Te Komiti Takawaenga

Terms of Reference

To be the meeting place of the Treaty of Waitangi partners.

To facilitate good communication between the Treaty partners of the Church.

To develop policy for and promote education within the Church to further the Treaty partnership commitments expressed by General Assemblies.

To observe the life and processes of the courts of the Church and Assembly committees in the light of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advise those courts and committees.

To recommend to the Council of Assembly and the General Assembly the appropriate use of the resources of the Church in the light of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

To review when necessary the constitution and regulations of the Church in the light of the commitment of the Church to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

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Te Panui/Reading: Nga Waiata/Psalm 55:22
Maaka ki runga kia ihowa tau pikaunga,
Ama ihowa koe e whakau ake.

Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you.

Nga Mihi/Greetings:
E te Rangatira Motoreta, na Komihana, na hoa tata, na tama taane waahine, me nga ope Tuarangi i roto ia ihu Karaiti, tena koutou katoa.

Moderator, Honoured Guests, Commissioners, Young Adults and Youth in the Lord Jesus Christ, greetings to you all.

Personal
The Committee wishes to convey to Assembly its deep sadness in the passing away of one of its members, the Rev Te Maungarangi Alfred TeRire in 2002 and Mrs Mona Riini, Moderator of Te Aka Puaho in 2003. They are sadly missed.

Moe mai, moe mai i te moenga roa.

<typohead type="2">Report

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1.1 Committee members have expressed their delight and appreciation of the way in which the Te Aka Puaho Moderator and members were included in the 2002 General Assembly. One tangible expression of this was the seat being made available for the Moderator alongside that of the Moderator of General Assembly. We congratulate those responsible and ask that this degree of involvement be continued into the future.

In the light of current debates going on in our country our Committee believes that our churches have a unique contribution to make out of our policy and experience of creating relationships of partnerships with other churches and groups with whom we have a shared vision and concern. It is our prayer that the special relationship that exists with Tangata Whenua be continued and strengthened as we seek to promote the love of Jesus Christ in everything that we do together.

1.2 The Order of Reference for this Committee is broad. In summary, in keeping with recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi within the Church, this Committee is to:

Provide a meeting place for the partners

Facilitate good communication between the partners

Develop policy and promote education to further commitments of General Assembly

Observe the processes of the courts of the Church and advise them

Recommend the appropriate use of resources

Review when necessary the constitution and regulations of the Church

With the present political and societal context of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Order of Reference for this Committee assumes greater potential to make a significant contribution to the Church and thereby to the wider community.

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It should be the Committee through which partnership issues are raised and recommendations made about their application to the Church (including Te Aka Puaho). In undertaking this role, the committee would also fulfil an important educative function, promote interaction, understanding and trust. It would also keep the profile of Te Aka Puaho before the Church.

This is one committee within the Church where Maori and pakeha work together as Treaty partners. This provides the opportunity for committee to be a sounding board for Te Aka Puaho also.

The role of the moderators of the Presbyterian Church and Te Aka Puaho working together at Assembly is an important demonstration of our partnership and is applauded.

While Te Komiti Takawaenga is formally charged with an important role, the success of the partnership within the Church depends on an informed membership and a commitment to work together and support one another.

<typohead type="3">2. Te Whaiti Nui A Toi Scholarship </typohead>

2.1 The Scholarships continue to be administered by Te Komiti Takawaenga o Te Haahi in accordance with the guidelines established by Te Aka Puaho.

Awards for the 2004 school year totalled $66,250.00 supporting students at Lindisfarne, Turakina, Te Aute and Hukarere Colleges as well as a grant for tertiary study.

The scholarship fund is now approximately $980,000.00 and the income account is augmented from time to time by grants from other Trusts and individuals.

The scholarship is well managed by Te Aka Puaho through its Committee with support structures in place for the students and their families.

Highlights of the year have included a combined Te Whaiti student´s reunion and open day at Lindisfarne College with a special Assembly addressed by the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Honorable Parekura Horomia, and services for students and their families conducted by the Heretaunga Maori Pastorate.

Plans for the current year include a meeting of the Committee at Turakina Maori Girls College and a special visit to Te Maungarongo Marae in October for students and their families.

This scholarship provides a special place in the lives of many young people their parents and society in attaining higher education through its financial assistance for both girls and boys attending recognised secondary schools.

<typohead type="3">2.2 Associate Members </typohead>

The Committee recognised the importance of inviting and involving your adults from the church and including those young people that attended Lindisfarne and Turakina Colleges to attend its meetings and thereby encouraging them to consider becoming members in the future.

<typohead type="3">2.3 Review of Te Aka Puaho Constitution </typohead>

The Committee assisted Te Aka Puaho in this exercise which proved to be a valuable learning exercise particularly in finding the most suitable words or translations with equivalent meanings to words and sentences.

<typohead type="3">3. Conclusion </typohead>

3.1 Te Komiti Takawaenga encourages the Church to consider the following in their mission journey:

Facilitate inter-parish/inter-presbytery visits

Assembly Policy, Resource, Task, Work Groups holding at least one meeting a year on the Ohope Marae or Te Kakano o Te Aroha Marae, Wellington

Use the "nga Ritenga Karakia Me Nga Tikanga" book and CD (available at the National and Te Aka Puaho offices)

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Tame Takao

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Komiti Takawaenga

Terms of Reference