Some would argue he is an Aotearoa saint waiting to be recognised.

Every year people from the Hamilton Diocese and beyond gather at his birthplace Okahukura, north of Taumarunui to celebrate his life.

His family have a marae there dedicated to Mary. It is called Whanau Maria.

Currently, they are rebuilding it to make it more suitable to welcome visitors.

A welcome powhiri at ten was followed by a visit to the urupa where the rosary was recited.

Then people returned to the marae where the Eucharist was celebrated by the bishop of Hamilton Steve Lowe.

The parish priest, Fr Lawrie Bishop and Fr David Gledhill concelebrated.

The local parish fully supports the occasion. They sang the parts of the Mass with a chant composed by Richard Puanaki of Wairoa.

Richard's faith is the direct result of Pa Wiremu's early ministry in Wairoa.

Lowe speaks of the legacy of "our own Pa Wiremu Te Awhitu... courageous priest and man of faith... a legacy deeply rooted in the soil of generations past, present and most surely to live on in generations to come."

Pa Wiremu grew up in Okahukura the third of 10 children. He lived till he was 80 (1914-1994).

He was a true son of the King Country and was an accomplished footballer and athlete who practised Maori crafts and was a skilled carver.

He was formed by the Mill Hill Fathers and attended Hato Petera and St Patrick's College Silverstream.

He was ordained in 1944.

His priestly ministry was brought to an abrupt stop by a severe stroke in 1958, while he was serving in Wairoa.

He moved to Hato Paora College, Feilding. There he slowly re-learned enough speech to celebrate the Eucharist again.

Pa Wiremu spent the last 36 years of life struggling to speak and minister.

Much of that time was spent at Jerusalem on the Whanganui River.

He is possibly a candidate for sainthood not only as he was the first Maori priest, but because of his down to earth holiness.

And he could be hailed as the intercessor for those who suffer a disability.

The late Bishop Mariu SM describes Pa Wiremu as a "prayerful, hard-working person, devoted to Mary, committed to his people, gentle, big-hearted and welcoming with a spirituality springing from someone at peace with God and the world."

Poet James K Baxter used to attend his Eucharist and said of his reflections "Te Atua sends me a good instructor in Father Te Awhitu. His few words have the weight of wedges splitting timber. His soul speaks of God because it is at rest in God."

Gledhill was Fr Te Awhitu's Superior at Whanganui. He notes: "When I attended Eucharist with Pa, Pa showed an awareness of the very special presence in the Eucharist. Fr Te Awhitu had an extraordinary insight into the Eucharist."

Click here to read the biography of Pa Wiremu Hakopa Toa Te Awhitu in Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.

Source

Supplied: Pa Piripi Cody

Standing near the open rear door of the hearse, he said the prayers of final commendation while the family watched and prayed over a phone video link.

"I was able to pray the prayers and bless the remains of their loved one knowing they were there,"

"It was a beautiful experience, and it was something I felt graced to do."

Camody is the parish priest of St Theresa's in Plimmerton, north of Wellington.

Archdiocese of Wellington Vicar for Maori Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard has been using technology to remotely accompany whanau in their tangi.

"Even though we are not able to be there kanohi ki te kanohi, we are reaching out using alternatives."

"It's not the best way of doing things, but it's what we can do."

Karatea-Goddard says he can train younger whanau members to offer words of farewell and prayer: "Families themselves are drawing on their own resources."

While New Zealand is at alert level four no funerals are being celebrated.

Funeral directors have advised that families have the choice of immediate cremation or burial, or putting bodies in their mortuary facilities.

Technology cannot help with all funeral lockdown problems, but grieving families are being encouraged to contact parishes to link with the support available.

The Government has said the proposed change to Alert Level 3 - whenever it happens - will allow ten people to attend a funeral, though families will need to decide who the ten will be.

Source:

Supplied Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

Marguerite Osborne has been Chairperson to the Wellington Archdiocesan Maori Catholic pastoral advisory group named Te Kahu o te Rangi.

She is the first person on the left in the photograph above.

She accepted this role around 2010 at the invitation of then new Vicar for Maori, Monsignor Gerard Burns.

Monsignor Burns said, "Marguerite has proved an effective chairperson, being firm and ensuring meetings progressed positively. At the same time, she was a concerned and loving leader".

Marguerite was living in and very much part of Our Lady of Kapiti parish. She has kept the flame of inculturation of te reo Maori in the liturgy and Mass alive.

Asked what she saw as challenges to the local church and especially the role of Maori, Marguerite said, "It is vital to involve more people. We need to welcome back family and others who have ‘retired' from church practice at the moment."

Marguerite Osborne returns home to Kamo, Whangarei, for this stage of her life.

"We thank her and are very grateful for all she has given us", said Rangimoeroa Waikari-Panapa, former Kaiawhina Maori. "We wish Marguerite every blessing".

There is a personal parish for Maori (Te Pariha o te Ngakau Tapu in Porirua), and 12 other Catholic Maori communities.

They are supported by the Maori Pastoral Care Team located in the Catholic Centre in Hill Street (but most often out in different parts of the Archdiocese).

Source

• Supplied: Pa Piripi
• wn.catholic.org

They have asked the government to purchase the disputed land.

Deacon Chris Sullivan, the Ihumatao Response Team leader says the Government needs to take the land back first.

"Because it was the Government back in 1963 that confiscated the land illegally from Maori there and caused the issue in the first place."

Sullivan says the Government has very few options.

"We see the Government has a responsibility to take action, and probably that involves putting up money."

The Commission has written a letter to the prime minister Jacinda Ardern and cabinet ministers, urging the government "to take steps in rectifying the grave injustice it committed in 1863 when it confiscated the land at Ihumatao."

They support the government's decision to invite all parties to come together to reach a long term solution for the use of the land.

The commission believes that participants in such a meeting must include the leaders of the land occupation, Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL).

They have also suggested that police be withdrawn as requested by the Maori Council: "to promote peace and goodwill."

They think Maori wardens would be much the more appropriate keepers it there is a need.

The peace and justice group has also written a letter to the mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff and councillors of the Auckland City Council encouraging them to play a positive role in achieving a just solution at Ihumatao.

Members of the commission are appointed by the bishop of Auckland.

They are selected from convenors of committees, the diocesan pastoral council representative, the council of priests representative and Maori representatives

Source

• aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• newshub.co.nz
• aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• Image: newshub.co.nz

It was the first-ever in Auckland diocese that encompasses Tamaki ki Te Taitokerau and potentially Hauraki. Continue reading in NZ Catholic

He was a priest for 73 years and served in Rotorua for over 60 years. He retired in 2008.

Originally from the Netherlands, Timmerman studied to be a priest there, being ordained in 1945.

In 1949 he came to New Zealand with four other Mill Hill priests.

He was appointed to Waitaruke near Whangarei for a short time, before moving to Rotorua where he stayed until his retirement.

Timmerman had served at St Michael's, St Mary's and St Joseph's parishes.

He was involved in setting up the Catholic schools Mary MacKillop College and Edmund Rice College which merged to become John Paul College.

He was also on the committee for the centennial celebration of Catholic education in Rotorua in 2003.

Even though coming to New Zealand was not Timmerman's own choice he eventually came to call New Zealand home.

"This is my country, these are my people now," he told the Rotorua Daily Post at the time of his retirement.

On Monday Ngati Whakaue kaumatua Monty Morrison and a contingent from Rotorua went to Auckland to bring Timmerman to Hurungaterangi Marae where his tangi took place.

The bishop of Hamilton Stephen Lowe presided at his funeral at St Mary's Church in Rotorua on Wednesday.

The service, which was a combination of Maori and Catholic rituals, was attended by about 600 people.

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said Timmerman was a priest with deep faith and a generous heart.

"He had a great love of young people and Maori culture, going as far as to learn te reo Maori.

He also had a great sense of humour and humility about him," Walsh said.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• rotoruanow.co.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz

At the meeting, the Kingi formally invited the Pope to New Zealand to visit him at Turangawaewae Marae.

It was Kingi Tuheitia's first visit to Rome and his first such Papal engagement, usually reserved for heads of state.

They exchanged taonga.

The Latin words on the taonga the Pope presented means "Be Messengers of Peace" The dove and olive branch are international symbols of peace.

Kingi Tuheitia was accompanied by his wife Makau Ariki Atawhai and his daughter Te Puhi Ariki Nga Wai Hono i te Po.

Nga Wai Hono i te Po was baptised in the Catholic Church at the request of her grandmother Dame Te Atairangikahu by Bishop Max Mariu.

Dame Te Atairangikahu chose to do this as a means of joining the two rivers, Waikato and Whanganui.

Nga Wai Hono i te Po was confirmed and made her first communion during a mass celebrated by Pa Hemi Hekiera and Monsignor David Bennett at Ngaruawahia as part of Kingi Tuheitia's coronation hui.

The Royal party was also supported by a delegation that included the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon and Archdeacon Ngira Simmonds.

A post on the Kiingitanga facebook page reported that The Anglican Church was pivotal in securing the audience with the Pope, "thus embodying the aphorism of the Second Maori King, King Tawhiao who said 'in the palm of my hand I hold three treasures - the Anglican, the Methodist and the Catholic churches.'"

After his meeting with the Pope, Kingi Tuheitia was received by the Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The discussion focused on social and political issues facing Maori and indigenous communities, including employment, health and education, and the need for cultural and interfaith unity.

The king's mother, the late Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikahu, visited the Vatican to meet Pope John Paul II in 1975.

The last papal visit to New Zealand took place in November 1986, when Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in Auckland Domain, where he wore a Maori feather cloak and addressed a huge crowd.

"The visit of King Tuheitia to the Pope is a very, very significant event because it is part of the vision that he set out at the Koroneihana last year, to commemorate and celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Kiingitanga", Ta Wira Gardiner wrote on Facebook.

"One of the messages was to make the Kiingitanga an important instrument and an institution both domestically and internationally, reaching out to the Pope was one of those aspects of internationalising the Kiingitanga."

Source

• supplied
• rnz.co.nz
• vaticannews.va
• facebook.com
• Image: facebook.com

His former school Hato Paora College hosted the event.

Stone says he hopes events like this will help inspire the current students.

"I am now part of a judicial group who have to treat people fairly, administer justice fairly and in particular for our court assist our people to administer their land," he said.

"And the reason I did law was that Moana Jackson spoke at my senior prize giving here at this school.

"So I was kind of hoping [that] bringing it here might influence just one of the boys to want to study law at university."

During the swearing-in ceremony, justice Joseph Williams recalled the childhood of Judge Stone, who was a typical "grassroots" Maori boy raised in Porirua.

Williams said, "He was one of the people who gave me direction when I was a lawyer at Te Ohu Kaimoana. He finished there and moved on to the Bell Gully law firm, and then on to Kahui Legal, a Maori firm based in Wellington.

"He wanted this to be an example ... that aspiring to be in judicial office, with its comfortable salary and impressive superannuation scheme, is something you can aspire to, too," Williams said, poking fun at Stone.

"He believes in what he's trying to do - to power and strengthen the Maori community. It's no easy task."

Maori Land Court chief judge Wilson Isaac congratulated Stone and welcomed him to the court.

"There are a number of people who couldn't make your [ceremony] but, looking around, perhaps they wouldn't have fit."

The court is for Maori landowners to help them retain their land and know how to use and develop it.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• maoritelevision.com
• Image: stuff.co.nz

In this building is a central Lecture Theatre called ‘Te Kete Uruuru Rangi.' It is surrounded by carvings.

As part of those carvings, there are sets of ‘pou' (carved wall features or poles) which express the ancestral links each hapu has.

One of these sets speak of the early men and women of Ngati Kapu, the hapu which has a covenant agreement with the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington to care for (be ‘kaitiaki') of the land embracing the Pukekaraka area of the Marae o Hine Nui o te Ao Katoa and St Mary's at Otaki.

In the picture, you can see Debbie McAsey, née Taratoa, who is the grand-daughter of one of the people in the carving, Meremaihi.

She is holding a patu representing the strength of the person she was.

Known affectionately as ‘Aunty Pepe', she was a force to be reckoned with! She balanced care and generosity with strength and fearlessness.

Meremaihi portrays the strength of the women of her clan; she fought for the rights of her people and literally stood firm on the Tainui pa land through thick and thin.

The man in the carving at the bottom (Debbie has her hand on him) is Meremaihi's father, Arekatera Te Rawaraki.

He was a master of assembling and fitting masts on sailing sea-ships. He is holding a long rafter pole (called a 'tahuhu') with both hands above his head.

He was called on to assist in the building of Rangiatea Church and setting the rafter pole in place.

He is holding Rosary Beads in his hands. They are real beads blessed by Cardinal John Dew and given to the carvers by Oriwia Raureti.

When the Catholics of Ngati Kapu helped their relations build Rangiatea Church (Anglican or Mihinare), they left rosary beads in the rafters and behind the tukutuku, symbolising their unity in faith and family.

Another person in the right-hand carving is holding rosary beads. They, like the ones Te Rawaraki holds, mark out the Catholic Faith which to this day is a central focus and strength of the iwi.

They mark with pride the relationship Ngati Kapu has with Rome. Various ‘taonga' were exchanged with the Pope. To this day the Papal flag flies over Pukekaraka.

The lady with the white shawl is Kui Taruru, who helped bring up the late Makuini Johnson, both proven stalwarts and guides of Faith.

Kui Taruru was one of those kuia, elder ladies, who accompanied the early missionaries on their journeys. The rosary she holds is carved.

Below Kui Taruru is Tira Putu. He was an orator for the people. He is carrying a tokotoko which represents his skill in language.

He taught the late Pa Hemi Durning SM te reo Maori. Pa Hemi is one of the priests and sisters buried on Pukekaraka.

These carvings were done by local carvers, Chris Gerretzen, Brian Climie and Bill Doyle.

Ma te rarangi whakahi o enei tupuna, to tatou mana, to tatou mauriora me to tatou whakapono e pumau.

May our mana, our well-being and our faith be held firm as we recognise the proud link we have with our ancestors.

Read the unabridged text

Source

• Photo used with permission
• Oriwia Raureti, Debbie McAsey, Huia Winiata and the carvers

After the meeting, the rangatahi section took a walk around part of Mt Taranaki.

Part of the purpose of the Easter Hui Aranga is to engage young Maori in embracing who they are as Maori and Catholic.

"After some beautiful korero amongst our rangatahi on the Hui Aranga, Miha, Waka Aroha and other kaupapa, our Rangatahi Forum travelled to Parihaka to visit Pa Hemi Hekiera and were hosted by Te Kahui Taiohi o Taranaki Iwi at Te Paepae" said Rawiri Tinirau, chairperson of the Kaunihera Matua of the Hui Aranga (Central Council Chair).

"Later, we enjoyed and experienced blessings of snow and aroha on Maunga Taranaki near Te Rere o Kapuni."

"After a visit to our Araukuku whanau celebrating Uncle Boyce's 80th birthday at Hoani Papita, our rangatahi returned to Muru Raupatu Marae with Our Lady, who will grace us with her presence at Miha Maori at Nga Pekanga."

Click here to see more photographs

There are about 14 Clubs who come together each Easter.

They cover the area from Whangarei in the North through Tauranga and Hawkes Bay, across to Taranaki, through the Central North Island, down the Whanganui River and ending in Wellington.

Next year the Hui is being hosted by two clubs in Taranaki, Araukuku (Hawera) and Nga Pekanga (Waitara - Bell Block). It will be based at the TSB Hub with several hundred participants accommodated at local Marae.

The meeting efficiently covered a wide range of matters. These included dietary matters, choir judges, religious quiz, funding, liturgy, and the ‘Taonga' or awards which carry the mana of various generations of Maori catholic elders.

One faithful participant was Sr Makareta Tawaroa RSJ, who celebrates her 50th jubilee this year.

She is one of the religious quiz promoters. She had prepared booklets for the three sections involved (Mokopuna; Rangatahi; Matua - Midgets; Junior and Senior) which were avidly collected to start swotting up the material for next year!

Given a current shortage of Religious and priests to support the Hui Aranga, a discussion arose about the possibility of promoting Maori Catholic Catechists or permanent deacons.

One agreed point was such people need the backing of wives, whanau and Clubs.

2020 will mark the 75th jubilee of this Easter Hui which initiated at Pukekaraka, Otaki in 1944. The hosts will be the Wellington Clubs.

Source

Supplied

He has also proposed that the Hato Petera site should be used for a hostel for Maori students attending other schools in the area, on the model of Auckland Grammar School's InZone hostel in Epsom.

He said he told the minister of education Chris Hipkins about his proposal to transfer Vanguard just before Hipkins announced the closure of Hato Petera on August 31.

A spokesman for Hipkins confirmed that O'Sullivan outlined the proposal at a principals' conference at Wairakei on August 30, but said the minister was "non-committal" about it.

O'Sullivan, a former Hato Petera student, has produced videos telling the stories of four Vanguard students in an effort to stop parliament passing a bill to abolish charter schools such as the military academy.

He says after five years Vanguard has demonstrated by its academic results that it genuinely transforms lives and has provided a positive and aspirational pathway for rangatahi who were failed by the mainstream education system.

Vanguard Military School is a co-educational charter school located in Albany.

It opened in 2014 and was the first of 11 charter schools to apply to become part of the state education system under the changes Labour made to the charter school system.

In May Hipkins gave approval for Vanguard to become a designated character state school.

In 2019 it will become a full secondary school with up to 312 students from Years 9 to 13.

At present, it teaches the New Zealand Curriculum to Year 11, 12 and 13 students with the specific aim of gaining the NCEA and UE qualifications.

The school uses the ethos and training methodology of the military which it says helps students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve attitudinal and academic excellence.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• vanguard.school
• voxy.co.nz
• maoritelevision.com
• Image: thespinoff.co.nz

The Minister of Education Chris Hipkins and the Bishop have agreed that the College will close on 31 August 2018.

In making the announcement last Friday Hipkins said the school was no longer capable of providing a quality education.

"The sad reality is that there aren't any students left at Hato Petera," he said.

"The advice I received from the ministry made it very clear that any students who did enrol at Hato Petera weren't going to be receiving the standard of education they should be."

Deed of Grant will be honoured

In a press release, the Diocese said it is committed to ensuring that the intent of the Deed of Grant made in 1850 in relation to the land, is honoured.

The land or income from the land will be used to support "…. the education of children of our subjects of both races and of children of other poor and destitute persons being inhabitants of the islands of the Pacific…"(Deed of Grant, 19 August 1850).

Needs have changed

The diocese said Hato Petera College has a proud history but it has not been the secondary school of choice for Catholic Maori, within the Catholic Diocese of Auckland.

As at 1 July 2018 there were 1,065 Maori students attending 15 Catholic Secondary schools in the Diocese.

This year the roll at Hato Petera has fluctuated between one and five students.

There have been no students at the College in Term 3.

Past students have chosen not to send their children and grandchildren to Hato Petera College.

The Church's concern over the past few years has been that students at Hato Petera College have not been receiving the education they need or deserve.

The need for Maori boarding schools has changed.

Significantly fewer Maori are choosing to send their rangatahi to Maori boarding schools for their secondary education.

Hato Petera was the only co-educational Maori boarding school in Aotearoa.

There are four remaining single-sex schools Maori boarding schools; two of them are Catholic schools.

There are three in Hawkes Bay: Hukarere Girls' College St Joseph's Maori Girls' College, Te Aute College.

Hato Paora College at Cheltenham in Manawatu.

All have very small school rolls and the total roll across all 4 schools is 531, the size of a small secondary school.

Looking at possibilities

The Auckland Diocese is exploring and considering all education options for the use of the site.

Some possibilities include discussions with the Ministry of Education regarding the use of the College facilities by another school.

It is also in discussion with Hato Petera old boy Dr Lance O'Sullivan, Chair of the Moko Foundation, about the possibility of establishing a "Hato Petera hostel/academy" that could support a new model of education at the current site.

Source

• Supplied: Lyndsay Freer
  Media & Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auckland
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: Newsroom /Alexia Russell

Tauira Tawhito Steering Komiti, a group of former students, parents and a kaumatua, have been able to increase the roll from one to five.

They say they have received nearly 500 expressions of interest.

The commissioner, Lex Hammil, confirmed that the roll had increased to 5.

He said, however, "enrolment did not match attendance on the ground.

"We've had sporadic attendance by all students."

With Hato Petera in a state of flux, Hamill said the Tauira Tawhito Steering Komiti's "personal crusade" was harmful.

"I have faith in the process that is being initiated by the Minister of Education" he said.

The Tauira Tawhito Steering Komiti, however, feels it had been left out the decision-making process.

Former student and spokesperson for the group, Ratahi Tomuri said "We want to drive this.

"We've put together a marketing strategy and a plan to get the school out of debt, but we have no transparency about what's happening.

"We want to help, we're here to do the hard work. The school was once a thriving kura, and it still can be, but it needs the right people behind it."

Tomuri told Stuff in April that allowing only baptised Catholics to attend the school, and closing the school's boarding facilities, harmed the enrolment process.

But Hamill has pointed out that, because Hato Petera is a state integrated Catholic school, "We've got to get to a roll of 20 before we can take one non-Catholic."

A spokesperson from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland said the results of the consultation process, the submissions of which closed on May 14, were being considered by the Ministry of Education and Minister Chris Hipkins.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: propertynoise.co.nz

The roll has declined from 210 in 1995 and the Education Review Office had expressed concerns about the school's performance.

Earlier this year, Lex Hamill was appointed as a commissioner to take over the governance of the college.

Hamill said there is an issue about how four teachers and a limited number of students can offer a balanced programme.

This year the school was set to receive $330,000 from the Ministry of Education's operational grant fund for a projected roll of 15 students.

However, Hamill said those funds would drop to around $200,000 with only one student currently at the school - although the salary of teachers did not come out of those funds.

Last Friday, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced the government and Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland had agreed to begin consultations about whether to cancel the school's integration agreement.

"With only one student currently in attendance, the Commissioner has raised concerns about the sustainability of the school.

He is supportive of the decision that the proprietor of Hato Petera College, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, and I have now taken to initiate the consultation process.

I acknowledge that this is an uncertain time for the student currently attending Hato Petera, her whanau and the community.

But the role of Maori boarding schools has changed over the years," Hipkins said.

"Despite the extensive work of the commissioner, previous boards of trustees, teaching staff and the community, concerns about the college's finances, human resourcing, curriculum and its low student numbers remain."

If the agreement is cancelled, the Diocese would be left to decide whether to close it or begin running it as a private school.

Source

• tvnz.co.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: facebook.com

The Hui Aranga, or Maori Easter Gathering, is a Maori Catholic celebration of Holy Week and Easter.

Groups come to it from all over the North Island.

This year they included Clubs from Tauranga (Tauranga Moana), Wairoa (Tawhiti a Maru), Hawkes Bay (Waipatu), Wellington and Porirua (Nga Karere and Tu Hono), Taranaki (Araukuku), the Whanganui River (St Vincents, St Peter Chanel and Wainui a rua) and the host Club from Ohakune (Ruapehu).

This was the 72nd year the Hui Aranga has met. It began in 1946 at Otaki (Pukekaraka).

It is a remarkable testimony to endurance in Faith and Culture.

As the late Maori Bishop, Takuira Mariu SM, used to say, it is "the lifeblood of Maori Catholic which sustains a cultural expression of their Whakapono (Faith)".

Traditional ceremonies for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday were held.

Bishop Charles Drennan (Good Friday), Mons. Gerard Burns, Fr Bernie O'Donnell (Parish Priest of Ohakune-Taihape), Mons. David Gledhill SM and Pa Piripi Cody SM attended.

Sr Margaretta RSJ and Br Denis O'Brien SM were religious present.

A remarkable play conducted by local rangatahi (youth) depicted the Good Friday Gospel linked to the Stations of the Cross.

At the end of the play, Christ was taken from the Cross and placed in Mary's arms. Christ reappeared, clothed in white, at the Easter Sunday Gospel.

Standing tall, he proclaimed "E te Iwi, kia Ora" ("The Fullness of Life be with the People").

Those gathered had competitions covering cultural Kapa Haka, Whaikorero (Oratory), Religious Quiz, Sacred Solo and Choir, and a variety of sports.

A huge marquee provided the venue: 2/3rds used for ceremonies; 1/3 for dining.

Feeding several hundred people breakfast, lunch and dinner is no mean feat!

This was a ‘Parakore' (waste-free) hui. At every rubbish bin was a bin for recycling. As people came to wash their dishes, there were bins for food, plastic and rubbish.

Waipatu (Hastings) scooped the pool for both Religious and overall aggregate.

They were closely followed by St Peter Chanel (Whanganui River).

All events have three levels: Mokopuna (midgets), Rangatahi (junior) and Matua (Senior).

At the thanksgiving and closing on Easter Monday, the ‘Mauri' (Central life force), a statue of Mary clothed in her korowai (cloak) was given to the Club due to host the Hui Aranga in 2019.

It will be Araukuku from Hawera.

Source

Supplied: Philip Cody

The occasion will begin with an opening ceremony on Friday at 3:00 pm.

On Saturday formalities highlighting the school's history will be presented, then followed by a celebration dinner.

There will be an exhibition of archival material and oral histories, and a presentation about the school book by historian Malcolm Mullholland.

Stephanie Tibble, a former student and event organiser, has been collecting interviews from kuia (older women) who were students, sisters and principals at the school.

"It's going to be great to catch up with people, but I think also it's significant in that St Joseph's is one of only two Maori girls' colleges that remain today," said Tibble.

Jubilee committee chairperson Julie Tangaere said the school was excited to host whanau during the weekend.

"It's really going to be a great event. St Joseph's has been home to many girls over the years. It will be great to get together and share memories and acknowledge the school."

St Joseph's Maori Girls' College (then named The Providence) was one of the first schools established by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in 1867.

The school was established in response to a request by Maori Missioner Father Euloge Reignier. His commitment to the education of young Maori was such that he is recorded as riding for days on horseback to pick up children to be educated at the Catholic school.

Former students of St Joseph's Maori Girls' College include famed Maori activist Dame Whina Cooper.

In 1995, the ownership of the school was handed over from the church to iwi Maori who established a trust board.

Two Sisters remain living on the school grounds to maintain the connection with the founding Order.

Source

• RNZ
• Maori Television
• Scoop
• Hawkes Bay Today
• Image: Brightcove

The church closed the hostel to college students last year, and the Catholic Maori high school is still fighting to get its boarding facility back. Continue reading

He had retired to his home of Motuti early in 2008 and had been suffering from cancer for some time.

Pa Henare was born in Rawene and affiliates to Te Rarawa. He was a priest of the for over 50 years.

He was also a Doctor of Philosophy and an award-winning author.

His funeral will take place on Wednesday beginning at 10am

Even in retirement Pa Henare remained very active in many areas in particular promoting awareness of New Zealand's first bishop, Bishop Pompallier, who is buried in the church at Motuti.

As a young priest he worked with the Te Rangimarie cultural group at Te Unga Waka marae.

He produced the sacred musical "Christ the Maori" which presented the life of Christ in song and dance that spoke to Maori hearts.

Pa Henare became a key contributor in the development of what he called "Maori Theology" and was awarded his PhD for his seminal work in this field.

He began to research deeply the connections between what is taught in the Gospels and the values that are treasured within his own Maori culture.

For many years he lectured in this area for the Catholic Institute of Theology.

The Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn, said that Pa Henare also played a key role in the translation of our present liturgical texts into Maori.

"He was a brilliant orator," Bishop Dunn said, "always interesting and always laced with humour."

"There was a deeply spiritual side to his character, and this was always to the fore."

"His energy was endless and there was always some new project that he was undertaking."

"We will miss his creativity and the knowledge, insights and commitment with which his whole priestly ministry was imbued," Bishop Dunn said.

Source

• aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• maoritelevision.com
• Image: screenshot maoritelevision.com

Danny has been appointed the new Turanga Maori in the Archdiocese of Wellington.

Hundreds of whanau, students, staff and friends travelled to Wellington to join people from the Archdiocese at the powhiri.

The bishop of Palmerston North, Bishop Charles Drennan, handed over Danny and Maru to the Archbishop of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew.

Throughout the gathering there were mihi, waiata and karakia.

Cardinal John thanked Bishop Charles for bringing the Danny and Maru to the Archdiocese.

"We know they will make a great contribution here and will also teach and challenge us. By accompanying them here and handing them over to us, I thank you for your willingness and generosity."

The New Zealand bishops announced in early February that Karatea-Goddard will also be taking on a new part-time role with Secretariat for Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa - the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

His role will be to supporting the secretariat and the bishops in their commitment to Katorika Maori.

Drennan, who is secretary of the NZCBC, said ‘Deacon Danny together with his wife Maru and whanau have been a tremendous blessing to the Diocese of Palmerston North, particularly since Danny's ordination to the Diaconate.

"Danny's gift of articulating Catholic Maori thinking and illuminating faith at work among Maori will be of invaluable help in our formation as Bishops and our ability to shepherd tangata whenua."

Source

• wn.catholic.org.nz
• Image: wn.catholic.org.nz

Catholics are the largest denomination in New Zealand with nearly half a million members, almost 70,000 of whom are Maori.

Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard says new migrants have kept the numbers up, and through the church they are getting exposure to things Maori.
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