"Ko te mea nui, ko te aroha": theological perspectives on Māori language and cultural regenesis policy and practice of the Anglican Church

Abstract

For almost two hundred years the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand has conducted mission and ministry through the medium of Māori language and culture. At the beginning of the twenty-first century Māori language and culture are endangered. Over the past forty years there have been regenesis efforts to revive and revitalise these cultural resources. This thesis critiques the current Māori language and cultural regenesis policy and practice of the Anglican Church through bicultural Treaty of Waitangi partnership and Māori theological lenses.The written regenesis policy consists of five Standing Resolutions of the General Synodwhich is the main policy making body of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Four of these Resolutions are bicultural and one is missional. This policy is placedwithin the contexts of Māori research, the history of Māori language and culture, the Anglican Church and the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori biblical and liturgical resources, recent examples of regenesis and the personal location of the thesis writer.Twenty-five senior stakeholders are interviewed from the Church’s three cultural strands:Tikanga Māori, Tikanga Pākehā and Tikanga Pasifika. A wide range of perspectives emerge from within these cultural groupings as they review past, present and future practices of each Standing Resolution.Syntheses of this Anglican Church regenesis policy and practice are viewed through bicultural Treaty partnership and Māori theological lenses. The former focusses on economic,political and constitutional Treaty debates on partnership and biculturalism in the publicsquare. The latter surveys the theological writings of twenty-three Māori theologians, givingrise to four major themes: Māori spirituality, ecclesiology, theological education, and language and cultural regenesis. As a result of viewing the Church’s policy and practice through these lenses, a number of disturbing trends become apparent.The thesis concludes by strongly advocating that Tikanga Māori alter its policy and practice in order to reverse these trends through bold, loving transformation. Eighteen important contexts for future Māori language and cultural ministry emerge. Nine major policy priorities for future regenesis development are outlined. Christ-like love is seen to be critical if the Church and Māori language and culture are to survive and flourish.