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| Our group outside the Beehive, NZ Parliament building, in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. |
Along the coast, over rolling hills, through the Marlborough Sounds, and across Cook Strait we went to reach Wellington. As part of Sustainable Community Development, we go to the Wellington area to see how community development is being put into action. We heard from a number of people working to connect community members and solve social issues. It was neat to hear how people from different walks of life are able to use their skills and talents to affect change. Whether it's in a boxing gym, a wetland, or the office of the Hutt City mayor, each person can contribute to bettering the community in some way.
During the week we visited a nature reserve right in the city of Wellington itself called Zealandia. Our tour guide began by quoting Jared Diamond that, "If you want to experience life on another planet...go to New Zealand." Students were able to get an introduction to just how unique, and in need of protection, the wildlife of NZ is. With 70% of its forest birds being endemic, but 33% of the most recent bird extinctions coming from NZ, that fact begins to be more clear. The Karori Sanctuary is closed in by a 8.6 km, mammal-proof fence. This protects the many rare birds living inside from predation by nonnative species like cats and stoats that they don't have natural defenses against. We were able to see and hear some beautiful, and rare, birds. A very eerie experience was walking up the staircase in the educational center, lined with memorials to a staggering number of extinct NZ species. Even more of a reminder that we need to take care of the life that surrounds us today.
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| Top Left: We were able to see takahe, a bird species with only 250 left in the wild. Top Right: The staircase in the educational center is lined with memorials to a staggering number of extinct NZ species. Bottom Left: A display showing the maximum jumping height of various mammals helps to explain how difficult it is to predator-proof areas to keep native birds safe. Bottom Right: The human impact on NZ is shown on these maps comparing forested areas 1,000 years ago and today. |
The waiata, or Maori song, playing in the staircase provides a beautiful illustration of how we can work to better the environment:
Whakarongo ra
Whakarongo ake au
Ki te tangi a te manu
E rere runga rawa e
Tui, tui, tui, tuia
Tuia i runga
Tuia i raro
Tuia i roto
Tuia i waho
Tui, tui, tuia
Kia rongo te ao
Kia rongo te po
Tui, tui, tuia
I listen
I listen, where up high
A bird flies
Its cry rings out
Sew, stitch, bind it together
From above
From below
From within
From outside
Sew and bind it together
During the day
And the night
Sew, stitch, bind it together
We can take a lesson from the tui, a bird who weaves other birds' songs together to make its own melody whole and one, that we also must stitch back together the fragmented pieces of the creation and restore it to a state of wholeness.
Adi Leeson also spoke on a similar theme of recreating wholeness in the world. His talk was geared towards peace and activism and listening to the voice of the Lord in discerning how we are being called to live radically for the kingdom of God. Not only did he keep our minds working, but also had our hands busy shelling pinto beans!
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| Top Right: The group listens to Adi Leeson tell his story out in the backyard. Bottom Left: Adi provided our group with a fresh snack: hand-picked apples! Top Left and Bottom Right: Adi kept us busy shelling pinto beans during his talk. |
Towards the end of the week we went out into the country to spend time at Ngatiawa. Upon our arrival, we helped set up for Passionfest. We constructed a large marquis, washed windows, chopped vegetables, and did whatever else we could to lend a helping hand. After helping to welcome guests, the festivities began. There were guest speakers all speaking on the theme of "local heroes". Many little talks and workshops filled in the rest of the schedule. We were even able to get creative with copper enameling and pottery wheels provided for everyone. Our time there closed with a barn dance on Saturday night. From Scottish line dance to the macarena, it was a good time!
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| Top Left: The group helping to set up the marquis. Top Right: Everyone hanging out at Ngatiawa during Passionfest. Bottom Left: Brian's Valentines made another stunning appearance during Open Mic. Bottom Right: During Passionfest there were worship sessions in the marquis, followed by talks about "local heroes". |
Check out what Messiah College student Janine Coelho took away from the trip:
"Our trip to
Wellington was all over the spectrum. We traveled over the water and into the
concrete jungle, highly contrasting the farms that we are surrounded by here in
Kaikoura. It was really great to be able to take everything we have been
learning in class and envision it in different settings. We all gathered
together in the marae and basically bonded while having a giant slumber party
which was really fun. While exploring
the streets of Wellington, we got to go to the Te Papa museum and Parliament
which proved both educational and interesting. One of the highlights of the
trip, in my opinion, was searching for birds in Zealandia. It was amazing to
actually get to see the birds that we’ll be studying with our own eyes all in
one place. I think I speak for most of us when I say that meeting Adi Leeson
was a great experience. His stories of protest and imprisonment were both
fascinating and challenging. They called us to evaluate our faith and urged us
to stand for what is right. The end of our trip took us to Passionfest at
Ngatiawa. The various speakers continued to challenge and encourage us to love
the least of these. My favorite speaker
was Andrew Jones who reminded us that we can’t love the poor and hate the rich.
It was really great to be with everyone, laughing together and learning more
about our calling as Christ followers over the week away."
It was a great week, but it's also good to be back in Kaikoura!
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