The Treaty is a sacred covenant between the Maori peoples/iwi and the British peoples (Pakeha).
For many hundreds of years Maori had been the spiritual guardians and stewards of Aotearoa. As Christians we believe this was no accident. We believe that God, who is Creator and Sovereign, orders the times and seasons of the nations – He ordained that Maori found Aotearoa New Zealand and became its stewards.
The Treaty acknowledges and honours this stewardship. Through the Treaty the Maori peoples invited the British peoples into the land. It gave the British peoples their turangawaewae in New Zealand – their ‘place to stand’.
Through the Treaty the Maori also invited the Christian laws and government of the British. And the British Queen extended to Maori the protection of her government and guaranteed to them their lands and possessions
As Christians we acknowledge that the Queen’s government did not always honour the Treaty. These wrongs must be righted. We also acknowledge that Christian missionaries were involved in the Treaty. We believe they supported it as a good thing for Maori. We believe they honourably translated it. They also faithfully argued in support of Maori when the Treaty was under attack from the government and settlers.
As Christians we would plead with Maori not to see the missionaries and the Church as the same thing as the government. We would especially plead for Maori to understand that the God of the missionaries would never approve the dishonoring of the Treaty. And He would never approve the taking of land without just cause.
We acknowledge these things and make these pleas because we want healing and reconciliation to be fostered among Maori and Pakeha. Even more so we want to see reconciliation come between Maori and Io - the Supreme God, and his son Ihu Karaiti –Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 1:3)
-- Samuel Carpenter, Karuwha Trust
For many hundreds of years Maori had been the spiritual guardians and stewards of Aotearoa. As Christians we believe this was no accident. We believe that God, who is Creator and Sovereign, orders the times and seasons of the nations – He ordained that Maori found Aotearoa New Zealand and became its stewards.
The Treaty acknowledges and honours this stewardship. Through the Treaty the Maori peoples invited the British peoples into the land. It gave the British peoples their turangawaewae in New Zealand – their ‘place to stand’.
Through the Treaty the Maori also invited the Christian laws and government of the British. And the British Queen extended to Maori the protection of her government and guaranteed to them their lands and possessionsAs Christians we acknowledge that the Queen’s government did not always honour the Treaty. These wrongs must be righted. We also acknowledge that Christian missionaries were involved in the Treaty. We believe they supported it as a good thing for Maori. We believe they honourably translated it. They also faithfully argued in support of Maori when the Treaty was under attack from the government and settlers.
As Christians we would plead with Maori not to see the missionaries and the Church as the same thing as the government. We would especially plead for Maori to understand that the God of the missionaries would never approve the dishonoring of the Treaty. And He would never approve the taking of land without just cause.
We acknowledge these things and make these pleas because we want healing and reconciliation to be fostered among Maori and Pakeha. Even more so we want to see reconciliation come between Maori and Io - the Supreme God, and his son Ihu Karaiti –Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 1:3)
-- Samuel Carpenter, Karuwha Trust
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