Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia's Mihinare and Anglican schools have a wealth of experience and expertise to offer students and whānau, say reviewers Averil Worner and Simon Heath, whose 2024 review proposes a reimagining of schools' understanding of "special character", towards a more focused intention of building up "Mihinare-Anglican Christian character." 

The shift centres on what it means to be a faith-based school in not only the Anglican tradition, but in the living three-tikanga Church, influenced by the history, knowledge and insights of the Māori and Polynesian Anglican Church. 

The review 'Ngākau Hou Kōtuitui' – a new heart for the Anglican Schools' Network' envisages a revitalised Anglican Schools' Network, with an emphasis on the vision of 'He Ngākau Hou,' the biblical of transformation of all aspects of life based on Jesus' way of love lived out in the 21st century south Pacific.

The Anglican Schools' review put forward the Archbishops' vision of a Church that transforms its community with the aim of Te Oranga Ake o Te Iwi (human flourishing) through emphasising:
–  Aroha (love based on the wisdom of scripture, tradition and kaupapa tuku iho)
– Rongo (peace founded in relationships with Atua, whenua, tangata (God, creation and our communities) and,
– Hari (the joy of people living to fulfill their potential)

The review takes its lead from Archbishop Don Tamihere, Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa and Archbishop Philip Richardson, who called for the review in 2023, with a particular focus on shifting to more indigenous-led curriculum, not only in Polynesia and Te Hāhi Mihinare schools, but with a three-tikanga influence across more of the 34 Tikanga Pākehā schools. 

"In Polynesia we found schools that understand how critical it is to educate young people within their culture. We met schools where students learnt how to plant coral for example, and other skills to directly care for their environment as part of normal school life. We met other schools who may have had little money to spare, but still made it a priority to go on sponsored walks to raise funds for others less fortunate than themselves." 

The reviews say those examples show Anglican Christian character in action, in schools connected to their contexts and teaching curriculum linked with the Church's mission to care for Creation. 

One common area where the review found exceptional practice of Mihinare Anglican character (in dozens of schools in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia), was in service learning, where students live out the call of faith to acts of solidarity and service to communities and the environment. 

Meanwhile, with the Anglican Schools' Director role empty for six years, chaplains and principals have identified the need for more networking opportunities and sharing of resources to bolster religious education curricula and foster professional development amongst Anglican school peers.

In particular, the reviewers found that the RE curriculum had the potential to create a greater shared understanding of Mihinare Anglican character. 

"There are some highly skilled chaplains leading this work that we believe could contribute to the development of an Mihinare/Anglican Religious Education Curriculum." they write in the report.

"Many of these chaplains have a teaching background and have already been developing detailed programmes of work for their schools. Capturing this enthusiasm and expertise, supported by the church, would be very helpful in designing a refreshed, relevant and relatable curriculum." 

The report also recognises a desire across the schools' network to shift from a relationship of service by better resourced schools toward those with fewer financial resources, into a "joint development" framework, where expertise flows both ways as schools share their tikanga-informed insights with each other across the network. 

"There's an opportunity to extend beyond outreach/service type relationships school to school, and lean into professional leadership, teaching, governance, chaplain relationships within and across the province." reported Simon and Averil. 

"The potential exists to establish student group exchanges, teacher exchanges and sabbatical opportunities as a means to provide cultural learning experiences, professional development, share and learn indigenous ways of teaching, knowing and growing a learning network." 

Averil Worner and Simon Heath believe the evidence shows strengthening professional relationships across all Mihinare and Anglican schools has the potential to provide a powerful conduit for capability and capacity building.

A key factor in the review is welcoming the insights of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care, which requires a consistent approach to safeguarding and complaints management across the Anglican Church and its institutions.

"It is well documented that some Anglican/Mihinare Schools have come under scrutiny and been subject to the Royal Commission findings, however, the impact is nationwide. It is our view that this path should not be walked again. Reconciliation and reciprocity must be signposts of this." 

"The severity and shocking nature of some of the cases that have been heard, only amplify the determination required here to go well beyond reviewing policies, procedures and being compliant. It is the human aspect of professionally developing all staff working in Anglican/Mihinare Schools so that policy, combined with practice, is of the highest quality in the care of all students."

The full report 'Ngākau Hou Kōtuitui' – a new heart for the Anglican Schools' Network' is available to download below.