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Tekau mā tahi - Day 11- Kotahitanga

Te Taha Taiao - Ka Tangi Te Tītī - Alongside the natural world - the Tītī calls.

Tekau mā tahi - Rāapa 11 Hakihea - Kotahitanga

Day 11 - Wednesday 11th December - Kotahitanga

He kaupapa mō te rā

Kotahitanga means unity, solidarity, and being one. There’s a synergy to kotahitanga connecting people as they journey and work towards the common purpose of achieving unity. Kotahitanga is also about being at one with te Taiao. In the cycle of sustainable biodiversity it is critical that we connect and respect our collaborative existence so that nature can flourish and in its act of reciprocity and aroha will ensure that we are nourished too.

“Kotahi te aho ka whati, ki te kāpuia e kore e whati”, One strand of flax is easy to break, but many strands together will hold strong.

He Karaipiture (Bible Reading)

Hoani/John 1:14

I whakakikokikotia te Kupu, ā, noho ana i a mātou, i kite anō mātou i tōna korōria he korōria e rite ana ki tō te Tama kotahi a te Matua, kī tonu i te aroha noa, i te pono.

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.

Whakarongo/Titiro Mai (Listen/Watch)

On the last day of the celebrations of his 18th Koroneihana (coronation), Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero delivered a speech about kotahitanga. Delivered with wisdom, humility and humour, his speech is a powerful and beautiful call to kotahitanga and unity. Kiingi Tuheitia died a few days later. This video is longer than the videos we’ve included on other days, but there is no better voice to express Kotahitanga in our current times than the voice of Kiingi Tuheitia.

Ngā mea waihanga (Create)

These Christ-mas wreaths are made from old books whose words once embraced their readers with a plethora of knowledge, wit & wisdom. The wreaths adorn themselves with the many gifts of Taiao.

He Whakaaroaro (Reflect)

Unity/kotahitanga requires hard work. It doesn’t just happen on it’s own. As people we get in our own way all too often, and our words and actions can cause division more than unity if we aren’t paying attention.

In the tumultuous mid 19th century Māori had become disenchanted with Te Tiriti breaches and the NZ Land wars of 1845-1872. This led to the 1892 Kotahitanga movement which was a gathering of Māori leaders that sought to unite Māori tribes and present grievances to the Crown. The Kotahitanga movement waned by the turn of the century. In the 1950s, many young Māori men from the North moved to the South Island to do trade courses. There they experienced cultural shock and racism as well as homesickness. Consequently, in 1961, Te Kotahitanga was set up to bring them back together by teaching them their cultural roots and self worth. Kotahitanga remains at the heart of iwi, hapū, marae, whānau, and hāhi. This flag is still flown on Waitangi day to remind us of the importance of Kotahitanga.

As we approach Christ-mas we celebrate the birth of a baby, born to be King of all people for all times. Jesus showed us through his actions and his words, a way to live out our lives. It’s not an easy road, this path of loving our neighbours. It makes a nice soundbite to talk about love at Christmas but it requires real action from us. Living a Christ-centred faith-filled life we participate in the work of God-With-Us to share in this love for all people. This isn’t just a Christ-mas activity, it’s our work for all of our days.

Whakahokia mai (Respond)

Where could we put in some work to encourage unity? In family life is there someone who needs encouragement or to be shown love to support them on the path to unity? Is there a colleague, workmate or friend who could benefit from an act of love and kindness? Put some work into unity today.

Karakia (Pray)

“Me whai kia mau te kotahitanga o te Wairua e He mea paihere nā te rangimārie. Kotahi te Ariki, te whakapono e, kotahi hoki te iriiri”.

Te Pou Kotahitanga by Joanne Rosandich, is based on Ephesians 4:3-6. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope; one Lord, one faith, one baptism…” Ngā mihi nui ki a Hana Seddon mō tōu Youtube.