Te Rau Theological College

Te Aratoi Manawa – He Toi Whakairo, He Toi Aroha
From love we create, in creating we love.

In June this year, Te Rau Theological College had the privilege of hosting our inaugural Te Aratoi Manawa wānanga in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa. Guided by the kaupapa He Toi Whakairo, He Toi Aroha, the week invited participants to explore the relationship between creativity, faith, calling, and ministry through wānanga, toi, whakapapa, and whanaungatanga.

The wānanga brought together Toi Amorangi students, our Te Takawai ki Tairāwhiti ākonga, and ministry educators through our partnership with the Diocese of Waiapu. Together, we journeyed through the stories, whenua, and sacred places of Te Tairāwhiti, engaging in kōwhaiwhai, whakairo, waiata, karakia, and theological reflection as expressions of indigenous Christian formation. The kaupapa recognised that creativity is not simply artistic expression, but an embodiment of aroha, theology, and whakapapa.

In the article below, The Venerable Michael Tamihere offers a rich theological reflection on the vision that underpinned Te Aratoi Manawa, thoughtfully weaving together Scripture, mātauranga Māori, toi, and whakapapa to explore how indigenous theological formation is shaped through people, place, creativity, and the love of God.

We invite you to take a few moments to read and reflect on this beautiful expression of indigenous theological education.

Te Aratoi Manawa: The Line That Draws You Back - Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa We have always formed people by making. The harder question is whether we can lift that work free of a borrowed frame and make it carry what it needs to...read more >

🌿 Care of Creation Wānanga | Te Takawai ki Te Tairāwhiti 🌿

This past weekend our Te Takawai ākonga gathered once again in wānanga as part of the Care of Creation paper; exploring what it means to respond faithfully, theologically, and prophetically to the environmental challenges facing our world today.

Grounded in Scripture, mātauranga Māori, and the wisdom of our tīpuna, our ākonga reflected deeply on our responsibilities as kaitiaki of te taiao and te moana. Together, we explored how creation is not simply a resource to be managed, but a taonga gifted by Atua, woven together through whakapapa and sustained through relationship, balance, and care.

We were privileged to learn about lived kaitiakitanga with guest kaikōrero Soraya Pohatu and Phagan Ria of Rongowhakaata and Ngāi Tamanuhiri, who guided us through Rākaukākā ngahere in Manutuke. We learnt of the whakapapa, history, and restoration of this significant ngahere, once part of the great ngahere of Pipiwhakao which stretched across Tūranga.

We also visited Te Wherowhero Lagoon, a place of deep mana, tapu, and mahinga kai for our tīpuna. Through these places and stories, our ākonga were challenged to think critically about climate change, environmental justice, and how the Gospel calls us not only into prayer and reflection, but also into action and collective responsibility.

🌊 From ecological theology to local kōrero grounded in whenua and moana, this wānanga reminded us that formation is relational; with one another, with creation, and with Atua.

We finished our wānanga with Venerable Merekaraka Te Whitu and fellow ākonga Shirley Green and Phyllis Wairama, for karakia at Toko Toru Tapu Church; honouring our wāhine, tāne, māmā and Papatūānuku on Mother's Day through blessings and karakia; acknowledging those who so selflessly nurture, sustain, and give life to all that they encompass.

🙏 Kia mau te aroha o te Atua ki a tātau katoa i tēnei haerenga tapu.

✨ Upcoming Baptisms & Confirmations ✨

We invite our whānau, friends, and wider community to gather with us as we celebrate Baptisms and Confirmations in Tikitiki.

🗓️ Date: Sunday 5th April 2026 – Easter Sunday
⛪ Location: St Mary's Memorial Church, Tikitiki
⏰ Time: 10am

Whether you are coming to support loved ones, reconnect, or simply wish to be part of this karakia, all are welcome🙏

Baptisms & Confirmations
If you would like your mokopuna, tamariki or other whanau members to be baptised and/or confirmed please get in touch with Merekaraka. Contact details below.

📢 Hau Karakia
🗓 Sunday, 29th March
⏰ 11:30 AM
📍 Pakowhai Marae, Waituhi

We warmly invite you to join us for our first ever hosting of this kaupapa "Hau Karakia" here in Turanga nui a Kiwa, Te Rohe o Horouta.

E mihi ana ki Te Rohe o Takitimu na ratau tenei kaupapa i kokiri, a, na matau Te Rohe o Horouta te kaupapa e hapai.

No reira, nau mai, huihuia mai e te whanau🙏

🎓 Te Takawai NZ Diploma in Christian Studies | Year Two Begins

Over the weekend our ākonga gathered for the first time in 2026 at EIT, Tairāwhiti as Year Two of the Te Takawai NZ Diploma in Christian Studies officially began.

We continue to give thanks for the vision and faithful groundwork laid before us that makes this important mahi possible. All of our ākonga are returning students, continuing to respond to the call to serve their hapori with humility, courage, and commitment.

This semester our ākonga will engage in the following papers both online and in person:

• Te Kawenata Tawhito | Old Testament
Introducing ākonga to the historical and literary world of Te Kawenata Tawhito, exploring its major themes and developing interpretative tools that connect the ancient text to life, ministry, and leadership in Aotearoa today.

• Care of Creation
Equipping ākonga with ecotheological tools for reading Scripture alongside indigenous perspectives on te taiao and te moana, strengthening their capacity to provide theological direction and leadership in responding to climate and ecological challenges across Aotearoa and Moana Nui a Kiwa.

Together in wānanga, we also marked the beginning of the Lenten season, grounding ourselves in prayer, reflection, and ministry formation. We concluded our weekend in karakia at Nikora Tapu, Wainui, alongside Archbishop Don Tamihere and whānau. There, our kaikauhau, Rev Te Haumoana Kopua Irwin, reminded us of our Lenten commitments - to examine ourselves honestly, to sit in deep whakaaro and wānanga, and to allow ourselves to be challenged as we seek wisdom within by following in the footsteps of Ihu Karaiti.

We hold in our karakia all of our ākonga and kaimahi across the Te Takawai network at Te Tairāwhiti, Hoani Tapu, Te Manawa o te Wheke, Te Waipounamu, and Te Upoko o te Ika as they embark on their final year of studies. Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui.

🙏 Kia mau te aroha o te Atua ki a tātau katoa i tēnei haerenga tapu.

🎓 We have now come to the end of our first year of the inaugural Te Takawai NZ Diploma of Christian Studies as our last assignments are being submitted! 🕊️ A heartfelt ngā mihi nunui and congratulations to our ākonga for your commitment and dedication to this sacred calling to serve your hapori and Hāhi with aroha, courage, and faithfulness.

Last month we held our final wānanga, where we were privileged to also host ākonga from Te Waipounamu. Together, they engaged in Te Whakapono | The Church’s Story, learning about their final assignment on Whakapapa.

We were blessed to be guided by Rev Dr Wayne Te Kaawa from Hoani Tapu, whose leadership and deep theological wisdom helped anchor this final wānanga with clarity and inspiration.

We finished the weekend off with a Pō Whakangahau, as it’s important to mark the occasion through our hari of the accomplishments we have made for the year. A big mihi to all those that made it possible.

Over the year, our ākonga have journeyed through:
• Tikanga Karakia: learning to lead Mihinare worship with intention, depth, and aroha
• Ihoatua | Introduction to Theology: exploring Christian faith through a Mihinare lens and developing tools for theological reflection grounded in our whenua
• Te Hāhi Mihinare | Being Anglican: tracing the whakapapa of our Hāhi, its expression of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and what it means to be a Church of the Treaty
• Te Kawenata Hou | The New Testament: engaging deeply with the life and mission of Ihu Karaiti and the voices of our tūpuna whakapono
• Te Whakapono | The Church’s Story: connecting our local narrative to the global Church, and understanding how whakapapa shapes identity, mission, and ministry

This haerenga has been one of learning, stretching, and deepening not just in theory, but in practice, whakapapa, and wairua. Our ākonga are not only receiving knowledge, they are being formed as leaders and kaitiaki of the Gospel in our unique context.

To our ākonga, kaiako, kaimahi, and whānau tautoko: thank you for every karakia, every kōrero, and every step taken together. We look forward to sharing in fellowship and learning for 2026!

E te Atua, ārahina mātau i te ara tika, kia kawea ai te waiora ki ngā wāhi katoa. Āmine🙏.