Return to Rāwhitiroa Marae attracts blessings

Dec 23

Dec 23 Return to Rāwhitiroa Marae attracts blessings

The Local Spiritual Assembly of Waipa reports on two recent inspiring occasions.

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Waipa community recently returned to Rāwhitiroa Marae, where we had hosted our World Conference earlier this year, for two special occasions — a Holy Day and a “noho marae” (marae stay) for the Assembly members. We felt really blessed, and also very excited to be going back to this marae, and feel the “vibe” of that beautiful, uplifting and memorable conference again, and to continue to strengthen our relationships with tangata whenua.

The first occasion on Saturday morning was the celebration of the Day of the Covenant in which the whole community and their friends participated. For the pōwhiri, a kuia (female elder) who had attended our World Conference had offered to be the kaikaranga (woman doing the ceremonial karanga/calling) for us. We were grateful that she accompanied us in regard to the finer points of tikanga (protocols), which gave us more confidence. Our Assembly had been studying the book Te Marae, which was a great starting point for understanding about what happens on a marae, and we shared some of this learning with attendees before the pōwhiri, but there’s nothing like the actual experience to deepen knowledge!

We were thrilled that our chairperson was the whaikōrero (speaker) for us. It was the first time he had spoken on a marae and he used the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in his speech:

“Where there is love, nothing is too much trouble, and there is always time”*... We wanted to make the time to be here again on your beautiful marae, and feel very grateful that we are able to do so.

The whaikōrero on the mana whenua side (the home people) commented on how well he did.

Our supporting waiata was a Baháʼí prayer that had been put to music by an Assembly member, so it was moving to be able to sing it together in such a sacred place.

After a very “sustaining” morning tea, people moved into the wharenui (meeting house) for the Holy Day celebration. Seated in a circle around a colourful centrepiece with cosy cushions, we enjoyed a spiritually uplifting programme, with two of the older children amongst the readers, and including several waiata, with instruments and melodious voices in various languages wafting around the room. Creative craft activities finished off the Holy Day programme.

After lunch, to help us to learn more about the history and stories of the marae, one of the youth from the marae took us to Aotearoa Marae — the marae tūpuna (ancestral marae) — and related stories about the tūpuna (ancestors), marae, the taniwha in the river, and local landmarks. We felt honoured to be trusted with this knowledge, and now have a greater understanding of the place where we stand in Waipa and the reality of our neighbourhood friends — many of whom have connections to these marae.

The members of the Assembly stayed on for the rest of the weekend for the noho, and focused on improving Local Spiritual Assembly functioning. The questions that guided our consultation came from the National Spiritual Assembly, which had encouraged all Assemblies to give some attention to these points.

For the creative activity on Saturday evening, the focus was on clay. We listened to the story of Hine-ahu-one (woman made of clay) — the first person created by the god Tāne, before breathing life into her with a hongi and saying “Tihei mauri ora!” for the first time.

We also reflected on a quotation from Bahá’u’lláh:

Out of the wastes of nothingness, with the clay of My command I made thee to appear, and have ordained for thy training every atom of existence and the essence of all created things.**

People had fun using clay to express the day’s experiences or learnings as we reflected on the day. A great way to relax and spend time getting to know each other.

We’re hoping to plan another noho soon. Watch this space 🙂

Yá Baháʼu'l-Abhá!