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

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

Dew has thanked the priests and brothers of the Society of Mary for their pastoral care and leadership in Otaki which the Society of Mary has provided almost continuously since 1844.

The Society only recently took up care of the larger new parish of Sts Mary and Joseph, which combines both Otaki and Levin.

But because of the ageing of its priests and brothers the Society of Mary has found it can no longer provide a religious community to minister to the pastoral care for the parish.

"Given the long history of the Marist presence in this area, this move is not something that we have approached lightly or rashly," said Father David Kennerley, the provincial of the Society of Mary.

"Indeed, it is with great sadness and regret that we have made this decision."

Society of Mary will continue to offer its assistance to the parish and the greater Wellington area in Maori Pastoral Care.

Source

• Supplied: Archdiocese of Wellington; Society of Mary
• Image: c2.staticflickr.com

Although the Australian narrator , understandably struggles a little with Maori pronunciation the video provides a concise and accurate account of the history and significance of the shrine of Our Lady of Pukekaraka.

The church at Otaki is the oldest Catholic Church still in use in New Zealand.

The adjacent marae, meeting houses and cemetery contain some interesting historic features.

Watch the You Tube video