The research network of St John’s Theological College, Te Piri Poho, has published its first Matariki issue of the newly established ‘Journal of Theology in Aotearoa and Oceania’. 

Te Piri Poho’s new journal launched in October 2022 to promote theological scholarship, reflection and creative expression across this Church particularly highlighting Indigenous and locally-grown theologies.

 The 2023 issue connects with the season of Matariki and highlights writers’ bicultural and multicultural views on scripture and theology including the way racism and colonisation have shaped Christian understandings of scripture in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia.

Introducing the volume, editors Rev Katene Eruera, Dr Moeawa Callaghan and Rev Dr Paul Reynolds share their desire to build Indigenous theological dialogue through scholarly engagement, theological reflection and cultural appreciation.

“These contributions point us to the transformative potential of Indigenous and Māori theological perspectives in the pursuit of faith seeking understanding.”

“Much like how Matariki unites communities in celebration, we aspire to create a space within these pages where theological perspectives converge.” 

The editors have gathered a varied palette of articles that contain much to fascinate and inform including contributions from:
– Rev Dr Eseta Mateiviti on ‘Sautu’: a Fijian theological exploration of wellbeing
– Taryn Dryfhout on Māori practise of whāngai and a theology of adoption
– Rev Dr Moeawa Callaghan on Frameworks for Indigenous Women’s Christology
– Rev Dr Lyndon Drake on Translating Hebrew into Te Reo Māori
– Hamish Maclean on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Covenantal relationship
– Rene Maiava on the two-fold racism risk for Samoan New Zealanders
– Beverly Moana Hall-Smith on a Māori woman’s encounter with the Strange Woman in Proverbs 1-9
– Rt Rev Te Kitohi Pikaahu on Atua, Ihowa and Io: Addressing God in Māori Christian liturgy
– Ripeka Templeton Bijl on Genesis 3-4 as an allegory for the Treaty of Waitangi

In addition several shorter articles and reflections include poems on: Matariki, Manaakitanga, The Pain of Being Born Again(as a second-language speaker), an (ethical) Investor’s guide, and a poem honouring the author’s 80 year old Tongan mother. 

Victor Mokaraka’s engaging kauhau on Rev Rota Waitoa sits alongside an 1853 letter to Bishop Selwyn about Rota’s upcoming ordination as the first Māori clergyman, Rangi Nicholson offers a fledgling theology of Māori thesis supervision and a reflection from Emily Colgan, Jacynthia Murphy and Paul Reynolds investigates environmental racism and its impact on Indigenous communities.

While the articles are academic and in places densely written, there is plenty to trigger reflection for the non-academic reader in this journal’s pages. The editors make it clear that the research serves to foster people with faith more deeply understood and centred on Jesus as known in Polynesia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

“As we engage in scholarly discourse and theological reflection, our objective is to deepen our understanding of the divine, recognising that faith and understanding are not mutually exclusive, but interconnected aspects of our spiritual journey.” 

To download the full first or second volumes of the Journal of Theology in Aotearoa and Oceania, and to subscribe for subsequent issues, go to the St John’s Theological College Te Piri Poho research site journal page.