Minister’s Blog

Ka whangaia, ka tupu, ka puawai That which is nurtured grows, then blossoms. Dame Tariana Turia used this whakatauki in her promotion of Whanau Ora back in its early days.  As I saw it at the time, the idea of Whanau Ora was good sense for all kinds of people. Its philosophy is cross-cultural in terms of ensuring support for [...]

Ko tō ngākau ki ngā taonga a ō tupuna In your heart lie the treasures of your ancestors As people of biblical faith, we have a foundation that is not in fact the mainstream of the world-view called “Western”.  Drawing on the traditions of the Hebrew ancestry, and interpreted and deepened by the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, our foundational [...]

Over the summer two people important in my life have been farewelled.  One I have known for just a few years but his influence on me has been significant in who I have become during my years in Te Tai Tokerau Northland.  The other I’ve known always.  One is our kaumatua Hiwi Tauroa, the other is my uncle Keith McPhail. [...]

Love is the big booming beat which covers up the noise of hate.          Margaret Cho Do you know when it is your head speaking and when it is your heart speaking when you say something?  Reacting to something that happens or responding to someone else’s comments, where do your words or actions come from? Joy Cowley [...]

Ruth 1:1-18 You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin–-to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours–-closer than you yourself keep it. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo. Anyway: there it is. J.R.R. [...]

Something got me thinking again about shame. There’s an important link between shame and mental health.  Also shame is experienced by a wide range of ordinary people. In some cultures shame is the reverse of honour.  In other cultures, in particular the main culture I’ve lived within, it is the reverse of success. […]