St Peter’s Church, Wellington, 22 Sept 2024
Bishop Richard Randerson, richardrandersonnz@gmail.com
Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō is a name we will become familiar with following the accession of the new Māori Queen. Literally the name means ‘waters connecting in the night’. There are connotations here of rivers connecting, tribes connecting and the waters of baptism with all these connections illuminating the night or dark. Her family name is Paki.
It was a very moving ceremony with the river voyage to Taupiri Maunga as the nation marked the passing of Kingi Tūheitia and the anointing of his 27-year old daughter as the new kuini. (Queen Elizabeth II was 25 when she ascended the throne). There are here themes of death and resurrection. Kingi Tūheitia passes while Kuini Ngā Wai hono i te pō arises bringing new life and hope for all.
Her family send their children to Anglican schools because of their focus on spirituality and academic standards. Ngā Wai hono i te pō learnt te reo and attended Waikato Diocesan School for girls. She holds a Masters degree in Māori cultural studies from Waikato University.
Archbishop David Moxon said the Tainui royal family are supporters of the Pai Mārire faith which has elements of ecology, faith and love. They do not see this as contradictory to Christianity. They have a Cross on their coat of arms and invited the Māori Archbishop Don Tamihere to officiate and preach. His reference to the Politic of Love was powerful.
In today’s Gospel (Mark. 9.30-37) while Jesus is talking about how he would suffer, die and rise again his disciples were arguing about who was the greatest — a perennial debate globally, corporately, politically and personally in the world today.
Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be last, and the servant of all.” He speaks of the nature of servanthood. He took a little child and said to them: “Whoever welcomes of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
All are equal in God’s eyes and not ranked by age, race, gender, power, honours or wealth — these are the world’s standards. True leadership is about humility and trust in God, serving by listening with empathy and having the wisdom to build consensus that leads to love in action. Māori call it mana and I believe we already see that mana in Ngā Wai hono i te pō.
At a time when partnership with Māori is being widely eroded these events by the grace of God remind us all of the foundational treaty covenant with Māori in this land.
And what of our three-tikanga Church? Dame Joan Metge, an anthropologist who was part of this congregation for many years, had strong links with iwi at Ahipara at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach. During that time we would meet on occasions for shared worship, kai and kōrero with the Pōneke Māori pastorate.
So today let us remember Jesus’ teaching about servanthood. Let us pray for Ngā Wai hono i te pō. Let us pray for all leaders and for ourselves that we may remember Jesus’ words that the one who wants to be first must be the servant of all. Let us conclude with a Māori proverb: nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi —with your food basket and my food basket all will thrive (everyone has something to offer and by weaving it all together we can all flourish).
