A leading Maori historian says the churches have an ongoing responsibility to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Manuka Henare presented his thoughts to a recent church hui at Manukau Institute of Technology on the treaty and theology.
He says it was a chance to review the greater understanding historians now have of the early contacts between Maori and missionaries and the thinking behind the korero at Waitangi on February 6, 1840 from rangatira like Hone Heke, Waka Nene and Patuone.
“They referred to the treaty as ‘He Kawenata Hou’ The New Covenant. And this is the difficult concept that has come to the fore and it’s at this point that the christian church has had this obligation to be custodians as it were, kaitiaki, of the wairua of the Treaty of Waitangi” Listen to interview