two essential Zealand reflects the collapse of any cate it . A vision is not a vision until qualities . The first is that of convic- social conscience . The refrain “what’s it is communicated to the people, and tion . To lead people toward a future in it for me?” seems to determine the on current form that is about as likely entails knowing what that imagined response to specific issues . Selfishness to happen as for John Key to recall realm looks like and being able has become a virtue, fame an achieve- inconvenient memories . [NB. This was to sincerely describe it for others . ment, and kindness a flaw . written before Mr Shearer’s resignation Secondly, and most importantly, it We need only look at our own as Leader of the Opposition. Ed.] demands courage . No leader ever Prime Minister to gain insight into stood in front of her people without the state of politics . John Key is a a nation adrift overcoming fear, threat, and doubt . wealthy man (worth $50 million We are a people without vision, and Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka according to recent reports) . He devoid of leadership . It’s entirely ngaro te iwi: without a vision, the became wealthy by manipulating unsurprising then that we drift as a people perish . Without leadership, figures on screens — but is praised nation lost at sea, occasionally pulling they follow their own self-rewarding and admired for doing so . He’s rea- on economic oars but fundamentally schemes . Without a destination, they sonably good looking, affable and turning in circles . Nobody seems to be wander aimlessly . Without compan- presentable . capturing our imagination with any- ions, they travel alone . And so we He’s also barely articulate, politi- thing other than the goal of surviving wait . Is it too much to hope with cally ignorant, and devoid of any (with the exception of the surprisingly Alan Curnow that direction in which to lead the coun- insightful Russel Norman) . “some child, born in a marvellous year try . But these peccadilloes are not Why do we not have a leader Will learn the trick of standing upright sufficient to hinder his success . In who can speak to us of a nation that here”? n the rush for the middle ground and embraces difference; a place where the victory at the polls, he represents the earth and her rhythms are valued and Mike Riddell is a filmmaker and screen- perfect front man for his party . respected; a society where everyone writer, living in Cambridge. What is his political philosophy? has a voice and a place; a culture that Toward what vision of society is he promotes exploration and irreverence; a

7 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 75th anniversary of the social security act look to the future through the eyes of a child The Social Security Act was a response to poverty, and its lens the possibility of an inclusive society. The writer argues that our future lies in focussing on “reconciling material progress with equity and respect for the human condition”, towards a state of Social Wellbeing.

Pat Harrison

ocial Security was initially a of these in chronic poverty? How do parents are out of work . The State’s response to poverty . It heralded we explain 47,000 children exposed commitment to the children of these the desire for an inclusive soci- to family violence and the 23,000 families remains an issue for the etyS . It was thought of as liberating with a parent in prison? How do we future . Not only is there need for because what it promised was equal react to the knowledge that 55,000 freedom from poverty and fear, but citizenship and shared rights . We young people are not in education, most importantly an affirmation of could claim that it was an adjustment employment or training, and what human dignity . to the inequities of the market place . is our response to having a youth If, in the development of reforms But whatever the claim, it was the suicide rate of second highest in the and changed policies, we lose sight hallmark of a humanitarian society . OECD countries? For these young of this, then we have distanced our- In contrast, we have now a nation people society offers not a whit of selves from a sense of community beset by inequality where freedom social security . and the very essence of democracy . for far too many has become an illu- Statistics such as these highlight We cannot diminish the importance sion rather than reality, where social the effect policies and practice and of a social contract that stretches a freedoms have been restricted by lack economic direction have had on our safety net for the weak and offers of money and where hope, the most young people and children . Without opportunities for the vulnerable, by vital ingredient of human life, has a doubt a future social security must adopting punitive measures . been severely diminished . How do take account of these unemployed we respond to the 270,000 children young people, of families of sole always keep children in focus living in poverty and to the 60 percent parents and families in which both Policies which corrode self-confi- dence and goodwill, which cultivate guilt and disadvantage children, destroy the chance for productive citizenship . They bite at the strands which connect communities, caus- ing exclusion and weakening the social structure . So it is of utmost importance that when we look into a future ‘social security’ we examine any action which may adversely affect children and young people and exacerbate their situation . To fine a poor family for a child’s truancy or to reduce a benefit for a mother’s negligence, disadvantages that child still further . It does nothing to help solve the family’s problem or improve parent effectiveness, but worsens its isolation and hardens social attitudes towards it . Since we live in a world obsessed with efficiency, excessive Pat Harrison [Photo: Jim Neilan] measurement of outcomes, growth and profitability, it is vital we do not

8 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 overlay that harsh environment with vertically and horizontally within resulting from decreased productiv- an equally harsh social agenda . Now, the system with as wide a range of ity . But of greater importance, a more more than at any other time there is choice as possible . There should also harmonious society with greater a need for community – for human be opportunities to move freely from equality and strengthened communi- interaction, for shared purposes and one establishment to another, enter- ties would evolve . shared commitments . There is need ing and leaving at different points . A future state of Social Wellbeing for a spirit which demands a culture Identifying the skills necessary for will rely on such collaborative of trust and where people willingly industry’s needs, building bridges approaches with child-centred encourage and support one other . between different types of education policies and benefits set at a level Community cohesion is built when with new pathways opened to acquire to allow their full community par- problems are faced and co-operative a diversity of skills and competence, ticipation . As a nation we should efforts made to find solutions . must be tomorrow’s focus . tolerate nothing less; we should scan Community leadership is therefore all future political direction from a paramount but that leadership must encouraging diverse skills child’s perspective, with a child’s eye arise from the community itself, and Equally important will be the and a child’s state of innocence and not be imposed by national directives removal of the distinction between vulnerability, and voice a concerned and bureaucratic control . manual and intellectual labour and protest at any attempt to diminish It is all the more important in the type of learning required for their future prospects or damage a society which favours a few in each . This demands collaboration self-esteem . The talk of ‘tougher material wealth, widening the gap between education sectors and the measures’ or greater controls on between rich and the poor, that we disestablishment of those barriers marginalised groups should not seek for ways of reconciling material where competition is encouraged . be on the tongues and minds of progress with equity and respect for Too often those who fall out of the those in power without a quest for the human condition . This is the base system at 16 are ill equipped with the an equal measure of rehabilitation for a future ‘social security’ . skills necessary for a complex society . and support . When we hear the It must be the lens through which For these, high quality alternative language of punishment converted we see the granting of benefits and education routes with inbuilt skill to the language of enlightenment; the implementation of social policies . training to ensure future employabil- of cost to investment; of blame to Neither can we allow pressures of ity and with appropriate health and reasoned debate; of condemnation competition to outweigh the concern social services to address individual to generosity, then we shall have for greater equality . This brings the needs, must be an integral part of moved towards greater equality and spotlight firmly on to youth unem- the system . Any cost benefit analysis the state of Social Wellbeing . n ployment and children in poverty would recognize that additional costs and calls for Social Wellbeing rather in education, training, parental sup- Dame Pat Harrison is a former than Social Welfare . port programmes and social services principal of Queens High School, appropriate to need, would offset Dunedin. It was at her instigation that instruments of change long term beneficiary costs, justice the Otago Youth Wellness Trust, that What is the instrument which can best and prison custodial costs, increased caters for the needs of youth, young adults change attitude, foster benevolence health costs and the economic deficits and their families, was established and awaken civic spirit? It is found in and flourishes in Dunedin. the heart of education since it assists in fostering equality of opportunity . However, it cannot be asked to do this alone . Education should be seen as an expression of affection for young people and children as part of a family and local community . They must have inalienable rights to the acquisition of knowledge . And in this complex 21st century it should not be ended as compulsory at 16, but should have as its objective the goal of promoting a learning society . With a compulsory age of 18, there should be greater ability to move

9 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 75th anniversary of the social security act insight, leadership, compassion

The member of Parliament for the electorate in which Arnold Nordmeyer was born reflects upon his life, its foundations, and the way in which his beliefs were expressed in a remarkable life. David Clark

ordmeyer’s achievements as Arguably Nordmeyer’s greatest a disputes arbiter, was appointed to a parliamentarian led to a political contribution was indeed commissions, made the Director of the better life for people across made during his time as a first-term Reserve Bank, knighted and was made theN country in each subsequent genera- backbencher . He played an important a founding member of the Order of tion . I believe his approach to politics role in shaping New Zealand’s social New Zealand . has something to teach us today . security system — including the Prime Minister in emphasis on guaranteed retirement relevance for today a Parliamentary Obituary referred to income and low or no-cost health- But what of Nordmeyer’s relevance for Nordmeyer as “one of the builders care . This he did chairing caucus and today? Does his principled, intelligent of New Zealand” . He reported that select committees in the first Labour and gentlemanly approach have a place Nordmeyer spent his time at theological Government and in his subsequent in the rough and tumble of the contem- college thinking about how to change the role as Minister of Health . Nordmeyer porary Parliament with populist report- world instead of waiting for a better one . was subsequently Minister of ers and a fascination with the novel? The 1938 Social Security Act he Industries and Commerce, before I think it does . chaired through select committee 75 assuming the role of Finance Minister Nordmeyer’s humanity is revealed years ago is a benchmark for the extent in ’s Government . in the anecdotes of his time in parish life of change a determined government can Many remember Nordmeyer for in Mary Logan’s biography . Anecdotes bring . It is the kind of change against his 1958 ‘black budget’ where indirect from his time as Minister of Kurow which subsequent governments have taxes on alcohol and tobacco had parish reveal Nordmeyer as someone been measured and often found wanting . him labelled a wowser and puritan . able to mix with folk from all walks of Nordmeyer’s biographer Mary The taxes were to fund simultaneous life (refereeing Saturday sport despite Logan notes that his religion, like his increases in social security for families objections from more pious parishion- politics, was concerned with everyone . and the elderly, but politics and popular ers), principled (providing charity to He was a statesman, not just a politician . history have ensured that the offsetting those in need but unwilling to see hos- I have long been an Arnold public benefits are seldom recalled . In pitality abused where such abuse would Nordmeyer aficionado . He was born a time of financial crisis, he remained restrict the ability to offer hospitality to within the bounds of the Dunedin elec- committed to matters of social justice . others), intelligent and compassionate torate I now represent in Parliament . After politics, Nordmeyer’s intel- (able to discern a need for change and My Grandfather, a railway worker, was lect and integrity were recognised able to plan for a different and better born in the South two weeks earlier . and rewarded . He was sought after as world), and practical (recognising the Nordmeyer studied at the need to enter parliament to achieve the as I subsequently better society he sought) . did, and then, after training at Knox Nordmeyer’s story is inspiring . I College, was ordained a Presbyterian believe the public continues to hunger Minister some 72 years before I was . for inspiring stories . His political quest Our similar aesthetic and career path for social justice can be traced back to has been noted, insofar as it consists his unrelenting interest in the workers’ in an absence of scalp adornment, living conditions as they worked on dark-rimmed glasses, a time of active the Waitaki dam project during the Presbyterian ministry, and subsequent depression . He observed conditions choice for politics . that included men sleeping in canvas History will tell whether such tents in harsh winters with preventable flattering comparison has any merit . accidents and limits on pay . Nordmeyer was an important contribu- tor to New Zealand political history . I the waitaki story am half-way through my first-term as an David Clark Nordmeyer’s Kurow relationship opposition MP . with local school principal, Andrew

10 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 intellectual and political courage Nordmeyer exempli- fied . While Michael Joseph Savage is often regarded as the father of the welfare state, this is primarily in so far as his political leadership married the public appetite to address hardship with the principled position shaped in large part by Nordmeyer and McMillan . Without the principled thought-leadership of these newer politicians there would have been no ‘welfare state’ to implement .

Davidson, and doctor, Gervan McMillan (later a parlia- an assesment of nordmeyer’s work mentary colleague), showed a model of concern and care Nordmeyer may have achieved more if Savage had lived in community that in and of itself is reflective of Gospel longer . Certainly Nordmeyer’s later career may have values . But as a group of professionals in his Kurow been more successful if accompanied by the political parish, their discussions about how government might charisma of a Savage or Lange . His failure to bring the insure people against the miseries of unemployment, public with him as Finance Minister and then as Party poverty, and illness were to progress further . They shaped leader was exemplified in the ‘Black Budget’ . While he the bones of the welfare state as embodied in the Social was accustomed to implementing dramatic change, Security Act a few short years later . Andrew Davidson history hints strongly that he was not able politically later wrote, “The ideology of the Christian Socialist is to manage public sentiment to the extent necessary to set deeper and more penetrating than that of the con- implement such change at the top of the political ladder . ventional church attender … We are fired with a fervent Significantly, the achievements of the first Labour desire to create a new society” . Government continue to underpin contemporary New Davidson wrote of Nordmeyer that he “was so Zealanders’ belief that ‘fairness’ can be realised in our society . deeply affected by the suffering of many diligent citi- Nordmeyer believed that faith without works was zens with whom he came in contact that he perceived dead . His contribution is amongst the most important that, as a serving Christian, whose duty is a twofold one in New Zealand parliamentary history, and reflected embracing spiritual comfort and the relief of suffering, a conviction that real and positive change could be if he were to square his conscience with his actions, he achieved in politics . n must take political action” . David Clark is a Presbyterian minister, former Master politics of principle of Selwyn College, and Member of the New Zealand Such politics of principle are, I believe, as much Parliament for Dunedin North. needed today as ever . No one party in parliament has the monopoly on ideas to address the increasing inci- Join us in working for a world free from dence of poverty amongst the children of our country . poverty and injustice Certainly all believe it needs to be addressed . Studies tell us that the gap between rich and poor is wider than at any time it has been measured in New Zealand; surely something of the solution lies in a better allocation of resources from amongst the fruits of society’s labour . Those who are wealthy in our society have often enough become so by dint of hard work . Invariably, however, they have benefited from the institutions that make our society strong: schools, hospitals, infrastruc- Join the ture, a justice system that generates trust . These institu- tions must be maintained and strengthened to ensure the prosperity of future generations . Today participatory democracy is under threat as access to justice becomes less affordable to those of As a regular donor with our One World Partnership you will be supporting whole communities – not just individuals – in their limited means . A lack of adequate primary healthcare struggle against poverty and its causes. generates both a social and an economic burden . Contribute any amount at a frequency that suits you. Joblessness is too high . Unemployment drives much For more information contact Caritas on 0800 22 10 22 real poverty today and eventually a poverty of spirit that or visit www.caritas.org.nz is still harder to address . The Catholic Agency for Justice, Peace and Development Addressing these issues requires the kind of

11 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 75th anniversary of the social security act the politics of exclusion

The author traces the gradual way in which government policy has changed from seeing social security as a community responsibility to one in which individual is blamed for not taking the ‘opportunities’ that the free market creates. He shows how the latter model is at odds with Catholic social teaching. John Hughes

those Cabinet Ministers who regu- context of social security . Otherwise larly use their ‘back story’ of moving neutral, the term has negative con- from relative poverty to financial notations in the hands of neo-liberal success as a public relations tool . thinkers (as a counter-point try, Not for them, as children, reliance for example, the phrases ‘mortgage on the food bank or the harsh dependency’, ‘business loan depend- deprivation when family income ency’, ‘salary dependency’, and so is slashed by 50 percent to punish on) . The concept has also tended not perceived default by one parent . to be defined in any detail in official Rather, a system which, for all of its accounts and sustained empirical faults, aimed for the social inclusion research based on this country’s con- of the most vulnerable . ditions is lacking .

current ‘quasi-religious’ faith use of a mantra In 2013, the idea that income should Nevertheless, the mantra was uncriti- be redistributed to ensure that eve- cally advanced in 1990 and, twenty ryone can live with dignity, or that years on, it was the foundation stone benefits should enable participation for the report of the Welfare Working in the community, are as foreign to Group, on whose polemical and care- policy-making as the current neo- fully guaranteed ‘findings’ the current liberal faith in the invisible hand of government has relied . the market place would have been in Here, social security benefits are 1972 . Paul Dalziel’s description of claimed to rob beneficiaries of the this dominant faith in policy circles will to help themselves, effectively n 1972, the Royal Commission as being ‘quasi-religious’ (Tui Motu, discouraging self-reliance . A signifi- on Social Security summarised April 2013) is entirely apt . How did cant motivating factor for the cuts in the principles on which the we reach this point? benefit rates in 1991, which no Isocial security benefit scheme was Essentially, the right to ‘full partici- subsequent government has restored, then based . Prominent amongst pation’ was discarded by the National was a perception that benefit rates them, social security was described as Government elected in 1990 . In place were high enough to persuade many a community responsibility, with the of the broad political consensus on beneficiaries that paid employment state having a legitimate function in social security that had been in place was not worthwhile . Against this, redistributing income to ensure that for decades, neo-classical economic where benefits are not accessible, everyone can live with dignity, and theory was applied to social security the risk of poverty is seen as a spur with benefits paid at a level which entitlement for the first time . Three to effort . (In 2013, as a further goad enabled people to participate in basic themes emerged in relation to to remove themselves from so-called and belong to the community . The social security benefits, repeated over ‘dependency’, beneficiaries’ families Royal Commission on Social Policy recent years by the National-led coali- are discriminated against by denial of in 1988 also stressed the right to a tion government . the Working for Families tax credit sufficient share of resources to allow First, it was argued that the avail- of at least $60 a week, a sum which “full participation in society” . ability of social security benefits leads would make an enormous difference These principles governed income to so-called ‘welfare dependency’ . to the lives of the poorest families in support during the upbringing of ‘Dependency’ is a loaded word in the this country .)

12 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 benefits of a dose of poverty “the trouble with normal ...” In passing, the idea that a dose of As a society, we have become condi- poverty acts as a stimulating spur tioned to such themes as a normal to effort seems invariably to be aspect of the prevailing neo-liberal advanced by those who enjoy a model, rather than the aberrations personal position of considerable that they would once have seemed in a economic comfort and security . And priding itself on fair- if the lack of motivation or absence ness . Faced with undeniable evidence of strong penalty incentives is the of poor outcomes, as Paul Dalziel real issue, benefit numbers would alleviating poverty? points out, the neo-liberal theorists remain unchanged when employ- then either blame insufficient vigour in ment opportunities are plentiful . In The second theme underpinning pursuing the model or blame individu- fact, as is well-documented, when an the 1991 benefit ‘reforms’ was that als for not taking up the ‘opportunities’ economy is managed in a way that poverty is best alleviated by reducing the free market creates . Illustrating, as encourages adequately rewarded and government expenditure, including the songwriter wrote, that the trouble safe work, benefit numbers plummet . social security benefits, and reducing with normal is it always gets worse . In place of participation, then, we taxes, thereby supposedly promot- Yet, as implemented in the social now have exclusion as the focus, justified ing growth which will ultimately, security ‘reforms’, it is a model at to the wider public by the ‘dog whistle’ amongst other things, benefit the odds with Catholic social teaching . As political signals that those excluded are poor . This is the ‘trickle down’ theory Caritas has observed in submissions shiftless, more likely to be poor parents, well described by Jacqui Ryan as an on the new social security framework, and often drug-dependent . “abrupt sickly dribble” (Tui Motu, that teaching provides an ethical and There was, and remains, a wider April 2013) . moral basis for testing public policy agenda . Reduction in the level of ben- To move to 2013, the result is a against fundamental principles such as efits was seen to make low-paid work gap between rich and poor that has the preferential protection due to the more compelling . The benefit cuts widened more in Aotearoa New poor and vulnerable, respect for family were imposed as part of a package with Zealand in the past twenty years life (in particular the raising and the the Employment Contracts Act 1991 than in any other developed country . wellbeing of children), the solidarity and the Government’s ‘blueprint’ Publishing this finding, the OECD we have as members of one human Welfare that Works indicated that the warned of the consequent “unravel- family and, returning to our theme two measures had been aligned so as ling of the social contract” . This and touching on all of these, the right to make wages more ‘realistic’ . Again, country now ranks seventh among and responsibility to participate . n fast-forwarding to 2013, the current advanced economies for inequality .

Government’s unrelenting attacks on The main reason lies on the benefits John Hughes is a trustee with the minimum employment standards, side of the divide, as eligibility rules Christchurch Peoples Resource Centre extending even to the removal of are progressively tightened and (“CPRC”) of which the Beneficiary fixed rest and meal breaks, go hand certain benefits and allowances abol- Advisory Service is a project. in hand with new social security ished, reducing spending on social laws imposing a mandatory 13 week protection . Transfers to the poorest cancellation of benefit for refusal to have failed to keep pace with earn- accept a ‘suitable’ job offer . A ‘suit- ings growth whilst high earners have able’ job offer will steadily require been given tax cuts . acceptance of worse paid work with The third theme in 1991 was poorer working conditions, particu- that on grounds of humanity (and larly affecting vulnerable Maori and presumably electability), a ‘modest’ Pasifika workers and the young . safety net should exist for the very In this way, the overall tightening worst off . Under neo-liberal analy- of access to benefits is used as a policy sis, this should be no more than tool to reinforce the encouragement minimal support, in case it discour- of precarious low-waged employment, ages kin support, private charity forcing beneficiaries faced with harsh and ‘independence’ . Effectively, as sanctions to compete with others for Susan St John writes, “accepting the available work and enabling employ- charity model that our forebears ers so minded to reduce existing wages fought so hard to escape” (Tui John Hughes and conditions . Motu, July 2013) .

13 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 social justice egalitarianism revisited

The great crisis among us is the crisis of ‘the common good’, the sense of community solidarity that binds us all in a common destiny – haves and have-nots, the rich and the poor. We face a crisis about the common good because there are powerful forces at work among us to resist the common good, to violate community solidarity, and to deny a common destiny. Mature people, at their best, are people who are committed to the common good that reaches before private interest, transcends sectarian commitments, and offers human solidarity. (Walter Brueggemann, Journey to the Common Good) Jenny Te Paa Daniel

ince the 2013 Holy Trinity All believe it is perfectly good and theological and thus pastorally preoc- Cathedral Lenten series focus- right that all citizens in Aotearoa New cupied or was it a mixture of both? ing public conversations on The Zealand society should enjoy a freedom The responses I received to my CommonS Good was concluded, I have consisting in sufficient shelter, food, work enquiry about primary responsibility found myself in regular and always and wellbeing and freedom from fear . for provisioning for the common challenging conversation with family, Most however also commented good soon revealed very sharp divi- colleagues and friends about just what astutely that given the current dis- sions of opinion . exactly is the ‘common good’ in today’s turbing socio-economic fact of gross Aotearoa New Zealand society; about inequality among and between too the non-religious believer side whether or not the common good is a many of our nation’s citizens it has Those who tend toward the conditional desirable and or achievable shared soci- become seriously problematic even to to non-religious believer side, con- etal ideal, and about what if any dangers imagine just how the common good sidered practical provisioning for the lurk in the pursuit of such a radically could ever become a political reality for common good to be primarily the duty leveling societal organizing principle . all . Critical questions readily emerged of all charitable organisations, including Among my conversation partners with passionate energy and often all churches . By practical provisioning, have been Christians, agnostics, and delightfully self-righteous indignation . most meant the responsibility to under- self-confessed either lapsed or cynical Who would set the agenda? Who take both (a) political advocacy (i e. . to ‘uncertain believers’ . Regardless of their would decide what is indeed com- name, to confront and to transform the religious positioning, all were agreed monly good? Who gets to prescribe political obstacles to the good life for all) that the frustratingly under-interrogated what ‘good’ means? Who would and (b) to undertake to ensure politi- concept of the common good is none- determine the boundaries, if any, to cal empowerment for those currently theless an irrefutably ‘good’ aspirational commonality? Are there ever grounds socially disadvantaged or marginalized and achievable goal for all in the polis . for exclusion? What are the pitfalls of (i e. . to educate and to enable those cur- pluralism for the common good? rently denied goods common to human lives free of need or fear to overcome whose responsibility is it? their disadvantage in ways that are nei- By way of provocation I asked my ther patronizing nor insincere) . conversation partners to consider that This group sees that the state’s notwithstanding the multifarious primary responsibility through its gov- outstanding queries attaching to ‘the ernment is to ensure the fundamental common good’, if it remains broadly provisions of freedom, protection of speaking an agreed noble goal worth human rights, health, education, work pursuing for all in our society, then and production for all the citizens . whose responsibility might it be to Even so, they concede the inevitability make necessary provision for it? I was that the state will fail in large part on endeavouring to get at the motivational account of its inability to keep pace

Jenny Te Paa Daniel basis for the pursuit of the common with the demands of an increasingly [Photo: courtesy of ODT] good . Was it purely philosophical pluralistic society . Therefore they argue and thus politically pragmatic, was it the churches and other charitable

14 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 groups are needed to ‘fill the gap’ in socially, economically or politically dis- often disguised in the elusive counter- the absence of adequate or appropriate advantaged in ways that they had been poise of identity politics, is indeed the state provisioning . unable to overcome even after some greatest danger to the pursuit and imple- considerable time . mentation of the common good in any the christian side In spite however of the self-per- contemporary society, particularly those To the contrary, most of the Christians ceived relative privilege of my friends, struggling with the complex legacies of with whom I spoke believe that it is the colleagues and family, I was impressed both religious and political colonialism . state’s responsibility to ensure its political at the extent to which all remain power- leaders pay particular attention to ensur- fully committed to ensuring that those identity politicking ing legislative provision is always in place now most vulnerable within sizeable Even in the past five years here in to protect and uphold the human rights and deeply troubled portions of our Aotearoa New Zealand, numerous of all the citizens, including the right to society are also able to enjoy freedom of examples of dangerous identity politick- live lives of ‘common’ decency alongside access to the common goods necessary ing abound in popular media stories . all others in the society . for living in Aotearoa New Zealand with These are usually either fomented or In addition most Christians saw an abundance of decency and dignity . at least aided and abetted by scurrilous their personal faith-based responsibility My sense is that this is not an atypical political opportunism . Thus in ethnic as being that of activists advocating on attitudinal sampling of what most New terms we have witnessed spurious and behalf of the poor and the vulnerable Zealanders feel toward those who are often unchallenged public allegations and as agitators determined to hold the least in our society . Most, especially about; the ‘Chinese takeover’ (of elected officials (as representatives of those who have themselves suffered in businesses and expensive real estate in the state), to account for the continu- any way for any length of time, care upper middle class Auckland suburbs); ous and authentic well-being of all in deeply about those who now experience the burgeoning brown (i e. . Maori society . Interestingly, I found that most deprivation and poverty, or who struggle and Pacific Island) ‘ghettoes’ of South do not however seem to see the same to survive against the oppressive burden Auckland; the potentially ‘dangerous’ prior need to press for similarly focussed of unjust economic policies . Most of immigrants from Sudan, Afghanistan theologically justified accountabilities those I encountered over the age of 35 and Iraq; the purported ‘scandal’ of from those who are leaders within their years yearn to see a return to the popu- Pacific Island and Asian women ‘using’ respective church organisations . larly perceived egalitarianism which the national health system to give Admittedly while my provisioning characterized mid to late 20th century birth and thus gaining ‘easy’ access findings are skewed by my limited and Aotearoa New Zealand . to globally coveted New Zealand somewhat non-representative sampling, citizenship; public outrage about New it does seem at first glance that my ‘non’ idealism easily set aside Zealand accepting the ‘refugee boat and ‘uncertainly’ Christian friends, Notwithstanding the undoubted sincer- people’ rejected by Australia . Migrants family and colleagues consider that ity of those with whom I spoke I was are thus from time to time variously primary responsibility for provisioning completely unsurprised at the relative feared, vilified, targeted, suspected . As the common good for all in the society is ease with which their well-meaning ide- the examples I have quoted indicate, most appropriately that of the churches alism was then so readily set aside when too often certain migrants are regarded and other charitable organisations, with it came to identifying just exactly how as less worthy of the benefits of citizen- significant backup (secular) state support . to establish an equality of opportunity ship than those born in New Zealand . Conversely my Christian friends, family to flourish and to succeed for all in our Here we see clearly indicated a selective and colleagues see the same common society . What are the practical consid- hierarchy of deservedness for inclusion good provisioning as being primarily the erations to be taken account of? One of in the common good of citizenship . responsibility of the secular state (being the first challenges was to identify who held to account by the churches and exactly are the needy in our society . LGBT debates other charitable organisations) . At this point the conversations More recently the extraordinarily became much more difficult . The focus capricious public debates on the none disadvantaged upon “all in our society” led almost Marriage Equality Bill highlight the When I pressed them a little further, I immediately to consideration of human frighteningly punitive attitude of some learned that none of my interlocutors ‘differences’ . Inevitably, virtually any New Zealanders toward those who (drawn from across virtually the entire humanly created identity marker of are blessed to be born gay or lesbian . spectrum of humanly constructed ‘difference’ was cited as a potential Identity politics, which turn on the issue differences – age, gender, ethnicity, precursor to eligibility and deservedness of human sexuality, are among the most sexuality, class and physical disability), for the common goods of our society . divisive in our society and at their heart considered themselves to be, or to have It is for this reason that I contend ever been, significantly systemically that uncritiqued claims of pluralism, so continued on page 25 . . .

15 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 Staying at Noeline’s Robin Kearns

group of us had decided to take coastal dwelling . Set amid a tangle of developed, a Department of Conservation an autumn hike on the Queen banana passion fruit vines and kanuka staffer suggested she open her house to ACharlotte Track, along the edge trees, Noeline’s place commands a view walkers . Accommodation options were in of the Marlborough Sounds . I was out over the inlet . short supply around Endeavour Inlet then . booking the accommodation, and had a As I removed my boots I could Since that time, a series of visitor hunch that somewhere called ‘Noeline’s already hear her recounting local history books detail the walkers who have Homestay’ might be more interesting than to Pat, the first of our party through the enjoyed her tea and scones and a other options that included words like door . When all had arrived, there was tea bed for the night at modest charge . “I ‘lodge’ and ‘resort’ . in china cups with warm scones—not keep the cost right for the pockets of Following pink triangle signs on the your usual fare on arrival after a day’s backpackers,” she says . The night our south side of Endeavour Inlet, we found walk on a kiwi track . party of five stayed she slept on the living ourselves branching onto a narrow and We learned that Noeline’s husband room floor with Tuppence her dog, though obscure track that eventually led steeply had died suddenly 17 years ago . not before we were offered hot water through a gate and up to a classic 70s Sometime later, when the track was being bottles . Little wonder Lonely Planet called

16 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 to be more of an undertaking than going overseas . The trip involves being rowed from her jetty to a neighbour’s place, then being carted up the steep hill to her car on a tractor-pulled trailer, before the drive to Blenheim . Back problems and deafness present no obstacle to an indomitable spirit . Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that older people are most resilient when they remain living in their homes . Noeline seems to epitomise such resilience . Her world is rooted in the routines of making beds for the visitors she greets one morning only to farewell with a hug the next . “They mostly speak English, and when they don’t we figure things out”, she says . In enjoying her hospitality, they support their host’s travels to far corners of the world . In so doing, one small house overlooking the Sounds has become a prism, refracting colourful possibilities: older people’s worlds expanded through encounters with travellers; younger people reminded that elders’ lives can be more expansive than they expect . The next day, as I walked along the ridge between Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds, I pondered the previous night’s stay . We’d experienced something exquisite: a home not a

house, and a place where global and [Photo: Robin Kearns] her the ‘universal grandmother’ . the places she doesn’t have time to local converged . This much would make for a unique describe . Breathlessly, she described For Noeline, life is lived with immediacy . experience in itself, but her stories are having been robbed only twice—once in Her affirmative response to that DOC enough to make you drop your teacup . Madrid, then another time in Vancouver . worker’s urging to take in guests had Before her husband died Noeline had It didn’t put her off . “These things profoundly changed her life . It had also never travelled; Tom had a fear of flying . happen”, she says . Now at 82, another enriched the lives of hundreds of visitors . Since then, however, she has travelled trip is planned for when she closes her How many Noelines sit slumped and overseas every year . I expected mention doors over winter . sad in rest homes, cut off from the world of destinations like the Gold Coast or Outside, curtains of rain drifted across beyond? What power lies in saying yes Norfolk Island, but no such tameness for the Sound as she spoke of living in this to a new challenge and chapter in life? n Noeline . Stories of Ecuador, Mongolia isolated spot . Her difficulties walking and Madagascar rolled off her tongue . unaided appear to be no impediment to Robin Kearns is the Professor Her tally is now in excess of 60 countries international travel . In fact her six-weekly of Geography at the and fridge magnet souvenirs speak of stock-up of groceries in Blenheim seems University of Auckland.

17 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 faith and light faith and light celebrated 25 years on The author has had a long association with Faith and Light, an association begun by the legendary Jean Vanier. She tells how her life has been enriched by people with intellectual disabilities, and how she cherishes the spirituality that has grown from the mutual support that undergirds deep relationships and friendships. Anne-Marie Pike to uncover a secret that seems hidden from most of society … the gift of the person with intellectual disability . What are some of these gifts? Trust: I have been moved by the example of unquestioning trust in others that I see in my friends with intellectual disability . Experiencing this complete trust has often led me to the question, “Do I trust God the way my friends with intellectual dis- ability trust me?” Unconditional Love: All of us crave to be loved … just as we are, warts and all . Our magazines are full of those rich and famous, who seem to have everything, still earnestly seeking for the one person who will love them for who they really are, not for their famous image or wealth . And our friends with intellectual disability are no different . They too seek this deep- est of human needs . Their question is, “Will you be Joeline Davies and Martha Norgate (Nelson) bring in my friend … ? What is in your heart the Living Waters community banner . … ? Is there a place for me?” Unlike many others, they are not too inter- n 26th May 2013 about been for me . Central to the vocation ested in how you look or what you 200 people gathered in of Faith & Light is a call to build com- own … they seem to have caught the Christchurch to celebrate munity … a community which has at message of Jesus … blessed are the O25 years of Faith & Light in New its heart people with intellectual dis- pure in heart . They have taught me Zealand . They came from all over ability, their families and friends . We to look inwards to my heart, my true New Zealand and a few made the build this community by gathering motives and my priorities, sometimes journey from Australia . I have each month to pray together, reflect a humbling experience to realise how been part of Faith & Light in New on Scripture, share the struggles and impure my heart can be . Zealand from the beginning, and joys in our lives, and to sing, dance Celebration: Our 25th birthday this significant birthday caused me and celebrate together, and thus rela- was a wonderful celebration because to pause and ask myself, “What are tionships and friendships blossom . our friends with intellectual disability we celebrating? What impact has this As a parent, I have found other have the spontaneity and lack of inhi- organisation had on my life?” parents who understand when the bition to enter fully into celebration . As I reflected I was overwhelmed going gets tough, without any need for They don’t have to imbibe alcohol with a sense of deep gratitude … explanations . I also find friends who before they enter into the spirit of gratitude for the wonderful life- will support me, cry and laugh with an occasion … if there’s music on changing gift that Faith & Light has me . But the biggest joy of all has been they will dance and often they will

18 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 give others the freedom to join them . And this again brings me back to Jesus … he loved a party, describing myths to debunk heaven as a banquet . When I celebrate with my ‘Faith & Light’ friends I believe I experience a taste of that Brian Turner and Murray Horton heavenly banquet in their simple joy of celebration . No Masks: So many of us wear masks in our lives, n religious and philosophical circles, we are well used to often different ones for different occasions . For me, one the power of myth . As Rudolf Bultmann and NZ’s Lloyd of the most refreshing things about my friends with Geering have shown, myths can be powerful vehicles for intellectual disability is that they are real … What you Ireligious and philosophical truth, but they can also be dead see is what you get! This can be a bit confronting in ends for truth and enlightenment and need, as Bultmann put our world of pretence and spin, but I believe it is what it, to be ‘demythologised’ or debunked . Jesus was on about . Maybe this is why he was more And as in religion and philosophy, so in economics and comfortable with the marginalised, who did not wear business . There are myths that need debunking . masks, they were already on the bottom of the heap . Here in Aotearoa-NZ, CAFCA (Campaign Against Foreign Presence: If I take the time to be with my friends Control of Aotearoa) has addressed a number of ‘key’ myths with intellectual disability I must learn to be still, pertaining to foreign companies operating in New Zealand . sometimes even to be silent . When I go out with other friends we chat, talk and discuss all manner of things . One key myth is that “we need their money” It can be difficult to spend time with someone who Actually transnational corporations make massive profits out of doesn’t speak very well (or at all) … and yet there is a New Zealand ($15 .5 billion gross left NZ in the year to March gift in growing into a place where one is comfortable 2013), so they need our money more than we need theirs . just ‘being’ with another, learning to communicate in These profits are NZ’s biggest invisible export and are the main a different way . Just saying by my presence “I want to cause of NZ’s very high current account deficit (which is not be with you, you are important to me ”. And I have caused by “us” spending more than we save) . discovered that as I have slowed down I have learned to take more time to smell the roses, enjoy the little A related myth is “they pay tax here” things of life and to be still and discover my God in Don’t assume that at all . In 2009 the four big Australian owned the stillness . banks settled out of court with IRD for $2 2. billion of taxes they Source of Grace: Because of their disability my had avoided (that settlement was for less than the sum sought friends need various degrees of support in their lives . continued on page 27 . . . In this, they are a source of grace as they allow me and others to be their servants … and isn’t that what Jesus Concerned about increasing called us to … being servants to each other . But I have disabilities too … mine are not as foreign control of Aotearoa-New Zealand? obvious to an outsider, but they are real, and if I wish I can cover them up . I realise as I reflect that Concerned about our security, my friends with intellectual disability become my land, jobs, businesses and profits servants . They have taught me trust, unconditional increasingly controlled by foreign love, presence and acceptance of myself in my abili- interests? ties and disabilities . Join the So there was much to celebrate on 26 May and we did that so joyously with Banners, Ecumenical Service, Campaign Against Foreign Control Dinner and a Fiesta of fun in the afternoon . And as I of Aotearoa (CAFCA) gazed around me at the smiles and sheer simple beauty PO Box 2258 of the faces that surrounded me I thought “Our soci- ety would allow each of these lives to be aborted in the Christchurch womb without question if they were detected ”. And I pondered about how much society still has to learn www.cafca.org.nz about what the ‘little ones’ have to teach us and how [email protected] bereft our society would be without them . n Membership $ 20.00 Anne-Marie Pike is a member of the International Unwaged $ 15.00 coordinating Council of Faith & Light, one of whose and receive three issues per year of roles is to accompany the communities in Australasia. Foreign Control Watchdog

19 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 spirituality glimpses in the vastness

How do we teach our children about the mystery of God, and the promises and risks that belief brings? The writer looks at these questions, and reflects also on the nature of the divine and how we relate to God — two Himalayan takes on God.

Jeph Mathias

had two glimpses of God last our top-rope . He promises sweet Silence . We all imagined gorging week . Both involved a climb- fruit and no falls ”. luscious berries in golden sun … and ing rope, harnesses, karabiners, “Ya reckon? What about all imagined falling . Igravity and magic . Christians who get cancer or get “Ummm …” “but …” “er … First at Sunday school . We do a robbed or die of poverty? Where’s what if … ?” little house church: Perhaps a recorded their top-rope?” “Nah . I don’t really want us sermon, perhaps not, sometimes dis- Still trying to tie God up in the climbing that,” I said . “But I reckon cussion, always chai and cake . We’re rope Joshua explained sin is a false God would ”. Pointing out the juiciest all different — some take everything knot — we lose our protection and berries, she says, ‘Wanna free climb in the Bible as true, others can’t see fall . with me . No ropes, no promises . God glorying in killing Philistines and “Ok, what about babies? Christian You could fall, could be hard, we Egyptians — but we’re united in the babies . No sin but some die, others might get amazing fruit, might get journey . We find our own footholds are born deformed” stuck . But it’s more fun than fishing . but sometimes a belay is nice . While “Hmmm ”. The top-rope meta- Coming?” we take our tentative steps churches phor was the wrong shape for this We finished, all eating berries . reverberate around us with trium- jigsaw puzzle . Except me . I was chewing on this: phant hymns and shouting to power- “And while we’re there what God’s inviting me to an unroped ful saviour God . Maybe we should be about non-Christians? Some have life: risk, magic . . and a promise of with Indian Christians, but for me this good lives, some don’t . Is God belay- relationship . is a safe harbour on a Sunday . ing them?” “Thanks, kids . Great Sunday We take turns with the kids . Not sure any more that she knew school ”. Some do a bible reading and discuss . what I wanted to hear, Shanti said, Just 36 hours later, in my own Others tell stories . Some do crafts . “Hey, this is really confusing” . little pool of head-torch light, I was None of that’s me so when my turn ”What’s your answer?” asked alone in an immense night . Hanging came I anchored a climbing rope to Anna . in the heart of a tree, seven metres a tree and threw it down on a slab of “Haven’t got one . I’ll tell you off the ground, I was making a tree rock studded with wild raspberries . what I think later . Let’s get more ber- house, my birthday surprise for “OK, crew . Sunday school out- ries first and talk some more,” I said . Rohan . Our own house was just a side . Put on harnesses . We’ll take We kept climbing, kept picking, hulking shape in the oceanic darkness turns climbing for raspberries . Anna kept talking, kept eating . Honest but I sensed the children asleep in the first; Shar, you belay . The rest — let’s discussion in warm sun . It was good . loft . I screwed and chiselled, totally talk ”. “Hey, team! Time to pack up . aware of my body adrift in space, “Rock climbing for Sunday Harnesses off, coil the rope ”. profoundly alive to my hand-drill’s school! Cool!” “OK, now what do you think?” uneven cadence and the fragrance of Given that positive start I opened, I had no plan, no pre-packed fresh wood released by my rasping “What d’jya reckon? Does God answer . This just came . “Look at saw . Intermittently in the moonless promise safety?” those berries,” — pointing up seven darkness, monkeys moaned plain- From long years of practice metres of chossy rock — “Better tively or the canopy riffled under Christian kids spot stereotyped meta- ‘n any we got yet, eh? Let’s climb skiffs of summer-warm wind . Even phors a mile off . They told me what up’n’get ‘em . No ropes, no harnesses . nascent blisters in my soft palms they knew I wanted to hear, “God’s Let’s go!” enriched my sensually exquisite

20 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 solitude . A watchman shuffled along the path under me like a lobster across the seafloor, but I flicked my head-torch off . Lying back in my harness, I listened to rustling leaves whispering their secrets and the night slowly swallowed his irregular foot- step . Absorbed into velvet blackness this was an introvert’s heaven . I was driving my last screw home when, like water from a distant source, “Allah akbhar …” drifted through the liquid night . The far-off mosque’s dawn call to prayer sig- nalled stirrings on the human shore and told me I’d sailed alone across the night . Hanging in my harness I surveyed what I’d made . It was good . I thought about working with my hands for seven hours on a gift for my son . That was good too . A single star bobbed on rippling clouds above and the rocky path was barely discernible below . Suspended between sky and earth I was afloat in holy isolation, ecstatically aware of the azaan curling around me . Then, softer than silence a voice, “Nice job, son . Loved spending a night swimming beside ya ”. I can’t catch and hold leviathan God! Playfully flicking massive flukes God breaks my childish net and swims away, leaving my stereotyped metaphors spinning off in a trail of eddies . A climbing life, unroped and free, worked . Now God had given me its opposite, hanging warm and weightless in an infinite ocean . In life’s big and mysterious spaces I’m not chasing answers . I’ll just settle for adventure, open-eyed, in the moun- tains and oceans — and treasure these glimpses in the vastness . n

Jeph Mathias is a medical practitioner living and working in North India, with his wife Kaaren and their four children.

21 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 socialt justice reflection nakba and memoricide “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” – George Orwell

“Part of the main plan of imperialism … is that we will give you your history, we will write it for you, we will re-order the past … What’s more truly frightening is the defacement, the mutilation, and ultimately the eradication of history …” – Edward Said

“Not one refugee will return. The old will die. The young will forget” – David Ben Gurion 1948 (later Prime Minister of Israel) Lois Griffiths

hen researching for his For the 1948 catastrophe and its Ein Hod used to be a Palestinian village thesis about the founding of after-effects, Ilan Pappé has coined Ayn Hawd . The village mosque is now the State of Israel in 1948, the phrase ‘memoricide’ . My husband a restaurant, serving alcohol by the way . WIsraeli historian Ilan Pappé was able to Martin and I have visited Israel and The same friends took us to get access to military archives . These the West bank several times . We’ve what was Al-Bassah, in the Galilee . proved to him that the events leading been fortunate to be shown several Al-Bassah, destroyed in 1948, is now up to and following Israel’s becoming examples of ‘memoricide’ . a town of Jewish-only immigrants, established were not what he and other with the ironic name of Shlomi (My Israelis were taught in school . The some personal memories Peace ). The only evidence of its past are events that Israelis celebrate as heroic We went for a walk with a UN guide the ruins of a Christian Church and a are remembered by the indigenous through Begin Park (named after nearby Mosque . population as catastrophic — what they Menachem Begin, another Israeli Prime We’ve visited Saladin’s Mosque, call the Nakba . In his book, The Ethnic Minister) near Jerusalem . This forest or what remains of it, hidden away in Cleansing of Palestine, Pappé details park (as well as Canada Park and others) overgrown bushes, near Tiberias . This massacres in several villages including has been built over villages deliberately Mosque (built in 1184) would make a Deir Yassin and Tantura; the forced destroyed by the victorious Zionists . fascinating historical monument . It was expulsions of about three-quarters of Jews from all over the world have been Saladin who defeated the Crusaders . a million people and the destruction encouraged to make donations for tree- We’ve also seen the ancient Arab of over 500 villages by well-equipped, planting but they haven’t been told that cemetery, Mamilla in Jerusalem, well-trained Zionist militia . the trees — fast-growing pines — are which Zionists hope to destroy and Dr Pappé’s writings made him so planted to hide evidence that the spot replace with a “Museum of Tolerance” . unpopular that he eventually fled to was ever inhabited . Our guide was England where he is now a professor able to take us off the main paths to personal reflection at Exeter University . Dr Pappé has said see evidence of terraces, cisterns, olive, Israel itself, excluding Gaza and the that unless Israelis at least acknowledge almond and carob trees, evidence that West Bank, has a minority Palestinian the truth of the Nakba (the 1948 suf- people lived here before the Nakba . or as the Israelis prefer to say Arab fering) inflicted on the Palestinians, Not all Palestinian villages expropri- population . They attend Arab schools there can be no just peace between the ated by the militias were destroyed . where the curriculum is vetted by two peoples . Yet the current Knesset, Some were ‘Judaized’ . Often Old the Shin Bet (in English, the Israeli the most right-wing Israel has ever Testament names were chosen . What Security Agency) . They determined known, has made the teaching of the was pre-1948 named in Arabic Al to erase any knowledge of Palestinian Palestinian view of what happened not Majdal is now the Hebrew Askelon history or culture . Even the works so long ago illegal . Furthermore, the (Zechariah 9:5) . of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine Some friends took us to Ein Hod, a Darwish are not taught . has not been published in Hebrew . Jewish artists’ village not far from Haifa . The indigenous people of the

22 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 Holy Land have a rich history and a culture, and a strong tradition of welcoming visitors, as Martin and I have discovered every time we’ve been to the West Bank . Perhaps what is needed is something similar to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission . It might make some Israelis uncomfortable, but acknowledging the cruelties of the past can lead to healing and to an ending of the cruelties of the present . Israel and the Occupied Territories constitute a very small area . Many commentators observe that “facts on the ground” make a two-state solution impossible . Palestinians and Israelis could live together . But this must be on a basis of justice, equality, dignity and mutual respect . ‘Memoricide’ must be replaced with ‘truth-telling’, and soul-searching . n

Lois Griffiths with her husband Martin have been consistent advocates for the rights of the Palestinian people. They live in Christchurch.

Top: Mahmoud Darwish quote, Aida Refugee Camp .

Right: The Nakba

Below: Nakba Day commemoration . Nablus, West Bank, 2011

23 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 hitchhiker’s guide to church history st hilda of whitby

In the third part of this series on church history, we look at the period of 600-800 AD. We focus on the English Church when elements of Celtic and Roman tradition clashed. These were resolved at the important Synod of Whitby. The Abbess Hilda was thickly intertwined in the history of this time and the Synod. Susan Brebner

hen I first heard the idea of this column my The Hitchhiker’s Guide to mind leapt to all the Wpossibilities that I could write about, CHURCH HISTORY Hidegard von Bingen, Jeanne Marie Chavoin, St John Vianney, Bishop some people it is June 23rd (my sis- of the arts and science in the seminary . Pompallier, Dame ter’s birthday) and she is recognised She held to the ideals of monasticism, to name but a few . But no, I got as a teacher (my occupation) . I had all possessions were held in common the time period of 600-800 AD, I to learn more about this woman . and peace and charity, specifically love teach about many stages in Church St Hilda was born in Northumbria in action (caritas) were practiced . So history but this is one that I am not in 614 . Her name was actually Hild good was the academic and pastoral so familiar with, so Kevin Toomey which means battle (really? Had training that five of the priests that (thanks) gave me some ideas . And I they had one, were they anticipating trained at Whitby became bishops . have found this wonderful woman, one?) Hilda comes from a period in Hilda was held in high regard by acknowledged by both Catholic time where I struggle with some of all and people often came to her for and Anglican traditions, St Hilda of the language, her father was called advice . She was influential with kings Whitby . Her feast day is generally Hereric and her mother Breguswith, and princes, members of her congrega- acknowledged as being on November her sister Hereswith was married to tion and people from the local com- 17th (my mother’s birthday) and for Æthelric whose brother was King munity . She welcomed all people and Anna of East Anglia, try saying some was commonly referred to as ‘mother’ . of those names! And do you know any Hilda always encouraged people to man called Anna? find their true vocation; one well know Most of what we know about Hilda story is about one of her herdsmen comes from the Venerable Bede, he named Caedmon, she encouraged his writes very positively about her . She musical talent and he is believed to became a nun at the age of 33, quite an have composed one of the first hymns age in 647, her faith was Celtic and she in English . Hilda saw him as being as was strongly influenced by St Aiden important in God’s eyes as any member of Lindesfarne . Within two years of of the nobility . joining the convent she was asked to In 663 a synod was held at Whitby be the Abbess of a double monastery in due to conflict between elements of Hartlepool . Double monasteries were Celtic tradition and Roman tradition . not uncommon at this time, women Issues ranged from what was the proper and men lived in separate accommoda- haircut and dress for a monk, to how to tion but came together for worship . calculate the date for Easter . This was a Later Hilda was asked to lead the big issue and the source of great conflict congregation at Whitby, at this time within some communities . It was seen it was known as Streoneshalh (another as desirable that all people in the same interesting word to say!) She stayed area celebrate Easter at the same time, here until she died in 680 . Hilda wanted to follow the Celtic tradi- Hilda regarded the study of tion but when the decision was made A stained glass window by scripture as very important and she to go with the Roman practice Hilda Christopher Whall, depicting St was influential in the solid training of used her influence to bring about a Hilda, in Gloucester Cathedral . priests . She also established the study peaceful acceptance . This was incredibly

24 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 important in creating unity within the Collegiate School in Dunedin . And how about a potentially con- English Church at this time . Prudence What can we learn from Hilda troversial idea of considering the value is one the gifts recognised today? For me as a teacher it of a wise woman? We have many wise in Hilda, not a word many is the idea of being a mother women in our Church whose voices of us use today . This situa- to those I teach, to encour- need to be heard, eg, Sister Loyola tion at the synod was an age all people to find Galvin DOLC who recently starred in excellent example of out what God is call- the movie “Gardening with Soul” . her prudence: Hilda ing them to be and do, It has been truly interesting to read showed great insight and especially the concept about a woman, St . Hilda, whose value into this situation and of caritas ‘love in action’, was acknowledged and treasured . n used her knowledge and that we put into practice wisdom to work towards a what we learn about our Susan Brebner is the Director of peaceful outcome . faith . Hilda can also remind Religious Studies at Marist College, Today Hilda is the patron us that all people are loved by Moutn Albert, Auckland. of learning and culture, many schools God . . not just those we like or help us are named after her including St Hilda’s achieve our goals .

egalitarianism revisited . . . continued from page 15

is the insistence by those opposed to It is timely therefore that the ques- graciously and living far more modestly equal rights for gay and lesbian people tion of the Common Good is being and always with respectful deference to that somehow their eligibility for the raised afresh in the public square . Again, the planet earth entrusted into our care . common societal good of marriage is to Brueggemann is instructive in his iden- be denied simply on the basis of their tification of the crisis at stake . Even hopes for conversation God given gay identity . here in Aotearoa New Zealand there My fervent hope is that public conver- are ‘powerful forces at work resisting sations on the common good might those least able to cope the common good’ — unjust political yet ripple out to the far-flung reaches Single parents, the elderly, the poor policies, deep seated personal preju- of our communities, beyond those and the very young have all been ren- dices, all the old yet still frighteningly with faith and those without . That dered increasingly vulnerable in recent potent ‘ism’s (racism, sexism, ageism) . school children might participate, that years by government policies, which All of these things function to ensure neighbours will begin to mobilise, that ultimately disadvantage those least community solidarity is impossible to our nation’s elders might be invited to able to leverage the ‘common’ social establish let alone to sustain and thus contribute, that our local government goods needed for lives of decency and our progress toward a common destiny agencies might take seriously their dignity — economic sufficiency, safe is consistently thwarted . responsibilities to consider their role and affordable housing, secure and in ensuring the common good of all meaningful employment, access to commodity politics and worth their constituents, similarly so for adequate health care . It is in this way We live in a globalized society where national government . that the widely held aspiration for the everything and everyone is reduced to a What is needed is the courage to common good found among so many commodity and where all human worth consider ways of evoking an abiding New Zealanders is being fundamentally is now measured by productivity, gain sense of our moral interdependence undermined by our political leaders . and control . What we now need instead and solidarity with and for one another . are brave new imaginings of neighbour- For as Hollenbach reminds us, “the ‘mature people’ hoods, towns and cities where the endur- common good can only be the good We have a little way to go before we ing concepts of justice and righteousness, that exists in a community of solidarity can lay claim to being those whom indeed, of neighbourliness, of compas- among active equal human beings” . n Brueggemann describes as ‘mature sion, kindness and generosity character- people’ . While we are in general a nation ize our human interactions . What we Dr Jenny Te Paa Daniel is a former reasonably committed to the ideal of the now need is a radical change of heart, principal of St. John the Evangelist ‘common good’ we have yet to become where our deepest held sense of how we Theological College Auckland, and sufficiently practised at the art of want to be as citizens together is exempli- visiting fellow of the National Peace and “reaching before private interest and of fied in the ways in which we commit Conflict Studies Centre at the transcending sectarian commitments” . to sharing more freely, receiving more University of Otago.

25 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 scripture lazarus outside the door

The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich man 26th Sunday Ordinary Time – 29 September 2013

Kathleen Rushton

ow would Jesus have told concerns in Luke . This story acts The rich man has hardened this parable today? Who out the first beatitude and the first his heart to the basic requirement is Lazarus and who is the woe: “Blessed are you who are poor, of faithfulness to the covenant as Hrich person? Millions sit like Lazarus for yours is the kingdom of God” demanded by Moses and the proph- not outside the actual gate of the (6:20) and “But woe to you who ets (v 29) . The unmistakeable teach- house of a particular rich person, are rich, for you have received your ing of the Torah is that the poor be for security guards would move consolation” (v 24) and resistance cared for and goods be shared with them on or prevent them even from to conversion . the poor . The rich man’s choice and entering gated communities . The rejection are presented in the person “at the gate lay a poor man Lazarus” at the gate . Yet again, Luke presents is the one who in the rhetoric that the great reversal which is at the heart now clothes our once valued and the reign of God . The rich man is pioneering social welfare system is inside and Lazarus is outside . Then stigmatized as dependency . Lazarus regardless of status, death comes to “lies at the gate” of the house of job both . The rich man is outside and security and a living wage . Lazarus Lazarus inside . Lazarus is very much “lies at the gate” of rising rentals for inside . He has been “carried away by sub-standard housing and of never the angel to the bosom of Abraham ”. owning a house . Lazarus “lies at the gate,” yet the bosom of abraham enters our house on the TV screen This term “the bosom of Abraham” in millions, but is nevertheless (16:22) is nowhere else in Scripture outside because of poverty and yet visually it is found again and again starvation . The Lazarus of millions in medieval Christian art . Reflecting of refugees, the Lazarus of the boat their times and expanding our people navigating perilous seas “lies imagination are sculptures on highly at the gate” of Australia and of the decorated triple Romanesque capitals shores of Aotearoa New Zealand (top of a pillar), in wall paintings, in because of our collusion with the miniatures, in the glorious West Rose former’s policy . In this parable, St window of Chartres Cathedral and Augustine even understands that in the restored West frieze of Lincoln Lazarus outside the gates is the Cathedral or Abbey Church of Saint figure of Jesus in his suffering and Pierre, Moissac, France c 1115-30 . death while Lazarus in the bosom of The noun for ‘bosom’ kolpos ( ) Abraham is Jesus united with God evokes intimacy . It is used to describe after his resurrection . the beloved disciple in John’s gospel lying on the breast of Jesus at the last the parable supper (Jn 13:23) . The image of “to be This parable of two parts which in Abraham’s bosom” comes from the comprises the story (16:19-26) and custom of reclining on couches at table of a kind of epilogue on conversion Souls in the Bosom of Abraham which prevailed at the time of Jesus (vv .27-31) concerns the rich and (Souvigny Bible about 1100 AD) and which I have described previously the poor which are two prominent (TM, August 13) . The head of one man

26 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 myths to debunk

. . . continued from page 19

and avoided penalties which would have been imposed by the court) . It was the biggest tax avoidance case in NZ’s history . Right now IRD is pursuing a number of big Australian owned companies through the courts for tax avoidance . CAFCA has also investigated another foreign company which paid no NZ tax for five years and basically injected no money into the NZ economy, operating almost entirely on borrowed money . It was a liability not an asset to the NZ economy .

But “we need them for our jobs” No we don’t . Transnationals are not big employers . Five out of six Kiwis work for NZ owned companies which transna- tionals need in order to operate in NZ . Once again, they need us more than we need them . Not only are they not big employers but, in many cases, they have actively contributed to mass unemployment and/or a serious downgrading of NZ workers’ conditions (eg Telecom) .

Another key myth is that “selling things to foreign owners The restored West frieze of Lincoln Cathedral . helps NZ’s foreign debt problem” No it doesn’t . Despite a quarter of a century of systematic public was near the breast of the man who lay behind, and he asset sales, NZ’s foreign debt has continued to balloon . Roger was therefore said “to lie in the bosom” of the other . The Douglas himself said “I am not sure we were right to use the argu- visual images of Abraham do not depict that posture but ment that we should privatise to quit debt . We knew it was a poor rather of a father holding or cradling a child or children argument but we probably felt it was the easiest to use politically ”. in his lap or in the fold of a kind of veil . Thus, the sense Nothing has changed since his commendable honesty . of this word which can suggest a lap is evoked . This sug- gests the close relationship of a maternal/paternal and Yet another myth is that “they can’t take the land or the life living figure and a child or children . phones with them” Hildegard of Bingen, who left 58 homilies on True — and why would they want to when they can own lectionary readings, sometimes names characters in them here and milk them for all their worth . The company parables as virtues or vices . Throughout her second which now owns the Crafar farms is called “Milk NZ”! homily on this parable, she gives the rich man two names, Pleasure and Moaning for God . Lazarus she Land sales to foreigners are only part of a much bigger picture calls Sighing for God and Sighing . Abraham she calls Who owns and profits from our banks, supermarkets, media Hope . She seems to me to be expressing the self- companies, telecommunication companies, airlines, transport absorption and poor-me attitude of the rich one and companies, insurance companies etc etc is a matter of national spiritual longing and physical need of the poor one . significance which affects everyone in the country; one which This parable has so many levels of meaning; yet is rapidly becoming a branch office economy dominated by for those of us whose lives and circumstances tend transnational corporations . to match those of the rich one, we have the choice to be moved with compassion rather than to harden Finally, it’s not that CAFCA is anti-global our hearts . We have the choice to cross the chasm We live in a globalised world and are challenged to be respon- to the other side both to touch through the ever- sible global citizens, not narrow nationalists . But there’s a huge encompassing and inter-related spiritual and corporal difference between being real partners in global justice and works of mercy the Lazarus within our reach and development instead of passive pawns endorsing the false myths more widely by our participation in collective vision of multinationals . n of the common good to reach the Lazaruses . n

Kathleen Rushton is a Sister of Mercy working in adult For more about CAFCA go online to www .converge .org .nz, or write to “Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa”, PO education in the Diocese of Christchurch. Box 2258, Christchurch .

27 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 book and film reviews the fundamental connectedness of things

Sameshima went on to become one of Book: Thinking It New Zealand’s leading contemporary Through photographers . For Watkins, the Karaka Bay by Tony Watkins, with photo- path embodies the contact we all graphs by Haruhiko Sameshima have with the earth . In the broadest Karaka Bay Press/Rim, $30 possible sense, he asks us to consider what path we are on . Humanity Reviewed by Gregory O’Brien needs to consider itself a part of the t one point in this thought- cosmos rather than to persist with provoking and often inspiring the self-annihilating delusion that we collection of essays, architect are masters of it . We need to build ATony Watkins describes how the sensitive and sympathetic pathways, shell-laden path down to his home ‘the art of making connections… in harmony with the physical and at Karaka Bay, Auckland, came to be Designers are sensitive and feel pain in metaphysical world . And when they replaced by a heavy-duty, concrete a way that totally escapes the isolated are washed away — as is Nature’s thoroughfare . This was back in the specialist ’. He certainly feels pain when right — we need to rebuild them . 1990s . Whereas ‘the old path hugged confronted with the rampant monetar- I remember walking along the the landscape, emphasising the land- ism, bereft values and impaired think- old path at Karaka Bay before it was form and encouraging people to relate ing that are often extolled as virtues ‘upgraded’ — the brittle crunch of more closely to the earth . Now the in contemporary New Zealand . Yet shells underfoot, the ‘pfff’ sound straight lines of the new path became far from being a hard pill to swallow, of jandals on sand, the gritty soles- a symbol of power, and the aliena- this is a curiously joyful and optimis- of-your-feet feel of the place, and tion of people from place ’. He then tic book . Haru Sameshima’s lively the sandy, salty breeze meandering itemises the environmental damage photographic montages transform the among the pohutukawas . Something stemming from the new walkway: book into a colourful, animated and of that too is enshrined in Watkins’ erosion, damage to the pohutukawa informal conversation between a writer prose . Thinking it Through is as light- trees, heavy metals deposited in the and a visual artist . After these early footed and beguiling as it is wise, bay, lowering of the water table and ‘collaborations’ for Home and Building, soulful and indispensable . n contamination of the shellfish beds . Thinking it Through reminds us, time and again, of the connectedness and interdependence of Humanity and Nature . First published in Home and Building magazine between 1988 and 1996, the essays propose a holistic approach to architecture, town-planning, conservation and just about every other aspect of life . While never pushy, Watkins is a man with a mission, extolling the virtues of sustainability, the ritual element of human life, aesthetic and ethical values, the need for community and, again and again, this fundamental connectedness of things . An ex-lecturer in the architecture department at the University of Auckland, Watkins is most at home in the field of design . He reminds us that design is also, fundamentally,

28 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 seasons of faith

Film: Gardening with Soul

Directed by Jess Feast Reviewed by Judy Bennett ptly titled, this film tells the story of the life and work of Sister Loyola Galvin, now over A90 years old and Sister of Compassion, an order founded by Mother Aubert . Film-maker Jess Feast skillfully draws out from this wise yet humble woman the story of gardens well-made and of a life well-lived . Feast seems unburdened by the so that she left them to it and it still Sister talks of her aging body and familiarity that an older Catholic has thrives . Her joy is that these young mind but understands the meaning of of the aims and ways of the religious parents will now teach their children “growing old” . A major loss of inde- life, a plus for any general audience as and so it goes on . pendence, she had to cease driving she asks questions common to non- Beginning with winter, the film because she realized she was becoming Catholics and, I dare say, younger takes us though the cycle of gardening a little forgetful . Yet, she sees each age Catholics including: “Why did you in the convent grounds with all the and each crisis as offering a challenge become a nun?” This takes us to the preparation for each season . Running and reminds us that by meeting such Sister’s early life and her nursing days parallel we see Sister cultivating her challenges we grow, so old age is not during World War Two . To all Feast’s soul not only in working with nature simply loss but, above all, a way to off-camera comments, Sister Loyola in the garden but also in the exquisite further growth . responds both feelingly but also with chapel, in quiet prayer in her room, The film concludes in the season truth peppered by quick and sparkling in socializing with the other sisters . of autumn . In the garden it is time of humour . Her first piece of practical- These threads are tightly woven into a harvest but also a time of dying off, yet ity comes in her beloved shed, full of whole, bathed in the changing light of the seeds of the next season are forming plants, seeds and all the paraphernalia the seasons and of this Sister’s life, so and flourishing . The good gardener of the gardener, to the effect that every well reflected in the sensitive filming collects them in readiness and in faith . family home should have a shed, as: of the land and sea near the Home of Sister Loyola looks forward to another “It would reduce family violence!” Compassion at Island Bay . spring and new growth . n We see her love of children as she takes visitors to walls of photographs of the children the Sisters cared for in the Catholicism 1950s and 1960s: the abandoned, the 5 DVD Set Author Robert Barron disabled and thalidomide victims . This gardener reminds us that like a small With creator and host Fr. Robert Barron, participants will learn what Catholics believe and why by exploring the art, architecture, seed a child has to have a good start in literature, music and all the treasures of the Catholic tradition. life to flourish . Sister was also instru- Filmed on-location and in the streets, illustrating the splendour of mental in the creation of other gardens the global Church all in original, high-definition cinematography. — the park-like settings of a cemetery $275.00 for the bodies of stillborn children that Free Post & Packaging were once discarded or even hidden so $199 with prepayment mothers would “get over” the extraordi- Freephone 0508 988 988 [email protected] nary loss of the child they had carried . 38 Higginson Street, Otane And then the community garden, Central Hawke’s Bay mainly for young couples, flourished www.christiansupplies.co.nz under Sister Loyola’s firm care, so much

29 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 comment Crosscurrents Jim Elliston make haste slowly indeed Another outcome of the James described how “a global coali- Pope Francis has given several concrete Sykes-Picot report was the Balfour tion of regulators, investors, companies, indications that he intends to implement Declaration in 1917, which decreed a standards setters, the accounting profes- the Vatican II decision on the collegiality large part of Palestine should become sion and non-government organisa- of the bishops . The re-assertion of what a Jewish homeland . tions” has developed a framework for was the original relationship between the Stourton explains that the current companies to account for their use and papacy and the rest of the bishops was the unrest in the region results from the modification of six types of capital: finan- cause of great anguish and dissension at reassertion of their original bonds by the cial, manufacturing, intellectual, human, the Council, with a fight back from the religious and ethnic groups artificially dis- social-and-relationship, and natural . He conservatives . membered . The Sykes-Picot restructuring points out that “widening of the word A reflection of this was summed up of the region is beginning to break down . ‘sustainability’ from an environmental in several limericks penned by Council Israel is desperately trying to ensure the concept to an economic one takes the members, such as the following: status quo remains intact . myth out of the environment debate and There are some who affirm collegiality also makes it clear that businesses cannot marriage of convenience? Will give the Church much greater vitality. hammer nature indefinitely if they are to In Capitalism as if the World Matters stay in business ”. But Ruffini of Palermo (2005) Jonathon Porritt described the In a powerful sermo three kinds of reaction to environmen- preaching christ Denied it had any reality. tal pollution: Ever since he appeared for the first time • “Capitalism is fundamentally evil on the balcony at St Peter’s, Pope Francis earthquake faultlines so must be replaced”; has issued a stream of pithy comments “The sun never sets on the British • “it brings many more benefits than that sum up various aspects of Christ’s Empire” was a truism in my youth . disadvantages and must not be teaching applicable in the real world In maps all parts were coloured red . I tampered with”; of ordinary people . His trip to Brazil remember being impressed that several • “its worst effects can be mitigated brought forth several brilliant encapsula- countries in Africa had borders so regu- by various forms of intervention” . tions of post-Vatican II teaching; simple lar they appeared drawn with a ruler . After examining the various factors constructions using common examples I later discovered that they were — by involved he concluded: “Capitalism is easily understood by the least educated . European powers safeguarding their the only economic system that is cred- His basic theme has been that the pri- own economic interests . ibly on offer at the moment . Thus the mary role of the Church is to preach the In a recent Tablet article, BBC only chance for economic and environ- Gospel, particularly to the dispossessed journalist Edward Stourton gives a mental sustainability in the foreseeable (vastly out-numbering the comfort- background to the current situation future is to make that growth consist- able middle classes) . The effect has been in the Middle East . In 1916 Sir Mark ent with sustainability, rather than astonishing . Sykes (UK) and François Georges-Picot conjuring up fanciful visions of how to A report from John Allen (National (France) produced the Sykes-Picot report do without it ”. Catholic Reporter) sums up for me the which formed the basis for the national In his Otago Daily Times piece for ‘Francis effect’ . He describes how Francis borders of much of that area agreed to 16 July, Colin James analysed aspects of spoke to a crowd in a muddy soccer after the Great War . The report set out the ‘Valuing Nature’ conference held the field on the edge of which was the larg- the rights and responsibilities of those previous week, including three messages est Assembly of God church complex important countries (that is, France and from international speakers: in Brazil . The windows and doors were Britain); the borders cut across ethnic • “the value of maintaining natural crowded with AOG members and the and religious groupings . capital in enabling and underpinning building sported a large banner with the One example of this imposition by economic activity and development; words “Welcome Pope Francis” . European powers on the lives of ordi- • business’s need (and opportunity) John Allen spoke to a young nary people living in lands regarded to take this on board for their own woman member of the Assembly of as fair game for European economic long-term viability; God, asking why she expressed such interests: the Kurds had their home- • the superior power of bottom-up a welcome to Francis . He summarised land divided between what is today initiatives, local and private, over her reply as “I live in a slum … he is Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey . top-down ones ”. my pope too!” n

30 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 comment a model of kindness and humility

Peter Norris

friend of mine wrote to me Notre Dame . He liked Bishop John always looking for others in need . from my old University . It and always enjoyed hearing any news When he preached it was a bit like a was a lovely letter but had of him . “who’s who”, but we loved it . He was a newsA that a very good friend of I knew that the President had been good man . When other priests refused mine was sick . I am trying to find on the Fulbright Foundation, had been a request from Fr Hans Kung to cel- his email address but while I was considered as a Vice-Presidential candi- ebrate Mass in their hall chapels, the engaged in this activity I thought date for the US Presidential elections in University President, Fr Ted Hesburgh, about another person . 1972, served on the Board of Directors was livid and said that no priest with While studying, I worked in a of the Chase Manhattan Bank, led the faculties should be turned away . I was University of Notre Dame (South first US mission to China, was one of lucky enough to have Fr Kung cel- Bend, Indiana) Hall of Residence, the Commission of three who oversaw ebrate Mass at our Hall and the Mass with over 500 students . It was a bit the El Salvador elections, and did many was attended by Bishop Brian Ashby, of a zoo at times but we had great other things as well . from Christchurch . students . Each year I invited the He often travelled to University The University President, Fr Ted University President to celebrate and other meetings . Another priest Hesburgh, was a good man who was Sunday Mass for us . Mass began at who often went with him said that President at the University of Notre 10 .30 pm and had a great attend- he would be in Chicago airport with Dame for about forty years . He could ance . The Eucharist was always full the University President when all use an arsenal of words, could relate with students taking all the available of a sudden he would be passed the to different people, and had achieved floor space . Colleagues in other Halls President’s bag, and told: “I will meet much . What I remember most about were jealous that I managed to get you at the gate ”. This other priest, who him was his self-sacrificing kind- the University President each year . I was unusually kind, said he then realised ness . He had achieved so much, had never told them that I called around that the University President had seen a the world record for the number of midnight when his light was the single parent with a lot of children or honorary doctorates awarded, but only light on in the administration had seen a blind person . Chicago air- was exceptionally kind . With all his building . I did not have to deal with port is horrificly overcrowded, but no achievements he was the best model secretaries, just with the President matter how late he was, the University for kindness and humility . n entering it in his diary . President always saw the people in need Whenever I started talking with and always stopped to help them . I was Father Peter Norris is the Master of St him he mentioned Bishop John told that he always caught his flight . Margaret’s College on the campus of the Mackey who had also studied at Most of us just try to cope but he was University of Otago.

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31 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013 a mother’s journal

by Kaaren Mathias “I just sat in my son’s small flat in Amritsar, and it is piled on top of someone else’s house and he doesn’t even know those people who live downstairs. Every morn- ing I went up on the roof and looked out. I could not see even one field. Just concrete, concrete and the tops of the mosques.” the thoughts of Henri Nouwen and the my parenting, my marriage, my work How good to be sitting back with Rembrandt picture of the Prodigal Son interactions and my friendships . my dear friend Sonam Butti, in our to guide my ponderings . The image Homecoming, or lack thereof, old home and village in Madgram, that has stayed with me most days this has also been a theme for our family Lahul . We had escaped from the heavy month, is the “going-out-to-bring- as our Christchurch house, which monsoon rains for the kids’ summer back” actions of this most gentle and we had hoped could be our family’s holidays and come north to Himachal patient of fathers . Perhaps for years, tūrangawaewae, was officially taken Pradesh . Now I sat sipping Sonam he waits and looks out the window over by EQC . Another of the Red Zone Butti’s sweet gingery brew of chai and and down the road . When he sees the casualties . We had said a sad ‘Goodbye’ catching up on news from the last two prodigal son from far off, he collects prayer when we left New Zealand in years including this first ever sojourn up his long robe, forgets about being February, but with our frequent house away from the mountains to visit her a dignified Jewish patriarch, and runs moves, our belongings to India and son in a hot and noisy North Indian out of the house and down the road to New Zealand and current residence city on the plains . meet his ragged son . in Uttarakhand, I know now that our “And then I walked around the Later on, he notices his elder son is “place we stand tall”/tūrangawaewae whole city of Amritsar. I did not find not joining in the hoopla and fun of will probably always be more about one person dressed in a chola (long tra- the Welcome Home party, and again, being among people we belong to ditional maroon dress with a waist coat goes out of the house . Crossing the rather than a particular piece of dirt . worn by Lahuli tribal women) like me. thresold into the dark night, he meets Sonam Butti gets up to brew Not one! And the thing that I thought and seeks to bring back this elder son another round of chai . I look out her was worst of all was that there were no also . This father doesn’t sit and calcu- window and realise all I can see are mountains. It was just flat, flat, flat and late whose turn it is to take initiative green fields and muscular high hills . it made my eyes tired looking for even in the relationship . He doesn’t stay No concrete . Deep peace . And actu- just a hill! I was so happy to get home to inside, tallying reasons why he should ally, Madgram village is a place I can this village again.” sit and wait for the two sons to come call home too . n Homecoming weaved its way to him . He loves . He wants relation- Kaaren Mathias lives with her through our monsoony summer . ship . He goes out the door and seeks husband Jeph and four children in I was reading and thinking about his sons . This example gives me such a North India, where she works in The Parable of the Two Sons — with big invitation in how I could go about community health and development.

32 Tui Motu InterIslands September 2013