REFLECTIVE INSIGHTS #052 - THE ANCESTRAL SIGNAL: RĀHIRI AND THE COVENANT OF TWO SONS
Finding Our Way Home
The world can be a very confusing place lately, with so much noise and fighting. It feels like we are losing our way. This series is about tuning out that noise and listening to the wisdom our ancestors left for us. I call this the "Ancestral Signal." It is a way of living that is already in our blood. By looking at our Ngāpuhi tupuna, we aren't just talking about history, we are looking for the map that shows us how to build a better life for our whānau right here in Taitokerau.
Where it all Began
Everything for us starts with Rāhiri. He is the father of Ngāpuhi. He was a great leader because he knew how to bring different groups of people together. He didn't try to make everyone the same, but he showed them how to live as one big family. He understood that if we want the North to be a "shining light" to the world, we first have to make sure our own foundations are strong. This lesson was most clear when he dealt with his two sons, Uenuku-kuare and Kaharau.
Two Brothers, One Family
Uenuku-kuare and Kaharau had different mothers and lived in different places. As they grew, there was a risk that they would start fighting over land and power. If that happened, the whole iwi would have split apart. But Rāhiri was a man of peace and wisdom. He didn't want to see his family broken. He knew that when we fight amongst ourselves, we lose our strength.
A Direct Teaching
This idea of staying together is something Ihu (Yeshua's name in the Paipera Tapu) taught as well. He knew that a family or a town that is always fighting will eventually fall apart. In the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, Matthew 12:25 says it very clearly:
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Ethiopian Orthodox Bible (Matthew 12:25)
Ge’ez text: ኵሉ መንግሥት እንተ ተፈልጠት በበይናቲሃ ትጠፍእ፤ ወኵሉ ሀገር አው ቤት እንተ ተፈልጠት በበይናቲሃ ኢትቀውም።
Te Reo Māori: "Ko te rangatiratanga ka wehewehea ki a ia ano, ka huna; ko te kainga ranei, ko te whare ranei ka wehewehea, e kore e tū."
The Kite and the String
To settle things between his sons, Rāhiri did something very clever. He flew a big kite (manu tukutuku) called Tuhoronuku. He told his sons that wherever the kite landed, that would show where the different groups would live and look after the land. But even though they lived in different places, they were all still holding onto the same string. This string was their whakapapa and their love for one another. They prioritised being a family over being right. This is the same challenge for us today in the North. How do we look after our own patches while still holding onto the string that connects us all?
A Light for Everyone
Rāhiri and his sons showed us that we don't need outsiders to come in and tell us how to run our lives. We can call on the wisdom of our ancestors to solve our own problems. When we start looking after each other and making sure everyone has enough, we become that "shining light." My prayer is that we can reclaim this way of thinking, especially those in positions of regional leadership. Let’s build a place where our kids can grow up safe and happy, not because of some government plan, but because we chose to live by the peace of Wairua Tapu.
Our Job Today
We are the ones holding the string now. Just as Rāhiri brought his sons together, we need to bring our hapū, our marae, and our local businesses together. We need to make sure we are contributing our talents, and "sharing the pie" fairly. The North is ready to lead the way, and it starts with us remembering who we are and where we came from.
