Project: Tino Rangatahitanga (Aotearoa)

Co-ordinator: The Ven. Hirini Kaa (Archdeacon of Youth, Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa). Click here for contact details

Participants:
Two young Native adults (College Age) from mainland USA.

Duration:
1-31 July 2006.

Description:
Two young adults working for one month as ministry interns in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The interns will be placed with the Te Maara Rangatahi Ministry School, the national youth ministry arm of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa.

Aims:
Participants will work alongside the Te Maara team assisting in the delivery of the national programme and sharing in contextual ministry situations to:
- expose the participants to Maori cultural re-genesis and revitalisation.
- increase the ministry and mission capacity of both ECUSA Indigenous Ministries and Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa through the sharing of gifts and knowledge.

This will include:
- Ministry amongst young Maori through weekly youth group activities.
- participating in various youth leader training events and Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa Gatherings.
- Working on projects appropriate to skill sets, including liturgy development, communication, ministry practice and teaching.
- Sharing in contextual ministry situations and mission opportunities.


Young Indigenous Leadership
The interns will be invited to write daily reflections, keeping a record of their experiences that can be shared with others. These can also be posted on RUIA, the Te Maara online community forum for young leaders, to share with other young leaders and to enable further discussion and reflection.

The interns will also help to capture the stories and learn from the experiences of young Maori and other Church leaders from across Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa on issues such as: what the Pihopatanga offers young people?; what we have in common, as indigenous peoples; what we can gain from the Indigenous Network?; what might the Anglican Church look like in 10-20 years?; and, how will indigenous issues be catered for by that Church?

Research and reflections will be collated as an article for Taonga (magazine of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia) and other publications. A DVD/Cd-Rom will also be made using transcripts and recordings.

If the interns have particular skills in areas such as Liturgy, Music, and I.T., their participation will be tailored to help share and enhance these gifts and join them up with the life of the Pihopatanga in those areas.