The General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui received a stirring wero and welcome to Heretaunga-Hastings yesterday afternoon as they went on to Ōmahu marae, home to Ngāti Hinemanu, Ngāi Te Upokoiri, Ngāti Mahuika and Ngāti Honomōkai hapū.
Going on first for Te Waipounamu was Karera Wallace, who brought a framed photograph of her grandfather the late Bishop Richard Wallace which will rest in the marae where he had links, and whose people cared for him and his whānau after his unexpected death in Wairoa this year.
Upoko of Kahukuranui paepae at Ōmahu John Matthews opened the welcome, acknowledging the marae’s links with the Hāhi, especially through their missionary ancestor Rēnata Kawepō, who built St John’s Anglican Church adjacent to the marae.
The Rev Chaans Tumataroa-Clarke joined speakers on the tangata whenua bench, welcoming each of the Hui Amorangi and Dioceses on behalf of Te Hui Amorangi o Te Tairāwhiti.
First time Synod delegate for the Diocese of Dunedin Theodore Rose found the welcome at Ōmahu a beautiful experience,
“This is what I came to General Synod hoping for, the three tikanga relationship with love on all sides.”
Rev Clare Barrie enjoyed the welcome and was strongly reminded of the stories the Church has heard from Ōmahu, not only about the destruction they faced during Cyclone Gabrielle, but their extraordinary and swift work to respond to the needs of their people.
"It was moving to come to this place we have heard and read about so much, and to hear the story of their recovery. Coming here in person and receiving their hospitality is very humbling."
During the three-course dinner provided by Ōmahu after the pōhiri, the Rev Zhane Tahau Whelan shared the ten year recovery plan prepared by the hapū, which outlines their ongoing work in environmental, cultural, social and economic recovery.
Bishop of Vanua Levu and Taveuni in Fiji, Bishop Henry Bull was pleased to see the endurance of Ōmahu that had come through after their Cyclone devastation, an experience he knows well. But he says that disasters also have lessons to teach.
“In our place the cyclones, the floods, these disasters they brought people together. It didn’t matter what church, what place, what community we were, we came together to care for everyone. My hope for this Synod is that we will come as three tikanga, with three hearts, three spirits, but like they were at Pentecost we will be unified as one.”
The Opening Eucharist of Te Hīnota Whānui 2024 took place at 7pm last evening in Kahukuranui, the whare tipuna at Ōmahu, led by General Synod hosts Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa.
Archbishop Don Tamihere preached his Pentecost sermon on the call to kotahitanga (unity) powered by a spirit of selflessness and sacrifice, and called on his hearers to always think first of what service they might offer to the other.
Archbishop Don reported to Synod that unity and selfless love were the same messages that His Holiness Pope Francis had shared with the leaders of the Anglican Communion when he spoke with the Anglican Primates about 'synodality' in their visit to the Vatican in recent weeks. He went on to tell the story of his ancestor’s military service in Italy during World War II, and how that had inspired him to promote unity amongst his fellow Primates at their meeting in Rome.
The full livestream of the Opening Eucharist and Archbishop Don’s Pentecost kauhau/Synod charge is available to view on Youtube and Facebook.
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