Honouring and Upholding Mana and Dignity for All

MCNZ General Secretary Rev Tara Tautari recently addressed members of the Waiariki/Waikato Synod and Waikato Rohe with a talk highlighting the importance of  He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (Declaration of Independence of New Zealand) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) to our Church.  As the great, great, great granddaughter of Te Ruki Kawiti, a highly respected Māori leader and signatory to both founding documents, and a fourth generation Methodist in Aotearoa, she has a deep, profound and personal commitment to recognising the relationship between our people, church and nation. MCNZ is currently considering the inclusion of He Whakaputanga in its Mission Statement.

To prepare the space for our kōrero together I want to share a couple of short stories. Stories are important because they offer us possibilities of encounter and connection. They invite us to enter each other’s worlds, to find common ground and deeper understanding, which becomes the foundation for our collective journey forward. 

I grew up in a small rural Māori settlement called Waiomio in Te Tai Tokerau. Waiomio is the cradle of the Ngātihine rohe and is about an hour's drive north of Whangārei. Waiomio is the place where my tupuna and rangatira, Te Ruki Kawiti, resided. Te Ruki Kawiti was a renowned leader in the North and of his Ngātihine people up until his death in 1854. Te Ruki Kawiti was my great, great, great grandfather. He signed He Whakaputanga on October 28, 1835, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in May 1840.

The story goes that he did not agree to the 6 February signing at Waitangi. He eventually signed, albeit reluctantly, at a special meeting with Hobson in May 1840. Before his death, Kawiti urged his people to hold fast to their ancestral taonga and to wait "until the sandfly nips the pages of the book [the treaty]; then you will rise and oppose." For my people, this means that if there are Treaty breaches, we cannot remain silent. Te Ruki’s grandson, Te Riri Kawiti was a Methodist Māori Home Missionary first appointed by Conference in 1928 and his son Tawai Kawiti, would take on that same ministry in 1943. I am a fourth generation Methodist here in Aotearoa with both He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti running through my whakapapa.

The second story I want to highlight involves another signatory of He Whakaputanga. Among the 52 signatories, all but two were from Northland. One of these exceptions was Te Wherowhero of Ngāti Mahuta (later known as Pōtatau Te Wherowhero), a leading rangatira of Waikato-Tainui and the future Māori King. He signed through his scribe, Kahawai. He was also the final signatory overall. Te Wherowhero’s great-granddaughter, Te Puea Hērangi, formed close relationships with Methodist Church deaconesses and presbyters through her work with her people. Some of these individuals became good friends and advisors and this is documented in our Church archives. This relationship between the Methodist Church and the Kingitanga continues to this day, with our Tumuaki, Rev Dr Arapera Ngaha, maintaining and strengthening this connection on our behalf.

These stories are just two of many that remind us of the intertwined histories of our people, our Church, and our nation. They illustrate that the values and principles enshrined in He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti are not just historical artifacts but living commitments that shape our relationships and responsibilities today. They challenge us to honour these commitments in our daily lives and to work toward a future where the mana and dignity of all people are upheld.

As a Church, we are called to be guardians of these stories, to learn from them, and to let them guide our actions as we navigate the complexities of our shared journey. He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti are crucial to our Church as they continue to inform our bicultural journey and shape our response to the Gospel in this land. These foundational documents remind us of our commitment to justice, partnership, and respect for the sovereignty and rights of Māori. By honouring these agreements, we strive to embody the principles of equity and mutual respect in our ministry and community engagements. They guide us in fostering a more inclusive and reconciled society, reflecting the love and justice of Christ in Aotearoa.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi established a partnership between Māori and the British Crown, which the Methodist Church sees as a model for its own bicultural journey. Our Church mission statement affirms this: “The Treaty of Waitangi is the covenant establishing our nation on the basis of a power-sharing relationship and will guide how we undertake mission.” This commitment to partnership is reflected in the Church's structure, decision-making processes, and ministry.

Understanding whakapapa and our church history reveals that our connection with Māori communities is not a static relic of the past but a living, evolving relationship. This relationship calls us to engage with humility and openness, to listen and learn, and to stand in solidarity with Māori in their pursuit of tino rangatiratanga (self-determination). It also challenges us to reflect on our practices and seek ways to fully embody the principles of partnership, justice, and mutual respect.

In doing so, we build on the legacy of those who came before us, fostering a truly bicultural Church that reflects the diverse and rich heritage of Aotearoa. This commitment is evident in our work with the Climate Justice Decade’s “Rekindle the Vā of Papatūānuku,” our newly envisioned mission resourcing work “Te Hāpai ō Ki Muri,” and our shift towards restorative justice practices in our disciplinary procedures.

This ongoing journey, informed by He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti, shapes our response to the Gospel, ensuring that our faith is expressed in ways that honour and uplift all members of our community.