Historic Te Nākahi Parahi Church in Waipawa, Central Hawkes Bay.
A recent hīkoi across Te Hui Amorangi o Te Tairāwhiti has provided an uplifting opportunity of re-connection amongst the pārihā.
The hīkoi saw a team from Te Rau Kahikatea in Gisborne travel to Wharekāhika (Hick’s Bay) at the northern point and down to Waipawa in Central Hawkes Bay.
Archdeacon Ruihana Paenga says the intention was to get a gauge of the feeling on the ground across the district still reeling from 5 years of traumatic upheaval following COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle.
“We wanted to see how everyone is doing, the ministers and the ministry teams. Pēhea te hauora o Te Hui Amorangi, (How they are faring) and to hear from them, what they wanted and how they were feeling.
“The sense of isolation is still really present and concern around the regularity of flooding just perpetuates that isolation.”
Those conversations gave the team a deeper appreciation of the realities within the hapori, and an opportunity to be better prepared for next time.
“They have to cling more deeply to their whakapono in their place. The impact they’re having is massive.
“But what can we rely on in terms of support mechanisms from us? That’s what we on the operational must get right so that it’s not an ad hoc response because someone takes the initiative to ring up and asks for help.”
In spite of the challenges faced, the leadership team were lifted by the vibrant spiritual life nurtured by the parish ministry teams.
Archdeacon Ruihana highlighted the weekly bible studies and prayer gatherings in Wairoa, the Sunday School at Kohupātiki and the revival tour around Heretaunga that revisits historic sites where the gospel and karakia were once commonly found.
“It’s actually about that whānau legacy. It’s a desire for the whakapono and for the whanaungatanga, and the beauty that comes with it that can awhi our whānau.
“And in Ngāti Porou they’ve had Aunty Pane Kawhia and Nanny Connie Ferris who have been taking people through the pou karakia, sort of starting and getting people interested in karakia and what the scripture is trying to say. There is still a lot of life out in the pārihā.”
With te annual Hui Amorangi gathering set to take place at the end of this month in Omahu, which will incidentally start with the reopening of St John’s Omahu Church after Cyclone Gabrielle induced repairs, the hīkoi also allowed the pārihā to share their whakaaro ahead of the hui.
“That has been a goal of Bishop Don’s for a while now, so it’s encouraging and giving me happiness that we are making strides in that area, creating honest relationships, honest kōrero and being proud of everyone’s mahi.
“We still have a long way to go, but there are many things to be proud of and celebrate, including the reopening of Hoani Tapu.”