KingsWay’s Journey to Date to Honour the Treaty

Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a journey. It is a journey of restoration and partnership. It is a journey of picking up the common thread of hope and a vision for the future. It is a journey of upholding mana and seeing the Lord’s plan for the nation of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a journey that KingsWay School is endeavouring to walk with humility, purpose, and a sincere longing to see God’s name exalted.

Connection

Working with Christian leaders at Te Herenga Waka o Orewa marae, the school is growing its understanding of what authentic connection with Māori looks like. Learning language and tikanga Māori form an important part of this, as is growing in our appreciation of a te ao Maori Christian worldview. We are thankful that the Lord has planted Kereama and Trish Nathan in our community, as Maori leaders supporting us on our journey. We are also working with our expert partner, Hone Heke Ngapua-Rankin, to further enrich our understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi and how we can bring authentic affect in the education context.

Common Threads

The School Kaiārahi (Kristina Taylor - Assistant Head of Middle Years, and Daniel Ward - Junior Secondary Teacher) have been working alongside our staff for two years to grow staff understanding of language, tikanga Māori and our Christian Heritage. They are currently delivering workshops on Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand. These sessions focus on the role of Christian mission in the country as well as intentions of Te Tiriti and how we can better live out our covenental relationship with Māori in our current context. As Kristina Taylor and Daniel Ward work with our staff we strengthen common threads of mutual respect, mana, forgiveness and restoration.

Upholding Mana

Arahina Kirifi, is the third student leader to carry the title of Kaiāwhina; a position of significance that is to advocate for Māori from within the student body. She, along with her predecessors, aim to grow both student understanding of things Maori as well as giving voice and expression to Māori within our school community. The school also prioritises important events in the Te Ao Māori calendar such as Matariki so to slowly close the gaps in the weave that make up the fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand.

As a school we are committed to this journey. Sometimes the road is smooth, and we see and sense we are coming together in real and meaningful ways. At other times we hit a pothole or two, and it is at times like these we are reminded that whether Māori or non-Māori, as believers we are all one in Christ Jesus. Any journey worth taking requires perseverance, faith, hope and love.   

The images below were taken at our Senior Campus Mihi Whakatau on 10th February when we welcomed our new students and staff to the school. Arahina Karifi began the ceremony with an opening prayer in te reo Māori. 

Chris Martin
Associate Principal