The Church of Te Wairua Tapu in Sydney, the spiritual home for generations of Māori in Sydney, celebrated 40 years over the past weekend.
The celebrations began with a pōhiri on Friday, where the Sydney Māori Anglican Fellowship welcomed guests including fellow Māori Missions from Melbourne and Brisbane, and representatives from Aotearoa such as Archbishop Don Tamihere, Bardia Matiu, and Rev. Jimmy Green of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa and Archdeacons Mere and Susan Wallace of Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu.
Around 200 people attended a black-tie dinner on Saturday night, where they were entertained with music and heard kōrero from members of the Māori communities across Australia who have held strong connections with Te Wairua Tapu.
Over four decades, Te Wairua Tapu has become a sanctuary of belonging — a place where karakia, waiata, and whanaungatanga have sustained the hearts of those far from Aotearoa, including veterans. Retired NZ Army Captain Greg Makutu acknowledged that relationship in his speech. Louise Cooper, OAM, also spoke to the connection Te Wairua Tapu and the Sydney Māori Mission have with the Sydney Marae Alliance.
“There has always been a conversation about a marae, and everyone wanting one to help our people retain their identity. It is a conduit for our people to connect to the culture, and ultimately go home, because we are getting to the generation now that has no connection to home,” Ven. Malcolm says.
“The church has been heavily involved in that movement.”
The weekend of celebrations ended with Sunday karakia, with Archbishop Don delivering the kauhau. A number of Māori clergy members from Australia and Aotearoa formed an impressive procession.
“The service was amazing. It was fantastic for all the people who turned out to karakia on Sunday, it must have been around 150.
“It was an amazing weekend, the wairua was moving, really pumping from the pōhiri through to Saturday and continued on to Sunday,” reflected Ven. Malcolm.
Based in Redfern, 3km south of Sydney’s CBD — a community with a long history of Indigenous activism — Te Wairua Tapu and the Māori Mission in Sydney are conscious of the rangatiratanga held by the local people.
As such, Archdeacon Kaio Malcolm Karipa says it was only appropriate that the pōhiri opened with a Welcome to Country ceremony by Aunty Maxine Ryan, a local community leader.
“It’s fundamental that First Nations are not only acknowledged but we have to realise it is their voice that needs to be heard. And not just at ceremonies — we know this from our own history.
“I think the Holy Spirit was moving when we ended up with Te Wairua Tapu in Redfern.”
That is reflected in Te Wairua Tapu being used by both Māori and Indigenous fellowships, each nurturing their own expressions of faith and community, creating a space for both peoples to flourish.
Throughout its 40-year history, Te Wairua Tapu has been more than just a church. It has served as a cultural hub for Māori in Sydney, supporting community events like Matariki celebrations, Waitangi Day festivals, and annual Anzac Day commemorations.
The Mission itself continues to evolve, with the team at Te Wairua Tapu holding fortnightly church services in Western Sydney and Wollongong, south of Sydney.
As the Church of Te Wairua Tapu turns 40, its place in the Sydney Māori community will continue for a long time yet, with Ven. Malcolm pointing out says, there will always be mission work “as long as Māori are living in this city, and other parts of Australia.”
