He Tatau Pounamu – Treaty of Waitangi: A Covenant of Reconciliation and Hope.
In collaboration with Whakatū Presbyterian: an evening seminar with theologian, historian, and author Dr Alistair Reese exploring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through the lenses of theology, history, reconciliation, and Christian discipleship in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Date: Sunday 23 August
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Venue: Whakatū Presbyterian Church, 34 Champion Road, Richmond
Cost: Free
At a time when the Treaty of Waitangi is increasingly debated and questioned within public life, this seminar invites us to engage deeply with the spiritual, historical, and relational foundations of Te Tiriti. Drawing from his newly released book He Tatau Pounamu, Dr Reese explores how the Treaty can be understood not simply as a political document, but as a covenantal relationship and a pathway toward reconciliation and hope.
The evening will be divided into three main sessions:
Dr Alistair Reese lives with his wife Jeannie on a farm in Paengaroa in the Bay of Plenty. He holds postgraduate degrees in Theology, History, and Tikanga Māori, and completed his PhD in Theology at the University of Auckland focusing on reconciliation and Pākehā identity.
Alistair is an adjunct Fellow at the University of Otago and is widely known for his work in post-colonial theology, reconciliation, prophetism, and indigenous expressions of Christianity in Aotearoa. He is actively involved in both local and national efforts to promote reconciliation between Māori and Pākehā.
In He Tatau Pounamu, Dr Reese describes Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a “covenant pathway of reconciliation”. The book explores the historical and spiritual significance of the Treaty, the role of the Church in its formation and interpretation, and the challenge of honouring Te Tiriti in contemporary Aotearoa.
Produced as a special bilingual edition, the book includes forewords by Tom Roa and David Moxon.
This seminar will be especially valuable for church leaders, ministry teams, educators, students, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Te Tiriti, bicultural partnership, and reconciliation within the Christian story of Aotearoa New Zealand.
