Issue 7: 5 Haratua 2005
Nga Rangatahi o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa News

Upoko Not Afraid of Commitment

A seed of commitment was planted at the Te Upoko o te Ika Hui Amorangi, 22-23 April at Putiki Marae, Wanganui. Pihopa Muru Walters and the Hui Amorangi have made a commitment to rangatahi ministry that will result in the Amorangi acting to support a three year full-time stipend commitment for a rangatahi ministry enabler in the Amorangi.

The Hui Amorangi included a presentation by Reverend Hirini Kaa, followed by an interesting discussion on the direction and future mission and ministry of the haahi. This covered everything from the style of ministry to rangatahi, through to the importance of the pepeha “E kore e ngaro te kakano i ruia mai i Rangiatea.”

Te Māra Kaihautū Reverend Hirini Kaa believes that this commitment from the Amorangi is not only planning for the future, but he says “Will meet the needs of the 80% of the Maori population under the age of 40 right now. That is our mission field as a Church”.

Rangatahi input into the hui was strengthened by the presence of Mahalia Polson and Kylie Brown from Poneke Rohe. Mahalia is the granddaughter of the late respected theologian Reverend Maori Marsden, and Kylie was the first rangatahi to ever be on the General Synod / Te Hinota Whanui Standing Committee, elected from the 1994 hui held in Nelson.

The Amorangi will be holding a special whaiti in the next two months to discuss the details of the package which will be a promising move forward for Te Upoko o te Ika.

Waipounamu Sings Out ‘Kumbya’ at Rangatahi Camp

Twenty eight rangatahi from throughout the Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu gathered at Marahau beach near Motueka to partake in a youth camp held from 28 April – 1 May.

To open the hui, the Ven. Harvey Ruru gave words of encouragement and alluded to a large greenstone that symbolised unity for all who gathered.

Joining the camp on Friday morning was Moeke Parker, a teacher at Motueka High School, who spoke on the issue of identity, particularly on how wairua and whanau are interconnected. All were able to respond to his korero learning more about who they are and spurred them into sharing who they are with others.

Time was spent to reflect on God’s creation through the beauty of nature after the rangatahi endured a one and a half hour walk to Appletree Bay on last active day of the hui. They were able to reflect further both during karakia and around a bon fire cooking marshmallows.

The hui was full of karakia and inoi, and concluded with a lovely service at St Barnabas Church in Riwaka. It was a chance to have those last minute farewells and a final group photo seemed a great end to an AWESOME hui.
 

TE KUPU NEWS

New Pihopa o Aotearoa
Pihopa Brown Turei has been confirmed as the new Pihopa o Aotearoa. Pihopa Brown is currently Pihopa ki Te Tai Rawhiti, and will be the 5th Pihopa o Aotearoa since the office began in 1928. He will be installed into his new position in Turanga on 7th May.

Rangatahi Ministry Seminar
The Anglican Centre for Youth Ministry Studies is holding the first seminar for 2005 entitled “Mission Impossible? – Exploring the Mission and Missiology of the Anglican Church and its relevance to young people” from 7pm-9pm on Saturday 14th May at St Johns College, Tamaki Makaurau. For tickets, please contact hirini@rangatahi.org.nz

Youth Week 2005: 9th - 15th May
Youth Week is an internationally celebrated week held from 9th - 15th May. The theme of Youth Week 2005 is RE: DEFINE - Challenging Youth Stereotypes. RE:DEFINE encourages New Zealand's young people to be proud of who they are and to have the confidence to be themselves in the face of what are often misleading stereotypes of youth culture. The Youth Week website can be found at www.youthweek.co.nz

NEXT FORTNIGHT…
Pihopa Special! We will bring you coverage of the installation of Bishop William Brown Turei as the 5th Pihopa o Aotearoa. Awesome!


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