2010-12-24 NEW ZEALAND

Province of New Zealand

Thursday 16 December saw an official welcome to Br Emili to the Province of New Zealand. The first part of the powhiri (welcome ceremony) took place at Te Kamaka marae (Te Kamaka meaning the Rock) at Hato Petera College. He was welcomed onto the marae led by kuias (aunties and grandmothers) in response to the welcoming karanga (call). He was accompanied by Br Carl who stepped down the evening before as provincial and the Provincial-elect Br David McDonald and his whanau (family) both his relatives and the brothers.After the mihi whakatau (official welcome speech), to us who were manuhiri (guests), the tangata whenua (the hosts) sang a song as is the tradition when words are given fragrance by a song. It was then the turn of the manuhiri to respond. Br Emili responded in Maori and it was easy to see the looks of pleasure on the faces of our hosts. In response we manuhiri stood as Brothers Emili, David led us in singing Salve Regina.After a brief morning tea the group went to our marae (Sacred Heart College) where the chapel was arranged as in a marae. Br David and his family were welcoming into the chapel where our kaikorero (speakers) welcomed and introduced the party. During the ceremony where the tangata whenua (now brothers and lay Marists and colleagues and friends) were seated on the right and the manuhiri (now Br Davids whanau and Hato Petera community) were on the left. It was the turn of Br Davids brother, Morehu to respond to our welcome. Br Davids whanau presented him with the korowai (feather cloak) in recognition of his new role, and he was clothed by the kuias of the group.Br Emili called him to the task of Provincial and then presented Br David with the candle representing the service of authority he would render the Province, bothers and Lay Marists together. Br Carl held out the taonga presented to him some years ago as the taonga of the service of authority that now passed on to Br David, giving him the traditional greeting, the hongi (the pressing of noses in which both persons acknowledge they share the same breath of life).Br David then spoke to all welcoming everyone with his first words of thanks. He acknowledged with a chuckle that we had had to import our kaikorero from Samoa (Br Steve Filipo) and Br Michael Potter (Vietnam), both of whom are fluent in Te Reo (Maori language). And of course, like any celebration in this part of the world, the party went to the dining room where we enjoyed the usual high standard of cuisine prepared by the very willing and friendly staff of the College.

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