Pā Rāwiri David Gledhill SM tells how the new Kuīni was baptised as a child in the Catholic Church as a sign of the unity in faith of Māori from two regions

The late Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who died in 2006, asked Pīhopa/Bishop Tākuira Mariu SM to baptise her granddaughter. She made the request when they were both at Parikino on the Tira Hoe Waka (the annual canoe trip down the Whanganui River). Her aim was to “join the two rivers” of Waikato and Whanganui. That is, to form a bond between the Tainui Waka, Waikato and the Aotea Waka of Whanganui — a bond of faith between the people of the Kīngitanga and the Hāhi Katorika/Catholic Church.

Catholic Pīhopa Mariu was of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, an important whakapapa to the region. He followed up on the Māori Queen’s request and baptised Ngawai at Huntly. Hence, her name: “Ngawai hono ki Parikino”, the “joining of the rivers” at Parikino, the place where the Baptism request was made.

Ngawai hono’s growth in faith continued. The Kahui Ariki (the family group who surround a person of the Royal line) contacted me because of my links to the Whanganui River people, and said it was time for Ngawai to complete her Catholic journey by receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Communion.

I wrote formally to the Kahu Ariki outlining the formation Ngawai needed for this process. The Kahui agreed and they came with Ngawai for formal instruction to Taumarunui, the place where Pā Hemi Hekiera and I were stationed.

Ngawai hono celebrated Reconciliation first. This took place with the support of her family in the chapel at Hopuhopu near Ngāruawāhia on the Waikato River. When Ngawai hono told her father Kīngi Tūheitia that she was to celebrate Confession, he is reputed to have said to her: “When you do, make one for me, too!”

At that time a Confirmation name was explored for Ngawai. You cannot add any name to someone of royal line, even that of a saint. So they sought the advice of the local kuia Sophie Albert. And “Sophie” — as in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, the founder of an Order of Sisters for the education of girls — was chosen as Ngawai’s patron for Confirmation.

Pā Hemi Hekiera SM prepared the liturgy for Ngawai’s Confirmation and Communion which took place within a Miha Māori/Catholic Mass at Tūrangawaewae marae and was linked with the gathering for the anniversary celebrations of the Coronation of Kīngi Tūheitia Te Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII. I was nominated to bless the gathering and say the opening karakia. I took a large rau/branch and generously sprinkled all those who had gathered, Catholics on one side and Tainui iwi on the other.

The late Bishop Denis Browne had intended to confirm Ngawai, but he was unable to come, so Monsignor David Bennett took his place. Despite the day starting exceptionally wet and cloudy, the sun broke through at the time of Confirmation and shone on the gathering, a “tohu” or sign of blessing. This moment was enhanced by the late kuia Biddy Mareikura giving a karanga/ceremonial call to the Holy Spirit and Ngawai was confirmed and made her first Communion.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 297 October 2024: 6