Issue 1: 10 Hui Tanguru
Nga Rangatahi o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa News

Rangatahi Vision shared at Te Tai Tokerau Kura Raumati

Te Māra’s newly appointed Kaitakawaenga, Tapu Laulu, began his work for the year with a visit to the Tai Tokerau Kura Raumati held in January at Holy Sepulchre Church in Tamaki Makaurau.
Tapu was given the opportunity to share his vision for rangatahi ministry within the Tai Tokerau region. A vision, in which he sees, as part of the Decade of Evangelism and Renewal.
Tapu also shared the experience he encountered during the Christmas break, where he ministered to the rangatahi in the Northern Residential Centre in South Auckland.  A sadness, he says, of young people in captivity. 
His presentation was well received, and Tai Tokerau now looks forward to an exciting year for 2005.

Te Māra cultivate for 2005

In early January, the Te Māra Rangatahi Ministry School Team, held a three day retreat at the beautiful Vaughan Park Retreat Centre in Auckland.
The retreat saw team members recommit themselves to the vision of identifying and nurturing a diverse and dynamic generation of leadership for Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa.  Alongside planning and korero, the team grew in their whanaungatanga and commitment to their ministry.  Te Māra Kaihautū Reverend Hirini Kaa, believed the retreat was an opportunity for “renewal in the Holy Spirit”. 
A highlight of the retreat was a Kai Hapa, celebrated by recently priested, Rev. Don Tamihere of Tai Rawhiti.
The team have a busy year ahead of them which for most, on their return home, made an immediate start to their work for the year 2005.

God’s call answered by Te Waipounamu Youth

The call for direction and hope is being answered in Te Waipounamu, after the annual Kura Raumati witnessed the baptism and confirmation of one of their up and coming leaders.
Chris Huriwai, (17), of Ngati Porou descent, is a Year 13 student at Cashmere High School.  For Chris, his baptism and confirmation was a poignant moment in his calling to ministry, especially with the presence of his whanau and girlfriend Sharlene Smith.
A member of his school’s kapa haka group and a keen waka ama enthusiast, Chris has a well rounded depth in tikanga Maori. His calling into ministry certainly was a highlight of the summer school, which included moments of pleasure, at the manner of how the rangatahi contributed to the school.
Bishop John Gray admired the rangatahi contribution to the school and the way in which they have developed their interpretation of selected scripture readings. “I was very pleased with the group (rangatahi)…” Bishop John Gray remarked.
In other callings, Terry Timutimu was appointed Manu Kokiri (Youth Enabler), for Te Waipounamu.  Terry will be based at the Hui Amorangi office in Christchurch.

TE KUPU LINK

Urge
http://www.urge.co.nz/
Urge is an online youth resource site established by Youthline. Supported by Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC), Urge has information for young people on topics including drink, drugs, stress and youth law issues. Perhaps a little controversial for some, it is also very realistic in addressing the needs of rangatahi.
 

TE KUPU INFO

 Te Kupu is published by Te Māra Rangatahi Ministry School. For more information visit the Te Kupu website at RUIA, www.rangatahi.org.nz. Contact the editor Nikii O’Callaghan on nikii@rangatahi.org.nz