REFLECTIVE INSIGHT #012 - TAKING BACK OUR STORY: BEYOND THE EITHER/OR CHOICE

Standing in Two Worlds 

For a long time, many of us in Taitokerau have felt like we had to leave our Māori identity at the door when we walked into a church. Whether it was a little wooden building like St Michael’s Anglican Church in Ngawha, where I attended a Sunday Service recently with my reo class, or a larger whare karakia, the message from the past was often the same: you have to choose. You were told you could either follow the ways of your ancestors or follow the faith, but you couldn't do both.

This "either/or" way of thinking was a tool used to control us. It tried to tell us that our ancient knowledge and our faith were at war. But that is an old, broken explanation designed to keep us small.

The Power of "Both/And" 

Our ancestors didn't see the world as a series of boxes. They understood a reality where everything is connected, a Woven Universe. When the message of faith arrived, they didn't see it as a foreign invader. They saw it as a long-lost cousin that spoke the same language of love and connection.

In modern science, there is a beautiful idea that a particle can exist in many states at the same time until someone looks at it. Our tūpuna already knew this as Te Kore, the place of endless possibilities. You don’t have to pick a side; you are allowed to be your full, indigenous self and a person of faith at the same time.

Managing Our Own Household 

When we stop trying to fit into a colonial box, we move from being "subjects" to being Kaitiaki (guardians). We stop waiting for help from far away and start looking after our own assets, our land, our families, and our future, using the wisdom of both the Bible and our tikanga.

True success isn't just about how much money is in a corporate bank account. It is about Mauri Ora, the total health and life force of the whole family and the land they stand on.

Don't Leave Your Culture at the Door 

The next time you visit a place like St Michael’s in Ngawha, remember that while the building might look European, the spirit inside belongs to this land. Your family history isn't an obstacle to your faith; it is the very thread used to weave you into the universe.

We are the wise leaders we have been waiting for. We can weave the ancient knowledge of the past with the bright possibilities of the future.