Historic Mana Ariki Marae in Taumarunui today hosted Prophet’s and Rangatahi Day, bringing together faithful followers from around the world to focus on the health and wellbeing of rangatahi.
Overseas visitors, like Fumi Konagano from Japan, spoke about the deep spiritual connections experienced at the gathering. Konagano remarked on the immediate feeling of kinship, stating, “For me I’m from Japan and Japan and the Māori, I feel a really deep connection between us, but when I get here I feel much more than that”. Konagano believes the unity felt transcends cultural boundaries: “It’s not just the Māori, or between Māori and Japan, its more people, the love”.
Quentin Buisson, a visitor from France, attributed his presence to following his heart, noting, “I think with a lot of luck but also probably because we are following our hearts”. Buisson encouraged others attending the event to “hopefully observe and listen, because everything is already inside of us”.
The focus on rangatahi was a key theme, driven by the Marae’s leadership. Trenton Martin, councillor for Mana Ariki Marae, explained how the event brought diverse groups together.
“With Mana Ariki and with the strength and support of the Kaitohutohu, has collated them to come together,” Martin said.
“The most common thing, doesn’t matter what your faith was, the most common thing that we all have is our aroha to our atua,” he said.
“Our Kaitohutohu has always been, has passion for rangatahi in all ways of life”. Tamihana Pomare, a Morehu from Mana Ariki, highlighted the ambition for youth at the event: to “elevate them into those spaces that belong to them”.
Te Manawa Ora o Ngā Rangatahi me Te Ture o Te Wairua
Ka whiria te mauri o ngā poropiti Māori mā te ngira o te ao, i tēnei rā i Taumarunui. He rā whakaharahara tēnei mō te ao katoa, ā, ko te Kaikaunihera o Mana Ariki, a Trenton Martin, tētahi o ngā kaitautoko i tēnei kaupapa.
“Ehara i te marae nā te mea ko ngā tikanga o ngā ture o ia marae o te motu, ēngari ki tēnei, ko te ture o te wairua”. Mō te taenga mai o ngā manuhiri o tāwāhi, i kī ia, “Ko rātau o tāwāhi, ko rātau ā tātau teina, tuakana,” hei tā Trenton.
“Ko rātau o tāwāhi, ko rātau ā tātau teina, tuakana,” hei tāna anō, e pā ana ki te taenga o ngā iwi nō tāwāhi.
He rā hoki tēnei hei whakanui i ngā rangatahi, ā, i tae mai a Tamihana Pomare o Te Tai Tokerau, he Morehu nō Mana Ariki, ki te tautoko i ngā mahi mō ngā tamariki me ngā taiohi.
“He hakarongo, titiro ngā kōrero ki Mana Ariki,” hei tā Tamihana. Ko tana whāinga matua, ko te hiki i te mana o ngā rangatahi. “He tama ariki ki te rangi tūhāhā, to elevate them into those spaces that belong to them,” hei tāna anō.
Ka toka tonu ēnei mauri hei pupuri i te mana Māori motuhake i whāia e te Poropiti whakamutunga, mō ngā rangatahi me ngā whakatupuranga kei te haere mai i tēnei te Rā o Ngā Poropiti me Ngā Rangatahi.