Rihari Tiki Te Aroha Puanaki (72) died last week of cancer in his home town Wairoa.

After many years away he returned there to teach at his old school, St Joseph's Primary, and to reconnect with his Ngati Kahungunutanga.

He was a pivot in the Wairoa parish community.

One of Puanaki's relatives and friends, Pa Karaitiana Kingi SM, shared in much of the prayer at Puanaki's requiem, often with a tewhatewha to support him and plentiful Holy Water from a sacred spring.

Long time friend, Danny Karatea-Goddard, says Puanaki composed many himene and songs, with the most famous being Ka Waiata Ki A Maria.

The prayers chosen for the Requiem followed Puanaki's composition, approved by the New Zealand Bishops. The composition is now used in different Miha around the country.

At his Requiem Mass Puanaki had a pre-recorded message for his whanau saying: ‘If my tombstone has my name and simply "composer of Ka Waiata" on it, that would make me very happy!'

He explained that his love for Mary led to putting that prayerful reflection together.

Now the hymn has universal appeal for both Catholic and non-Catholic and has been sung on various occasions including by the Silver Ferns and the National Youth Choir.

For 30 years Puanaki was part of an annual pilgrimage from Wairoa to the Carmelite Sisters' Convent in Auckland.

Despite being ill with the cancer that would eventually kill him, Puanaki again joined this pilgrimage this year.

Those speaking at Puanaki's funeral say he leaves a rich heritage for so many, both Maori and others.

Humour and music, reflection and culture, family and devotion, faith and resilience are part of his legacy.

As Pa Karaitiana Kingi emphasised in his homily, Puanaki lived up to his largely unknown name ‘tiki te aroha', ‘seek out and spread love'.

Source

• Waatea News
• Image: Archdiocese of Wellington

The original agreement set up an inalienable relationship.

The present Covenant renews the original agreement.

It recalled the partnership established when local Maori invited the Catholic church to come and live there.

It marks the "sharing of these lands in perpetuity for the practice of the Faith."

The original Covenant was signed by tipuna of the local hapu of Ngati Kapu and Archbishop Redwood for the Archdiocese of Wellington.

This time the signatories were Alex Hakaraia, Trustee for Ngati Kapu and Cardinal John Dew, Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Wellington.

Others to sign included Oriwia Raureti, Chair of the Pukekaraka Marae, Danny Karatea-Goddard, Vicar for Maori in the Archdiocese of Wellington, Monsignor Gerard Burns, Vicar General of the Archdiocese and Fr Alan Roberts, Parish Priest.

All those present were invited to sign.

A unique aspect of the agreement is that it has a basis in the kaitiakitanga the Word of God.

The document signed is based on the Covenant between God and God's people, as presented in Leviticus chapters 25 and 26.

It is in te reo Maori and English.

There was a powhiri at the Marae of Hine Nui o Te Ao Katoa, Otaki, to welcome Cardinal Dew. Four copies of the Kawenata were signed there.

A taonga to capture the spirit of the Covenant and remind people of its significance was explained.

It is made from matai sarking from the 123-year-old Pukekaraka Mission House.

It is designed, so two pieces to fit together. Each has a stone from the Otaki River on it. A carved pattern link the two.

This taonga was later separated into its two parts.

Alex Hakaraia gave one half to Cardinal Dew to take to Wellington, and the other half will be kept by Ngati Kapu ki Pukekaraka.

When there is a significant meeting to celebrate, share and pray, the two halves will be joined again.

After the signing, the Covenant and taonga were carried to the Church of St Mary's and solemnly placed on an ancient korowai.

Eucharist took place with Ngati Kapu and parishioners.

Cardinal John Dew said in his homily "This is a new beginning, an opportunity for all to renew the Mission Pope Francis calls us to, to bring love and justice to our world."

Parish Priest, Fr Alan Roberts, noted, "This Covenant is a promise from the Cardinal to guarantee respect to Ngati Kapu who the Church will always honour as fellow Kaitiaki (Guardians) of the Word of God."

He noted that a celebration would take place with a Mass on the Marae later in the year.

Thus the unique place of Pukekaraka within the Catholic Church was renewed.

Source

Supplied: Pa Piripi

The venue was appropriate as Kingi was ordained at this marae by Bishop Snedden.

It was the first time a Maori priest had been ordained on a marae.

Various priests, religious Sisters and Brothers joined Fr Karaitiana and his family for the day. Bishop Peter Cullinane made a special effort to come.

Fr Jack Smith, a Maori priest from Gisborne, was also present. He too had been ordained on the Takitimu Marae.

While there were representatives from the Maori Catholic Colleges, Hato Paora and Hato Hohepa, Kingi said it was more convenient for him to go to the Colleges to celebrate with them there rather than lots of pupils travelling to Wairoa.

Kingi said, "I give thanks to God, to my late parents and all my family and each one present."

Holding a tewhatewha, he said "This is a symbolic weapon which I use to combat evil in myself, in you and in the world. One side captures my Maori cultural life; one side is my spiritual journey".

The marae was graced by photos of various deceased who have been part of Karaitiana's life.

They were surrounded by roses. These came from his garden. This was linked with Kingi's favourite saint, Thérèse of Lisieux who is known as St Theresa of the roses. "I have learnt a simple approach to life from her", he said.

All then went into the whare tupuna for Eucharist.

The Gospel was read by Kingi's Marist community leader, Fr Arthur Toothill.

The liturgy was led by Richard Puanaki and Malissa Paul.

A highlight of the liturgy was Cullinane presenting Kingi with a blessing from Pope Francis.

The hakari was coordinated by two of Kingi's nephews who are training as chefs! The wider whanau rallied around them to help.

After the meal, various speakers covered different periods of Fr Kingi's life.

This included his family and college life, his Marist life and his life of ministry.

Pa Karaitiana was the final speaker. He expressed full gratitude for his 50 years of ministry. He then concluded the celebration with a blessing for each person present.

Source

Supplied: Pa Piripi

Te Ohu Kai Manaaki, the Maori Pastoral Care Team of the Archdiocese of Wellington, organised the Hui.

The bishops nominated the participants as those Church members who are working in Maori pastoral care and Ministry with Maori in their dioceses.

Currently, Te Runanga O Te Hahi Katorika advises the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Council on Maori affairs with representatives from each diocese.

Historically, gatherings of the Marist and the Mill Hill Fathers focused on Maori Pastoral care; and Hui Aranga provides inspiration from its origins in 1946 at Pukekaraka.

The hui proposed a new forum be established to support the increasing numbers of staff and volunteers working in Maori Pastoral Care.

The kaupapa aimed to:

• Invite those in each diocese with special responsibility in Maori Pastoral Care as well as those employed by the dioceses with this responsibility
• Share what each diocese is doing in the area of Maori Pastoral Care, communicate resources and ideas, and discuss challenges

Each diocese presented an overview of Maori Pastoral Care in their diocese including:

• Territory and demographics
• Number of Maori Catholic communities including Mass centres and Eucharist communities
• How Maori Pastoral Care is cared for, by whom and with what resources
• Challenges, issues and needs for Maori Pastoral Care.

There were discussions about future collaboration between dioceses and issues for the next hui.

Participants agreed on the significance of the relationship with Tangata Whenua and the incorporation of Te Reo Maori in each diocese's activities, as well as consideration for a shared database.

At the conclusion, the Tono presented by Turanga Maori, Danny Karatea-Goddard, was accepted by the Maori Apostolate of the Palmerston North Diocese, host for the next Hui.

Photo: National Maori Pastoral Care Hui participants

(l-r) back: Mons Gerard Burns, Danny Karatea-Goddard, Manuel Beazley, Jaana Kahu, Kea Renata, Marcel Wainohu, Charles Ropata, Nick Wilson. Front: Bob Te Miha, Rangireremoana Hau, Rangi Davis, Barbara Te Miha, Fr Gerard Patterson, Korty Wilson, Mynetta Erueti, Melissa Paul.

Source

WelCom June 2019

'Hui Aranga' means 'Gathering around the Rising of Jesus'. It is the Maori Catholic celebration of the Easter message.

The Hui Aranga began at Otaki at Pukekaraka in 1946.

This year the hosts were Taranaki, Nga Pekanga (Waitara) and Araukuku (Hawera).

The visiting groups were hosted at local marae and travelled to the Hub each day.

People came from Maori Catholic clubs in Whangarei, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay, Whanganui and Wellington. Some people even came from Australia.

The focus is on celebrating the Easter dying and rising of Jesus in a Maori way.

The Easter message was incorporated in every activity; the kapa haka, the religious quiz, the oratory, the sacred solo.

Even before the Sports Day Procession and sports on Saturday, an oath is repeated to ensure the correct spirit in playing against one another.

A highlight of the Hui is the 'massed choir' when all clubs come on stage to sing at the end of the Easter Sunday Eucharist.

There was even a Disco for the more lively participants.

Marks are given for all activities and taonga are awarded to the successful teams.

While they may appear to be just like normal cups and shields, the taonga represent the tipuna who presented them and who encourage the spirit of the Hui Aranga still.

Often a Club will begin its bracket with a song to those who have died in the last year.

This is a moving tribute as they hold their photos as they sing.

A big part of the Hui is the opportunity to catch up with people. Shared meals are important because they give people a chance to chat and support each other.

The bishop of Palmerston North, Charles Drennan attended the Good Friday service.

The members of the local parish were invited to Good Friday and Holy Saturday services. Their parish priest, Fr Craig Butler, came with them.

There was a group Kaumatua and Kuia who proudly watched their mokopuna participate. They embody the tradition of past Hui.

Next year the Hui will be hosted by the Wellington region. This includes Te Waiora (Manawatu), Tu Hono (Porirua) and Nga Karere (Wellington Central).

At the end of the Hawera Hui, members of the Wellington Clubs received the symbols of the Hui.

These include a large wooden Cross and a statue of Mary. Mary, or Te Whaea, is the patroness and inspiration of the Hui Aranga.

Between now and next Easter this statue will make the rounds of homes, schools and marae in the wider Wellington area.

Families and groups will pray the Rosary asking blessings on the Hui Aranga.

Source

Supplied: Pa Piripi Cody

Late on Tuesday Judge Pheroze Jagose granted the bishop an order to the protesters to leave the land and remove their property within 48 hours.

However, he declined a request by the church's lawyer for a further order authorising police to use force if necessary to evict the protest group.

But when RNZ visited the site on Thursday afternoon around 10 people were gathered beside their cars.

While they declined to comment they said staff from the Diocese had been to visit and they had packed up their things.

As the deadline came around a small procession of cars left the site, leaving the site empty except for their painted signs and flags.

The protest group, which said it represents the two Ngati Paoa families that occupied the land before it was acquired by the Crown in the 1840s, has been living at the college marae since mid-August, before the college closed officially on August 31.

The two families said they were "repossessing" the land because the church is no longer using it for the purposes for which Governor George Grey granted it in 1850.

Grey granted the land to the Catholic Church in 1850 "for the education of children of our subjects of both races and of children of other poor and destitute persons being the inhabitants of the islands in the Pacific Ocean."

A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese said it was a good outcome and they hoped they could now get on with looking at other opportunities for the site with a number of educational offers already put forward.

Source

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He worked with Maori communities in the Far North before becoming a University of Auckland theologian.

He also wrote and published books about Maori spirituality.

The Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Pat Dunn, told the New Zealand Herald that the church had received five complaints in 1993 relating to Shirres' sexual abusing.

Annie Hill was one of those abused; she is concerned about the other victims, particularly in Northland.

She is encouraging other victims to come forward.

Hill said she made a complaint about the abuse to a priest in 1993 and thought the matter had been dealt with.

So she was shocked when, in 1995, she discovered Shirres would be talking about Maori spirituality at the school where she taught.

Dunn said the church backed Hill on her call for victims to come forward.

It would do all it could to help them, he said.

"We can't rewrite the past but we're very anxious to support people now if they are still bruised by this horrific abuse that occurred when they were children," Dunn said.

The church became aware of Shirres's offending in the 1990s - about 20 years after it happened - and he went through an independent sex offenders programme.

"At that time the policy with historic cases, as distinct from current cases, was to prioritise the wishes of the complainant," Dunn said.

He said the church's practice was to encourage complainants to go to the police.

The Dominican Order, of which Shirres was a member, worked to support those who had come forward.

"We respected their wishes and realised that if we did not, people would not be prepared to come forward."

Shirres was withdrawn from pastoral ministry in late 1993 and entered into the Safe Network programme to address his predatory behaviour.

He continued lecturing at the Catholic Institute of Theology and the University of Auckland until May 1994.

Source

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• Only $1,600 of its $200,000 operations grant was being spent on delivering the curriculum.
• 81 percent of the operations grant is spent on non-teaching personnel.
• The three office personnel consume 53 percent of the operations grant.
• Last year the school had an $80,000 budget deficit, but with its falling roll numbers reducing state funding that had ballooned to $190,000.
• The school was facing a legal bill of $116,000, further details of which were redacted.

A separate briefing from the ministry noted that, in the past 20 years, there had been significant shifts and gains made in the schooling system that performs for and with Maori.

"There are now 278 schools and Kura that deliver in Maori medium, ranging from students being taught in Maori language to full immersion. This has had an impact on Maori boarding school rolls."

Dr Mere Skerrett of Victoria University's school of education said there was a range of reasons why the boarding schools had declined.

• Many rural Maori were choosing not to send their children away to boarding schools
• The church, which has played a significant role in many of the schools, had seen its influence weaken
• From about the 1950s, the schools had also changed their curriculum towards "manual trades for men and women as housewives" and they had been slow to adapt.

"A failure to catch up with the rest of society has probably contributed to their demise," Skerrett said.

However, 11 former students, parents and a kaumatua of the school say they are determined to keep the doors of Hato Petera open.

They have formed the Tauira Tawhito Steering Komiti and have held two hui this month to strategise increasing the college's roll.

"We're very clear about the direction we need to move forward," Phyllis Pomare, the mother of last remaining student Stephanie Pomare, said.

That direction involved reinstating the school's boarding facilities and moving away from allowing only baptised Catholics to attend the school.

Pomare, along with fellow committee member and spokesperson Ratahi Tomuri, said both changes had harmed the enrolment process.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins says consultation is now underway about the possible cancellation of the integration agreement of the college. The consultation process will run until 14 May.

Following the consultation process, the Ministry of Education will provide a summary of the feedback and a decision will be made about the cancellation of the school's integration agreement.

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Cadigan is the chair of Te Runanga o te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa (National Catholic Maori Council of New Zealand).

Te Runanga is an advisory council to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference.

She said Maori now have many opportunities to engage with the Maori part of themselves, "I can start with kohanga and work all the way through", but the Hahi side has not kept pace with that.

Cadigan says it is a time for te iwi Maori within the whanau of Katorika to do something about it.

The church, she says, is going through a period of change, with Pope Francis attempting to move a lot of the decision- making away from the Vatican towards the people.

Te Iwi Maori Katorika held a hui at Whaiora Marae in Otara over the weekend.

The hui was facilitated by Cadigan, Danny Karatea Goddard (an advisor to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference) and historian Peter Lineham from Massey University.

Source

• Waatea News
• Image: YouTube

NZ Catholic reports that the hui, "Te Iwi Maori Katorika", is to be held at Whaiora Marae in Otara.

It aims to strengthen "Mana Maori" within the Church and the diocese and to "consider what leadership structure might be needed to develop this kaupapa".

The hui will feature three presenters - Sister Tui Cadigan, RSM (the chairperson of Te Runanga o te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa), Deacon Danny Karatea Goddard (an advisor to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference) and historian Professor Peter Lineham from Massey University.

Speaking on behalf of the Diocesan Bicultural Committee for Auckland diocese, Fr Bernard Dennehy told NZ Catholic that "although the 1979 diocesan synod committed the diocese to promote a bicultural church and a bicultural society, there is little Maori participation in the structures of the diocese".

There is no Maori office or spokesperson at the Pompallier Diocesan Centre.

Dennehy said there was a Diocesan Maori Pastoral Council in Auckland during the 1970s and 1980s, but this no longer meets.

"The [present] Diocesan Pastoral Council has two Maori representatives, one for Auckland and one for Te Tai Tokerau.

"The Tai Tokerau Regional Pastoral Council continues to meet a few times a year. Both Maori and Pakeha attend the meetings but the format has changed from an overnight live-in on a marae, favoured by Maori, to a briefer one-day session, favoured by Pakeha."

Given the minimal representation of Maori in the Church, the November hui will be an opportunity for committed Maori Catholics, young and old, to listen to three speakers and work out strategies and plans to move forward.

Source

• NZ Catholic
• Image: Catholic Diocese of Auckland

His priestly ministry was focused on strengthening Maori Catholics as both Maori and Catholic.

His sudden death follows the recent deaths of two other priests who spent many years working with Maori Catholics.

Fr Wim Tuerlings, a Mill Hill priest died in the Netherlands on 2 December. He worked in Maori ministry from 1965, for all of but two years, till he retired in 2009.

Fr (Patrick) Lorenzo Bracken, also a Mill Hill worked for 27 years in Maori ministry.
He died Ireland on 5 December.

Hemi Hekiera was an enthusiastic and persistent man. Once he had set a course, golf or otherwise, he never gave up.

One of his favourite sayings on the golf course, or other times he may have seemed cornered, was 'Double or quits'!!

He applied that to all aspects of his life.

Hemi was also a person of vision; he was the founder and guiding light of Waka Aroha, a programme that formed many Maori lay people for ministry.

His mission for the last 20 years at Hato Paora, Feilding, Te Kuiti, Hamilton was Whaia Te Whaea - Follow the Mother, providing pastoral care and guidance to Maori communities in support of Maori themselves inculturating the Gospel in their local area

Hemi was a 'rolling stone that gathers no moss'. He was a ball of energy.

One time he discharged himself from hospital and, carrying his drip, watched a rugby game at Hato Paora.

This energy was open to do what was needed.

He was a big picture man, who often left the details for others to work out.

Another of his sayings was, "let's play it by ear."

Because Hemi worked in so many places through New Zealand he had friends all over the country.

He particularly enjoyed the company of his brothers in the diocesan priesthood.

Hemi's Tangihanga was held at Puniho Marae, Taranaki.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Joseph's, New Plymouth, on Tuesday at 11.a.m followed by burial at Parihaka.

He tohunga no te tikanga o Merikiheriki. Haere e pa i raro i te korowai o Meri Takakau.

Source

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• proudtobecatholic.org.nz
• proudtobecatholic.org.nz
• Father Philip Cody
• Image: Supplied

There is choir practice the night before at 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

It's a great time, under the direction of Robert Oliver (St Mary of the Angels Music Director) to learn the Latin parts of the Mass and also to learn a sung version of the Our Father in te reo Maori.

Nau mai, haere mai ki te tautoko

Ma te Atua e manaaki e tiaki e arahi hoki i nga wa katoa

Supplied

They say they are disappointed that the Catholic Diocese of Auckland does not recognise their legality.

"We absolutely reject this unfortunate claim made by the Diocese," said chairman Murray Painting.

The Trust has 12 board members, made up of whanau and bishops' representatives.

It is is a separate entity to Hato Petera College Board of Trustees.

"A Hui a Whanau was held on 22 November 2015 as the trust had been operating without a quorum due to a number of resignations, so took the necessary steps in accordance with the constitution to add trustees so the Whanau Trust Board could once again conduct its business," Painting said.

"The appointment of new trustees was duly carried out and is now ready to fulfil its responsibilities."

"These responsibilities include commencing immediate discussions with the Ministry of Education because they manage the hostel licence."

Painting said that they believed the Ministry of Education was not informed by the Diocese of the closure before it was announced back in October.

"This is unusual behaviour particularly when there is an Integration Agreement between these parties." he said.

In August the Ministry warned that the Hostel licence could be cancelled.

While the ministry doesn't have oversight of school hostels, it is responsible for their licensing and in extreme circumstances it can be cancelled.

The Ministry gave the Trust until December to complete the repairs.

They also asked the Board to address staffing, security and student supervision concerns.

In his press release Painting says "If the concerns of the Diocese regarding the safety and suitability of the boarding hostel are eliminated by the proposed renovation project that is due to start next week, we urge the Diocese to talk to us so that together we can plan continued boarding and a successful school for 2016 and beyond."

"A large pool of 240 volunteers including master builders, electricians, plumbers, interior designers and others have offered their time, skills and materials at no cost to the diocese to bring the buildings up to standard in time for the commencement of the 2016 school year."

Painting has accused the diocese of withholding the financials on which the claims of the insolvency of the Trust Board are based.

He says that based on the draft accounts they have been able to access, there are questions needing to be answered.

"We have prepared a new budget that shows the boarding hostels can operate on a balanced financial footing for 2016 at even the current low level of student enrolment."

He said the difficulties are the result of mismanagement that the diocese permitted to continue up until the reconstruction of the trust board membership.

The diocese, in response to requests by Hato Petera College whanau, set up the Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust over 20 years ago.

The trust deed gives Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust total responsibility for the land, buildings.

Source

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• Image: Screenshot 3news.co.nz

The facilities are owned by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, and it has confirmed that the boarding hostels will not be available in 2016.

The diocese says it was surprised by a press release signed by Murray Painting, announcing that they were reopening.

It says the group represent themselves as board members of Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust, and that legal advice received is that this new group of Trustees is not legally constituted.

The Diocese is unable to officially recognise this group as trustees, and continues to work with the trustees appointed as Executive of the previous board.

The Diocese made the following comments:

• The media statement was released without prior communication to the Diocese of the intentions of those who issued it.
• The stated intention in the media release by Murray Painting to re-open the boarding facilities for Hato Petera College in 2016 has not been accepted or agreed to by the Diocese.
• Work is currently being undertaken to dissolve the Te Whanau of Hato Petera Trust for reasons of insolvency.
• Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trustees are legally liable for all debt incurred.
• The Diocese has worked with the previous trustees to protect them, by providing financial assistance to pay off the debt, but will not do so again.
• The hostel was kept open in Term 4 for Year 11-13 students so that they were able to complete their NCEA exams.
• The hostel was only able to operate in Term 4 because of the financial assistance from the Diocese.
• The lease agreement with the Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust is due to be terminated because of the Trust's failure over an extended period of time to adequately maintain the facilities.

The Diocese says it gave a group, led by Sir Toby Curtis, an option of presenting a submission to set up a separate entity to operate the boarding facilities for Hato Petera College, which would provide a safe environment for students, and which showed that the proposal was going to be financial sustainable.

The due date for the submission was 7 December 2015.

No submission has been received. Rather the Diocese was informed on the 7 December that the new Trust group has been delegated responsibility for preparing the submission.

A request for extension of time for the submission has been declined by the Diocese.

The diocese has expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for the work they have already undertaken to assist whanau to find alternative educational facilities for those students who are unable to attend Hato Petera College as a day student in 2016.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• tekarere
• Supplied: Media & Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auckland
• Image: screenshot tekarere

A statement by Murray Painting has expressed optimism about the school's future.

News reports have been confused. Some have referred to Painting as the newly elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees. It seems however that he is the chair of Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust.

Hato Petera College has two boards.

One is the Whanau Hato Petera Trust, which is responsible for the dorms and the lease of the land.

The other is the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for education.

The Whanau Hato Petera Trust does not come directly under the authority of the Ministry of Education.

"The trust wishes to advise the parents, students and staff that the boarding facilities will be open and we look forward to welcoming them at the commencement of the school year in 2016," Painting said.

"With the refreshing of the governance team of the Trust, we are determined to meet this challenge head on."

"We look forward to opening in 2016 with a student body that will benefit from the renewed energy and determination that the Trust has to create a centre of pastoral care second to none with access to a centre of educational excellence."

In October Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust and the Catholic Diocese of Auckland announced the closure of boarding facilities at Hato Petera.

The Trust said it has serious financial issues and this will only become worse because of the financial costs associated with the facilities.

It said that "the current operating model for the hostel does not adequately meet the needs of our students."

On Monday Painting said the Trust looks forward to a fruitful and productive relationship with the bishop and the diocese.

"The Auckland Catholic Diocese has always played an important role in the life of Hato Petera College."

"Hato Petera has been the jewel in its crown as far as the secondary school education of Maori students in the diocese is concerned."

"The Takapuna land grant deed vested in the diocese for educational purposes by the then governor Sir George Grey has been the site of Hato Petera since its inception."

"Hato Petera has been the jewel in its crown as far as the secondary school education of Maori students in the diocese is concerned."

Source

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In signing the Trust Deed Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust accepted total responsibility for the land, buildings and operations of the Trust and a 20 year lease of the land comprising the boarding facilities was agreed upon.

This week the diocese has announced that boarding facilities for students at Hato Petera College will not be available in 2016.

They say the decision was not taken lightly, and was made in the best interest of the students.

The diocese says the current operating model for the hostel no longer adequately meets the needs of students.

The school will continue to operate for day students.

In a press release the diocese provided some historical and background information that they hope may assist to place their decision into context.

The diocese says that as a consequence of a continual breach of the Trust Deed over the 20 year term of the lease, they did not renew the lease agreement in 2014 for a further 20 year period.

Instead a 5 year rolling lease arrangement was offered.

Initially this offer was not accepted.

The lease agreement was only formalized when Dr Lance O'Sullivan took over as co-chair of the Trust.

If this had not occurred, the Ministry of Education hostel license would have been terminated.

The decision to close the hostel facilities in 2016 has been made for the following reasons:

• Only very minor maintenance has occurred on the buildings over the past 20 years and consequently some of the buildings are no longer suitable to accommodate students and significant work and investment is required to bring the facilities up to a standard that the students deserve.
• The Trust has serious financial issues and these will only become worse because of the financial costs associated with the facilities. The hostel has only been able to operate for Year 11, 12 and 13 students in Term 4, 2015, because of financial assistance from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland.
• The original concept of the hostel being run as noho whanau units, where a Catholic Maori couple provided a supportive family environment and truly provided care, advice and guidance for their students, gave real strength to boarding. The organisation of the hostel has changed dramatically over the last few years and the hostel now operates very differently. The concept of a family who pray and who eat together has been lost.

Over the last few months the Diocese has appreciated the open and honest communication that has occurred with the Trust Board.

They say real efforts have been made to truly honour the agreement of the Trust Deed and to cater effectively for the needs of the students in the boarding facilities and to address outstanding and essential maintenance on the buildings.

"Regrettably this outstanding contribution by the Trust Board has come too late."

In looking to the future the Diocese is in the process of setting up a review team who will be charged with the task of undertaking a review of Catholic Maori education for secondary aged students within the Auckland Diocese.

At 1 July 2015 there were 1,216 Maori students attending the 16 Catholic Secondary schools within the Diocese of whom 84 were at Hato Petera College.

It will only be once the recommendations from the review panel are received and considered that the Diocese will be able to make any statements about Catholic Maori secondary education in the Auckland Diocese and what further options may be available for ongoing sustainable boarding facilities.

Source

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The 12-person trust board had been reduced to five after a number of recent resignations.

The present chairman, Tame Te Rangi, retained his position.

Hato Petera Collge has two boards.

One is the Whanau Hato Petera Trust, which is responsible for the dorms and the lease of the land.

The other is the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for education.

The Whanau Hato Petera Trust does not come directly under the authority of the Ministry of Education.

Dr Lance O'Sullivan says he is now confident the new board will address the issues facing the school.

Earlier he had said governance at the school was poor.

He said allegations of bullying were not being investigated properly and students were being let down.

In a teleconference vote of no confidence in the chairman earlier this month there were four votes in favour and one against.

However, Te Rangi said the vote had no authority as they didn't meet quorum threshold under the Trust's deed.

Education Minister Hekia Parata said, "The Ministry was made aware of the steps that the college took, was it satisfied with the steps that the college took to address those bullying issues? At that time, yes."

The college principal, Hone Matthews, says he thinks that appropriate actions have been taken to address the bullying incident.

Matthews is also the chief executive of the Whanau Trust Board.

Nor did the chairman of the school's Board of Trustees, Mate Webb, agree with O'Sullivan's concerns.

The principal and the BOT chairman say the major issues are being overlooked, such as those raised in the ERO report including around dilapidated buildings, governance, and the lease of the land.

Webb says, "We're squabbling amongst ourselves, but we aren't the enemy, the diocese is."

"In his (O'Sullivan's) statements to the media he hasn't mentioned the diocese or the lease, or the poor state of these buildings," he said.

An Education Review Office report cited a Treaty claim as one of a number of issues at Hato Petera, along with safety and accommodation concerns.

Uncertainty surrounded the tenure of the lease agreement on the school and the hostel facilities, it said.

The Auckland Catholic Diocese has granted Hato Petera a five-year extension, sparking fears it wanted to shut the school and sell the land.

Old boys of Hato Petera have lodged a Treaty of Waitangi claim on the property and surrounding land, including AUT's Northcote campus.

The submission was made by Nga Tauira Tawhito o Hato Petera, a pan-tribal organisation with 1200 members made up of affiliated Catholic Maori who share an allegiance to the college and which is claiming the land.

The submission said, "Our Treaty claim concerns the 376 acres [152ha] awarded ... by way of a Crown grant to the Catholic Church in 1850 and the subsequent maladministration of that land.

A spokeswoman for Bishop Pat Dunn said he was overseas so no comment was possible.

Dr Lance O'Sullivan is a Kaitaia GP who was named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year last year and Maori of the Year in 2013.

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He will be ordained by Bishop Charles Drennan, the Bishop of Palmerston North, on Saturday, at 11am, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Broadway Avenue.

"Danny and [his wife] Maru are already widely involved in serving the Maori Catholic community as well as civic groups. What has made a deep impression on me is the way the Maori community itself has discerned Danny's spiritual gifts. Maori ministering to Maori is a great blessing," says Bishop Charles Drennan.

Karatea-Goddard is of Maori and Chinese descent.

He and Maru serve on the Te Runanga o te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa as treasurer and national secretary respectively.

They also take lead the Hato Hohepa Maori Catholic community in Feilding.

Karatea-Goddard will continue his pastoral ministry with special focus on Maori pastoral care and formation in the Manawatu region.

"For me, with Maru alongside and with my community this has been a long journey of discernment about what is best for our faith community. The result has been a decision that has sprung from the community and from myself to take this step to acknowledge the role of pastoral care for Maori that comes from within the Maori Catholic community," he says.

"I'm proud of both my Maori and Chinese heritage and I hope to continue to be of service to the Church and people from all walks of life."

Te Runanga o te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa is the national body established by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference to advise the bishops on the pastoral care and evangelisation of Maori.

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Supplied NZCBC: Simone Olsen, Communications Adviser, New Zealand Catholic Bishops, 021 611 052