Episode 203 - Matariki, Te Tiriti & Māori Spirituality: Henare Whaanga, Part 2

In Part 2 of our conversation with Henare Whaanga, we move into some of the practical questions New Zealand Christians are wrestling with today. Should Christians celebrate Matariki? What does Toitū te Tiriti actually mean? How should believers respond when they're expected to participate in Māori religious practices at work, school, or community events? Henare also shares his own journey after returning to Christ, including a season where he rejected his Māori identity entirely, before discovering that following Jesus doesn't require abandoning your culture completely, rather, letting go of anything that conflicts with Him. Whether we're Māori, Pākehā, or simply wanting to better understand these conversations, I hope this episode equips us to think biblically, grow in grace, and become more like Christ. 0:00 – Coming up 0:49 – Henare rejected his Māori identity after returning to Christ 2:20 – Can Māori culture and Christian faith be reconciled? 3:57 – What is the way forward for the Church? 5:44 – Henare's thoughts on historically stolen land 12:02 – Has God revealed Himself through Māori traditions? 20:19 – Where did the Māori names for God and Jesus come from? 25:09 – Should Christians celebrate Matariki? 32:11 – What does Toitū te Tiriti mean? 33:37 – Practical advice for Christians navigating Māori religious practices 38:45 – Can the spiritual and apologetics work together?