Tikanga Maori Launch

27th November
Te Hui Amorangi o Te Tai Tokerau
Matauri Bay, Northland

Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa launched Youth Yeah! at a moving dawn service at Matauri Bay, the place connected to the arrival of the Gospel in Aotearoa. In a chilly but beautifully clear morning the sun broke over the rangatahi, pakeke and kaumatua gathered at Tapui Marae in Matauri Bay.

The celebration began with te whakaaraara, a karanga welcoming in the new year. This was followed by songs, himene and prayers. The Bishop of Aotearoa, Bishop Brown Turei, who travelled up from Turanga for the celebration led the prayers. One of the waiata sung was “Whiti Te Ra!” which was composed by the late Venerable Anaru Takarua to celebrate the arrival of Christ in our midst.

Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu led a reflection on the importance of the event, including the fact that the rangatahi were part of something important not just historically, but also for the future of the Haahi.

In 1814 Ruatara, who had travelled to Australia to make connections with Pakeha brought back Samuel Marsden. Ruatara, who was from Matauri Bay, spent some time at his pa with Marsden before they set off to Oihi for the famous Christmas Day kauwhau which marks the arrival of the Gospel on these shores.

Almost 200 years later the Church has marked the importance of youth ministry in its midst by setting aside a Year to celebrate youth ministry. Youth Yeah! is a celebration of the young people in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.


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