Waitangi Day 2024
Tuesday 6 February 2024 is our national day commemorating the first signings of the Treaty of Waitangi – Te Tiriti o Waitangi, in 1840.
'Because of the Christian involvement in its signing and the Church’s mission to bring about a better world we can mark Waitangi as a significant spiritual event and a time to pray for the land and its peoples. We can give thanks for the gift of being here, ask forgiveness for the wrongs of our history from which some have benefitted and some have lost, and re-commit ourselves to work for a more just society.'
Monsignor Gerard Burns homily Waitangi Day 2019.
Readings from the Mass of the Day
1 Kg 8: 22-23, 27-30: You have said, my name shall be there, to hear the prayers of your people Israel.
Ps 83:3-5, 10-11: R. How lovely is your dwelling place Lord, mighty God.
Alleluia Alleluia! Turn my heart to do your will: teach me your law O God. Alleluia!
Mark 7:1-13: You put aside the commandments of God, to hold on to human traditions.
(Special Collect, Prayer over the Offerings, Peace, Prayer after Communion.)
Liturgy of the Word Responses using te reo Māori
At conclusion of the Reading
Proclaimer of the Word:
Ko te Kupu a te Ariki. (The Word of the Lord)
All Respond:
Whakamoemiti ki te Atua. (Thanks be to God)
Before the Gospel
Priest:
Kia noho te Ariki ki a koutou (The Lord be with you)
All Respond:
Ki tōu wairua anō hoki (And with your Spirit)
Priest:
Ko te Rongo Pai nō te Pukapuka a Hāto Māka
(A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark)
All Respond:
Korōria ki ā koe, e te Ariki. (Glory to you, O Lord)
At the conclusion of the Gospel
Priest:
Ko te Rongo Pai a te Ariki. (The Gospel of the Lord )
All Respond:
Kia whakanuia rā koe, e te Ariki, e Hēhu Karaiti. (Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.)
A Karakia for the Treaty of Waitangi
Ngamanu of Ngāti Hau and Ngāti Kaharau gave the following KARAKIA (prayer) after he had signed the Treaty.
This Karakia and translation given by Rima Edwards in written evidence on behalf of Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu to the Waitangi Tribunal, quoted in He Whakaputanga me te Tiriti The Declaration and the Treaty, Waitangi Tribunal Report, 2014.
Image of signatories from
https://teara.govt.nz/en/treaty-of-waitangi
Photo on main slider: Powhiri to welcome visitors, Waitangi Treaty Grounds 2023.