Rua tekau mā whā - Rātū 24 Hakihea - Rangatiratanga

Day 24 - Tuesday 24th December - Rangatiratanga

He kaupapa mō te rā

Rangatiratanga

Rangatira is the word for chief or those of noble birth. Rangatira are esteemed, revered and highly respected. Rangatiratanga includes the right to exercise chiefly authority, leadership and ownership of a group. Rangatiratanga also translates to sovereignty and self-determination.

We all by now must be familiar with the Tino Rangatiratanga flag. The flag was designed in 1989 by Linda Munn, Jan Dobson, and Hiraina Marsden. It was first unveiled on Waitangi Day in 1990. In 2009, the New Zealand government officially recognized the flag as the preferred national Māori flag. It's flown alongside the New Zealand flag on Waitangi Day and other significant national days, shown here on the Auckland harbour bridge, to represent the relationship between the Crown and Māori.

As we acknowledge God’s rangatiratanga and Jesus as a rangatira we can be very grateful for the blessings of each other.

He Karaipiture (Bible Reading)

Ihāia/Isaiah 9:6-7

Kua whānau nei hoki he tamaiti mā tātou,

kua hōmai he tama ki a tātou;

ā, ki runga ki tōna pokohiwi te rangatiratanga;

nā, ko te ingoa e huaina ki a ia

ko Whakamīharo, ko Kaiwhakatakoto Whakaaro, ko te Atua Kaha Rawa,

ko te Matua Mutungakore, ko te Rangatira o te Rongomau.

Kāhore he mutunga o te nui haere o tōna kīngitanga,

o te mau o tana rongo,

ki runga ki te torōna o Rāwiri,

ki runga hoki i tōna rangatiratanga.

Kia ū ai, kia mau ai hoki i runga i te whakawā,

i runga i te tika āianei ā ake tonu atu.

Ka oti tēnei i te ngākau whakapuke o Ihowā o ngā mano.

A child is born to us!

A son is given to us!

And he will be our ruler.

He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,”

“Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,”

“Prince of Peace.”

His royal power will continue to grow;

his kingdom will always be at peace.

He will rule as King David's successor,

basing his power on right and justice,

from now until the end of time.

The Lord Almighty is determined to do all this.

Whakarongo/Titiro Mai (Listen/Watch)

Te Mihana Māori - Christmas Eve Service 2021 -This is 30 minutes in length and was made during the days when we were still isolating during the covid pandemic. Watch the first waiata or enjoy the whole service on this Christmas Eve.

Ngā mea waihanga (Create)

He Whakaaroaro (Reflect)

The Creator and giver of all things rules over all creation. Jesus Christ, son of the Creator is Rangatira for all people and all time. This sovereignty exists above the many and various ways people try and organise ourselves. Jesus Christ, the one who John struggled so hard to name at the start of his gospel until finally settling on ‘the Word’, was given other names by the prophet Isaiah even before he was born. “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” and “Prince of Peace.” How will our leader practice his rangatiratanga? Isaiah says he’ll rule with peace and by basing his power on right and justice. As followers of Jesus Christ as our Rangatira, we take our lead from the way he lived and the words that he spoke. At Christ-mas we focus on the birth of our humble leader and the hope, peace, joy and love that he lived and taught.

Whakahokia mai (Respond)

Today we celebrate Christ-mas Eve, a celebration of the birth of our Rangatira. We stand on the eve of this celebration, willing to change to be more Christ-like. We reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus and consider how these infuence our own thoughts, words, decisions and actions.

Karakia (Pray)

Ehara i te mea (Not the thing)
Nō nāianei te aroha (of recent times, is love)
Nō nga tūpuna (by the ancestors it has been)
I tuku iho, I tuku iho (passed down)

Te whenua, te whenua (From the land)
Te oranga o te iwi (comes the wellbeing of the people)
Nō nga tūpuna
I tuku iho, I tuku iho

Whakapono, tumanako (Faith, hope)
Te aroha, te aroha (and love)
Nō nga tūpuna
I tuku iho, I tuku iho

Daniel & Ashley are Korean-Kiwi husband & wife duo based in Aotearoa NZ. Their renditions of all the Māori hīmene are superb! Ngā mihi nui ki a kōrua me ōu pepi

An Extra Listening Experience

Theia released Te Kaiwhakaora O Te Ao in 2019.

Read the lyrics and translation from Te Reo Māori to English

Te kaiwhakaora o te ao (Saviour of the world)

I tukuna e Te Ariki (Sent by The Lord)

Hariru korōria (Glorious news)

Kia tau te marie (Let peace abound)

Tīramarama ngā whetū kei runga (Stars are shining above)

Auē te mauri o Te Atua (Oh the life essence of God)

Korōria korōria (Glory, glory)

Kua whānau mai a Ihu e (Jesus is born)

Tama tapu, tohu aroha (Holy son, sign of love)

Mō tātou katoa (For all of us)

Mō tātou katoa (For all of us)

Korōria korōria (Glory, glory)

Kua whānau mai a Ihu e (Jesus is born)

Tama tapu, tohu aroha (Holy son, sign of love)

Mō tātou katoa (For all of us)

Tama tapu rawa (Baby truly sacred indeed)