HIKOI OF HOPE: Update 19-20 September
Patrick Dunford
It makes you wonder what you have to do to get on television....
Christchurch despite having 3-4 thousand people marching or in the Square
has been totally invisible on both TV news bulletins this evening.
Or maybe it's just the continuing story of the powerful denying (or
decrying) the reality of the poor.
HOWEVER... A weary but happy Turi Hollis reports that about 1500 joined
the Hikoi as it walked from Hornby to the centre of Christchurch today.
At Cathedral Square another 2000 were waiting for them. They were greated
by a 5-warrior challenge and a powhiri plus peeches and song. The
marchers then left for Kaiapoi, where they arrived about 7 p.m.
The latest group to start is in Taranaki. Graham Clark reports....
Taranaki's Hikoi hit the road with a bang after a delightful outdoor
service at St Mary's Pro Cathedral Saturday morning in New Plymouth. Sir
Paul Reeves spoke of his northern Hikoi experience and shared his
sadness at the loss of a sense of community and responsibility for others
he sees as the outcome of our monetarist political reforms. New Plymouth
Mayor Claire Stewart spoke of her concerns for the region, wherein nearly
two thirds of the population earn $20,000 or less. Names have not been
finally counted but we believe 400 people walked out of the city. 200
continued beyond the first rest stop and 39 people and a very gregariouis
dog walked all the way to Inglewood, ending their day with a cuppa and a
yarn about how neat it was to be able to talk to each other under these
circumstances. Many ache - an offer has been made of a healing service
Sunday morning! - but will return to begin the next leg from Inglewood
Sunday morning.
Hawkes Bay had a series of worthwhile meetings in Napier yesterday and
Clive last evening, with about 100 walkers in the city. (Waiting for
Bishop Murray to report in; ditto Bishop George in Rotorua.)
The Northern HW1 Hikoi has about 80 at present, with 20-30 walkers at a
time. Following their big day in Hamilton, they are spending tonight in
Putaruru and head for Tokoroa tomorrow.
No report yet in from Nelson.
Sunday schedule follows. Details for South Highway One are sketchy but
were availableon Hikoi News last night.
Sunday 20 September:
North HW 1: a.m. depart Putaruru
mid-a.m. Lichfield
midday: Tokoroa event
Contact: Marcus Edwards, 07 886 7565
end Upper Atiamuri
Bay of Plenty: a.m. services in Rotorua churches
1 p.m. Forum St Luke's
4 p.m. day's events end
East Coast: Te Aute - Waipawa/Waipukurau
West North Island: Eltham - Hawera
Contact Graham Clark, 025 241 2902
West South Island: Rest Day
South HW 1: 8 a.m. local church
Kaiapoi - Amberley
At noon on Friday, Waiapu Diocesan Office staff were stirred by the sight
of Tikanga Maori approaching Whirinaki mill, led by the Bishop Brown
Turei and the banners which have been carried down from Hicks Bay.
Symbols (including the green ribbon for the East Coast) were entrusted to
the small group of new walkers who were accompanied by about half a dozen
determined to go all the full distance on this tributary of the Hikoi and
on to Wellington.
Numbers increased at Bay View, where we were saturated by a brief
downpour. As we approached Napier more and more people joined, including
a large number of pupils from Hukarere School, until there must have been
over a hundred walkers.
At Westshore, on the outskirts of Napier, we were welcomed with a
powhiri, with the karanga being called and responded to back and forth
across the main road!
In brilliant sunshine we walked on through central Napier, a strong
feeling of partnership between Tikanga clearly being celebrated as we
went. The walk to Napier culminated in a simple gathering at the
Soundshell, where about 50 people were waiting to welcome us.
The Hikoi continues to Clive tonight and on to Hastings and beyond
tomorrow.
From Rotorua, Bishop George reports that Saturday links were all made
safely, with the Te Puke group joining the Whakatane group and, now
totalling about 150, walking together into Rotorua. By the time they
got through town the Hikoi had swelled to 300. It was welcomed on to
Ohinemutu Marae, with a powhiri and later an ecumenical service in the
church attended by about 150. He reports that "The weather has been
kind, the media less so, with an anti-Hikoi column (recycled from the
Waikato Times) in the local paper."
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--
Patrick Dunford, Christ Church, NZ
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/3405/
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HIKOI OF HOPE: WALKING FOR A CHANGE - SEPTEMBER 1998
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/3405/hikoi/
Official site http://www.hikoi.anglican.org.nz/
Brian the Octopus and Crazy Max the Turtle
talk general. (Or is that generic?)
Of course, the Hikoi is old news now, compared with our two Commonwealth
medals and the Clinton business (BARF!)
Actually, to get a hearing from Parliament, they should do like all those
consultants the pollies love so much and stick 'em with a huge fee.
--
Meanwhile Brian the Octopus and Crazy Max the Turtle were nowhere to be
seen, as they were hanging out at http://come.to/cruickro/ and couldn't
give a damn anyway.
(Replace cotsef with xtra to reply)
mew...@my-dejanews.com
> Of course, the Hikoi is old news now, compared with our two Commonwealth
> medals and the Clinton business (BARF!)
> Actually, to get a hearing from Parliament, they should do like all those
> consultants the pollies love so much and stick 'em with a huge fee.
> --
> Meanwhile Brian the Octopus and Crazy Max the Turtle were nowhere to be
> seen, as they were hanging out at http://come.to/cruickro/ and couldn't
> give a damn anyway.
Actually you are quite right! News is not news anymore. Just infotainment!
It's also a good idea not to give a damn. Don't give a damn about other
sectors of N Z society. Let them be picked off one by one. The unemployed and
beneficiaries. The low paid workers who have to have the very occasional food
parcel allowed them by the missions. The people laid off from banks and post
offices and too old at forty. Students burdened with crippling life long
debts. etc etc. But if no one cares about them they won't care when it is
your turn,either. Divide and conquer wins the day.
M E Wood
see
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/3405/hikoi/
M E Wood
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