Theological Symposium 2022
Reconciliation & Peacemaking
Throughout the history of Aotearoa, our tūpuna have received revelations from Creator God and sought to outwork and embody that awareness, knowledge and faith in their own contexts and time.The spirit of God has been at work across the motu mai rānō, unhindered by human limitation or interpretation, creating a rich and divinely-woven whakapapa. This whakapapa breathed life into Ngā Wai Hōhonu and inspires our mahi today.
Ngā Wai Hōhonu symposiums offer an opportunity for Māori and other indigenous peoples to gather and wānanga about things that matter to us, as we outwork being authentically Māori/Indigenous and authentically Christian. This year we will gather once again at Te Whetū-o-te-Rangi marae in Tauranga Moana, to be and wānanga together about Reconciliation and Peace-making.
Our Kaikōrero this year will include Pastor (Uncle) Raymond Minniecon (Kabikabi, Gurang-Gurang, Ambryn Islander), Aboriginal leader and elder based from Queensland (but based in Sydney). 'Uncle Ray', and our other Kaikōkiri, will be sharing the insights and wisdoms they have gleaned from their experiences as practical theologians as well as from their scholarship.
Mā te Wairua Tapu tātou e ārahi e tohutohu kia rewa ake ai te waka-o-te-ora,
Ngā Wai Hōhonu Hana Seddon, Sam Chapman, Dave Moko, Hannah Chapman, Alistair Reese, Dallas Harema
Overall numbers are limited due to marae capacity (so get in quick!). Moreover, we have a limited number of spaces available for Tangata Tiriti who honour that this is a space which privileges indigenous voices and perspectives, and who are able to listen well, tautoko and respect tikanga.
Over the coming weeks we will be drip feeding speaker profiles to your inbox as well as our Ngā Wai Hōhonu FB page. You can join our FB page by clicking on the icon below. If you have any further enquiries please contact Dallas Harema at dharema@naiits.com
Our Speakers
PASTOR DR. RAY MINNIECON
"Uncle Ray" Minniecon is an elder Indigenous statesman, and a descendant of the Kabi Kabi nation, the Gurang Gurang nation of South-East Queensland and descendant of the South Sea Islander people from Ambrym Island. He graduated in Arts from Murdoch University, Western Australia and has an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity awarded by NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community.
PASTOR DR. RAY MINNIECON
Ray is internationally recognised as a distinguished local and international Indigenous leader through his successful advocacy for the self-determination of Australian Indigenous culture and law. In 1995 he made an intervention at the UN in Geneva on behalf of Indigenous Peoples at the first hearing of the Draft Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous peoples and was a driving force in the movement to recognise Indigenous contribution to the Australian armed forces. He also led the drive for NAIITS to be established in Australia.
Ray’s roles and contributions to Australia, to Indigenous Peoples and communities of his country and internationally are many:
- Director of Bunji Consultancies, which supports leadership, business initiatives and community development projects
- Board Member of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community
- Council member of St Andrew’s Cathedral School
- Board Member of Red Dust Role Models
- Board Member of Annecto Aged Care Services
- Vision Keeper of the World Christian Gathering on Indigenous Peoples.
- Leader for World Vision Australia’s Indigenous programs for over twelve years
- Founder of Gawura Private Aboriginal School in Sydney
- Current Pastor of Scarred Tree Indigenous Ministries at St. John’s Anglican Church, Glebe NSW
What does leadership look like in Peacemaking & Reconciliation?
Ray will invite us to consider Peacemaking & Reconciliation as one of the greatest invitations to us from our Creator and yet also one of humanity's greatest challenges. As followers of the Jesus Way, Ray will explore what type of characteristics and qualities we need to embody to accomplish these great tasks while giving us some insight into the very real and difficult obstacles faced on his own personal journey.
ROBERT KINSELA (KIM) WORKMAN KNZM QSO
In 2000, Kim was appointed National Director, Prison Fellowship New Zealand (PFNZ), and retired from that position in 2008. In 2005, Kim was the joint recipient (with Jackie Katounas) of the International Prize for Restorative Justice. In 2006 Kim joined with the Salvation Army, to launch the “Rethinking Crime and Punishment” (RCP) Project. In 2011 he formed 'Justspeak', a movement that involves youth in criminal justice advocacy and reform.
In 2016, Kim was awarded the degree of Doctor of Literature (DLitt Well) by the Council of Victoria University, and in 2017, the same degree by the Council of Massey University. In February 2018, Kim was awarded Senior New Zealander of the Year, under the New Zealander of the Year Awards Scheme. He was appointed a Companion of the Queens Service Order in 2007, and as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019.
Kim was a member the NZ Parole Board and chairs the Independent Panel which oversees the ‘Understanding Policing Delivery’ project.
Kim has six children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He enjoys listening and playing jazz.
He aha te kaupapa o tana kōrero?
Kim will kōrero on the topic of Peace-making and Reconciliation in and through the Justice system from an indigenous Christian perspective.
ROBERT KINSELA (KIM) WORKMAN KNZM QSO
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitaane
Kim is a retired public servant, whose career spans roles in the Police, the Office of the Ombudsman, State Services Commission, and the Department of Māori Affairs. He was Head of the Prison Service from 1989 – 1993.
MERENIA SAWREY
Ngāti Awa
Ko Kapūterangi te maunga
Ko Ōhinemataroa te awa
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Ngāti Hokopū te hapū
Ko Te Whare o Toroa te marae
Mā te wāhine, mā te whenua, te iwi ka ora
MERENIA SAWREY
Returning home to Whakatāne in 2021 with her whānau, Merenia is devoting herself to rebuilding the capacity and capability of her hapū and Iwi to be in reciprocal relationship with the whenua and te taiao again. Although currently on Maternity Leave being a Māmā to her tamariki, Merenia is currently working with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa for their pioneering Predator Free 2050 project, Korehāhā Whakahau.
He aha te kaupapa o tana kōrero?
After sharing with us last year, Merenia will return once again with her whānau to go further in unpacking the desperate and demanding endeavour of reconciling our indigenous relationship to place, as Creation wears the injustices of our past and unprecedented exploitation and degradation.
LARISSA MINNIECON
Larissa Minniecon is a Kabi Kabi, Gureng Gureng, Ambryn and Torres Strait Islander woman who is currently undertaking a Masters degree in Narrative Therapy and Community Work through the University of Melbourne.
Larissa is a respected emerging Christian leader who has a rich ministry heritage with over 20 years of experience, working in Community Development and Indigenous Health in remote, rural and urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities nationally.
Larissa currently works in ministry with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families across Australia and is based in Glebe at St John’s Anglican Church where she is part of the co-ordination team for Scarred Tree Indigenous Ministries.
LARISSA MINNIECON
Kabi Kabi, Gureng Gureng, Ambryn and Torres Strait Islander