The 23rd Session of Te Rūnanganui o Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa took place in Ngāmotu this December 4 - 7, with conversations and plans shaped by the theme Whāia Te Remu o Tōna: Foundations for Future Flourishing, inspired by Taranaki’s long history of peace and reconciliation.

A moving pōhiri at Te Whare Hononga, on the grounds of Taranaki Cathedral of St Mary, set the tone for Te Rūnanganui this December. 

Wharehoka Wano (Te Āti Awa, Taranaki) shared the story of Pūkākā, the maunga on which the Cathedral stands — a pā site for more than 300 years — and the long conflicts culminating in the Taranaki Wars.  

St Mary’s, built in 1846 from volcanic rock, is Aotearoa’s oldest stone church. It sheltered civilians and soldiers during the Land Wars and remains the resting place of both British and Waikato warriors. In recent years, Te Whare Hononga has become a centre of reconciliation, led by figures such as Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves and Archdeacon Tikitūterangi Raumati.  

Dean Jay Ruka acknowledged the entwined legacies of Christianity and colonisation in Taranaki:

“What we have been trying to do over the last few years is begin to address that and undo it.” 

Dean Jay's kōrero, alongside Wano and Archbishop Philip Richardson, resonated with the theme of flourishing through reconciliation. 

From there Te Rūnanganui returned to the Synod venue for the opening Eucharist and Archbishops Charge, where Archbishop Don Tamihere shared his inspiration for the theme Whāia Te Remu o Tōna: Foundations for Future Flourishing.  

The gathering's theme was inspired by the Gospel of Matthew that tells of people being healed by touching Jesus’ robes, where Jesus said it was their faith that healed them. He urged the delegates and guests to find their faith in Jesus and in themselves.  

“What is Jesus teaching us about faith? It looks like a lot of hard work. In fact, elsewhere in the Bible, in Hebrews, Chapter 11, it opens by saying faith is the substance of things hoped for, but evidence of things unseen. You see, faith is not someone's faith that is just enforced, faith is substance, faith is evidence,” he said in his kauhau. 

Delegates also heard from Canadian Indigenous Archbishop Chris Harper, who reiterated his good friend’s summation of faith. 

“Faith is for those who roll up their sleeves and do the work. Work together to build the vision.”  

Day 2 

Te Waipounamu led Eucharist before delegates reviewed the Commission on Ecumenical Leadership’s guidebook to Episcopal Ministry and Electoral College processes. After discussion and amendments, the guidelines were passed unanimously, with a commitment to review after next year’s Colleges.

The day closed with evening karakia led by Te Tairāwhiti.  

Day 3 

Te Manawa o Te Wheke led Eucharist, with Archdeacon Ngira Simmonds preaching for the first time in three years. Committees then deliberated motions, including Archbishop Don’s paper on equity funding (Mā Wai Rā e Taurima), affirming Tikanga Māori’s tino rangatiratanga over 50% of St John’s College Trust Board (SJCTB) assets and prioritising distributive justice.  

Archdeacon Michael Tamihere’s motion affirmed the Te Takawai educational partnership model as a model of co-governance, endorsed indigenous theology, and celebrated its inaugural year as a pathway for grassroots theological education.

Archbishop Don Tamihere also presented a motion on Global Indigenous Solidarity and Climate Justice, mandating collective indigenous responses to the climate crisis.

The session concluded with the financial report and heartfelt thanks to the haukāinga for sharing both the traumatic history and the empowering story of reconciliation between hāhi and mana whenua.  

Te Rūnanganui delegates and guests then enjoyed an evening of entertainment including karaoke and a series of waiata by each of the Hui Amorangi before returning to Te Whare Hononga on Sunday morning for the closing Eucharist and collation of:

• Mr Bardia Matiu as General Manager of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa,
• Eli Tapine as Kaituitui Rangatahi and
• Ven. Michael Tamihere as Archdeacon of Mātauranga. 

Find this story with more photos and videos on the website of:

Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa.