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Te Whare Wananga o te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa: Te Taapapa o Te Upoko o Te Ika Course Information (Otaki 2002)
Five programme streams are provided for -

  1. Atuatanga
  2. Awhi Whanau
  3. Minitatanga
  4. Iwi Hapu
  5. Tikanga Wairua
[Quote pp 8-9]

A study of the provisions for individual courses reveals much that will appear strange to a Pakeha clergyperson. It is not just that the words are unfamiliar -- they are not simply maorifications of English theological terms -- the very concepts and their elaboration are different as is the theology that informs them.

There are differences too in the understanding of community. Whanau hapu and iwi groupings are based on kinship rather than friendship. Much attention is given to them in the selection and formation of Minita-a-Iwi. In a modern mobile society which has outgrown the parish concept community of the Maori kind may be the most robust.

Provisions for teaching/learning are based on the growth model -

"I am mindful of the work 'Taapapa' which is described as a seedling bed where with careful nurturing new growth and development can be expected. Other parts of the Church callenge the use of the word but here in Te Upoko o te Ika the thought conveyed in the careful nurturing process seems to fit well with the way we are encouraged to look after and care for each other." [Quote from Jo Winiata's introduction p.1]