Historical, Theological and Contemporary Perspectives

A Symposium, November 18–19, 2009

Last year a number of University of Otāgo academics formed a research group, Te Whakapapa o te Whakapono: Lineages of Faith, in conjunction with Te Wānanga a Rangi (the Presbyterian Church’s Theological College for Māori ministers) in order to further research into Māori interactions with Christianity.

This research is multi-disciplinary, with a strong emphasis on both theology and history. The project aims to examine the encounters between the Christian Church and the Tāngata Whenua in New Zealand, to trace the growth and development of Christian faith among the Māori people, and to consider the ways in which that development has contributed to the shaping of New Zealand identity and society. To further the aims of the research project a Symposium will be held at Salmond College, Dunedin from November 18-19, 2009.

For more information or to register, contact Murray Rae,   murray.rae@stonebow.otago.ac.nz   (before 12 November).

Speakers/topics will include:

• Kathie Irwin, ‘John and Hōriana Laughton’
• Hirini Kaa, ‘Tīhei taruke!: Mohi Turei and Ngāti Porou Christianity’
• Bernie Kernot, ‘Translating the Gospel in the Māori Art Tradition: the works of the late Rt Rev. Hāpai Winiata’
• Robert Joseph, ‘1. Rangatiratanga in the American West – The Hirini Whaanga Whānau Migration to Utah in the 19th Century’ and ‘2. Are Mormons Maori? Doctrinal and Historical Parallels between Māoritanga and Mormonism’
• Peter Lineham, ‘Is Destiny Church a Māori faith or a faith of Māori?’
• Nathan Matthews, ‘Kaikatikīhama – Tō tātou taonga whakahirahira. The role of Māori Catholic Catechists in the Marist Mission 1870 -1900′
• Simon Moetara, ‘Māori & the Pentecostal Churches in Aotearoa-NZ’
• Hugh Morrison, ‘Presbyterian children, images of Māori and imperial sentiments’
• Keith Newman, ‘Rātana, the Prophet. Mā te wa; the sign of the broken watch’
• Lachy Paterson, ‘Race, gender and te ao Māori: Pākehā women field workers of the Presbyterian Māori Mission’
• Murray Rae, ‘Rua Kēnana and the Iharaira’
• Wayne Te Kaawa, ‘The Contribution of James MacFarlane’
• Hone Te Rire, ‘Hīhita me ngā Tamariki o te Kohu’
• Yvonne Wilkie, ‘The Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union and their response to Māori Mission’