Haere Mai began with a phone call from Phil Greenwood, vicar of St Barnabas in Stoke, who rang me early last year with a dream. He’d been walking along a beach in Golden Bay when God stirred something in him: what would it look like for the whole diocese to engage in a season of evangelism? Not just one parish, not just one event, but a shared, intentional effort across the diocese.

The vision was launched at Synod 2024 and shaped around the Easter season in 2025. Through diocesan funding and shared branding, parishes across the diocese began planning to host events, courses, and community outreach under the banner of "Haere Mai: Jesus matters – come and see”. 

Every parish found their own way to bring Haere Mai to life. From sausage sizzles to Alpha courses, Matariki candlelit services to beach BBQs, the creativity and diversity of expression was one of the standout features. 

St Barnabas in Stoke ran both Alpha and Discovery courses. 

Phil Greenwood said, “We saw people getting faith. It reminded us why we do this work.” 

Wakefield Parish connected with a couple from the local football club who had drifted from faith. Michael Johnston reflected, “They’d had contact with Christianity before, but this was the first time they’d properly explored it as adults.” 

St Christopher’s in Blenheim South saw exciting growth in their international communities, with five small groups including Chinese and Filipino participants engaging in Christianity Explored.

Victory Church had planned a big public event in Victory Square, but rain changed everything. Amanda Poil and her team quickly shifted and hosted a family-friendly movie event instead, and 70 people showed up.

“It showed there’s actually a need for this kind of thing,” Amanda said. 

St Stephens in Tāhunanui embraced the season with beach BBQs, Easter services, and a range of follow-up gatherings. One church member shared, “The person I’d been praying for actually came to church.” 

St John’s in Hira, a small rural church, drew over 60 people to their events, including a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and a pet blessing. Rev Gordon Taylor described the season as “planting seeds of trust and connection”.

Holy Trinity in Richmond used the season to run evangelism training and Hope Explored, helping people gain confidence to share their faith in everyday life. Nativity Church in Blenheim ran Hope Explored and distributed Try Praying booklets. Glen Ashworth summed it up simply:

“It made us do something, rather than just talk about it.” 

Holy Trinity in Greymouth created a beautiful Matariki Remembrance Service, blending te ao Māori, grief support, and gospel hope. Rev Emily Holmes said, “It was a sacred space that spoke to our whole community.”

Across the parishes over 500 people were directly engaged, many of them for the first time. Some were returning to church after years away. But Haere Mai wasn’t just about numbers. It was about culture. It reminded us that mission is not the job of a select few, it’s the calling of the whole Church. From ordained ministers to tamariki in Sunday school, it was a season where everyone had a role to play.

In my twelve years in the diocese, I can’t recall a diocesan-wide mission initiative on this scale. 

Haere Mai wasn’t perfect, but it was powerful. It gave us a shared purpose, a reason to act, and a framework to support each other in mission. We often say we want to see our churches vibrant and flourishing. Haere Mai reminded us that we flourish together. When a small church in Hira has a win, a church in Blenheim celebrates. When someone finds faith in Wakefield, it’s a joy for the whole body. This is what it means to be the Church.

To everyone who prayed, served, gave, hosted, invited, cooked sausages, ran a course, or simply stepped out in faith – thank you. You were part of something bigger. 

Let’s keep saying it: haere mai. 

Jesus matters. 

Come and see.