Outdoors on a beautiful winter’s day, Kaumatua Morvin Anatipa Simon reminded Ngapaerangi hapu of Kaiwhaiki Marae, who gathered to celebrate the rites of baptism for their mokopuna, that Te Awa Tupua o Whanganui was ‘our first highway, our first pharmacy, our first larder, our first washroom, laundry and our first baptismal font’. This korero was backed up by the Waiata ‘E Rere Te Awa Tupua’.
Being in communion with all of creation
For 12-year-old Joseph Huatahi Barber, a highlight of our three-day camp was ‘learning alongside my cousins, playing with them and getting to know them. We learnt that we have to be in communion with everything around us; our environment, our awa, our whanau and iwi and all of creation. This makes receiving Jesus for the first time, a very special moment. We can’t only be in communion with Jesus. We have to be in communion with everything and everyone around us.’
Fourteen Ngapaerangi mokopuna were baptised and 10 mokopuna received the Eucharist for the first time at Te Rongo o te Poi, Kaiwhaiki marae, Whanganui, on Sunday 15 July 2007. They were:
Lafo Te Huiatahi Takiari Ah Ching, Paetawa Te Okioki Tagilima Takiari Ah Ching, Ioane Wairua Pohe Takiari Ah Ching, Rongomaitawhiri Pikiteora Leiloa Ah Ching, Mauriora Te Ataahua Tawaroa Takiari, Pikiteora Nga Tomairangi Takiari Toro, Rongopai Campbell Simon, Morvin Te Anatipa Jnr Simon, Marima Te Rere o Kapuni Simon, Renata Kaui Hunia Matariki Campbell Simon, Darlaney Te Kohinga Te Tatou Hina Pauro, Te Kiira Kahrean Hina Pauro, Moetahi Baron McRitchie, Te Au Maro Baron McRitchie.
Chevonne Simon, Aimee Te Manawa Kura Simon, Waiora Te Ataahua Simon, Piata Marie Simon, Ngawari Te Ara Simon, Turehu Simon, Joseph Barber, Mauriora Tawaroa Takiari, Ioane Wairua Pohe Takiari Ah Ching, Rongotawhiri Pikiteora Leiloa Ah Ching.