Māori Marsden (10 August 1924 – 18 June 1993) was an author, an
ordained
Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...
Anglican
Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
minister and expert ''(
tohunga
In the culture of the Māori people, Māori of New Zealand, a tohunga (tōhuka in Southern Māori dialect) is an expert practitioner of any skill or art, either religious or otherwise. Tohunga include expert priests, healers, navigators, carvers, ...
)'' on
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
philosophy.
Biography
Marsden was born in
Awanui
Awanui is an historical river port in the far north of New Zealand, on the banks of the Awanui River just before it flows into Rangaunu Bay. Awanui lies at the south end of the Aupouri Peninsula in the Far North District Council of the Northlan ...
, in the far north of New Zealand 10 August 1924. His parents were Hoani Matenga-Paerata and Hana (nee-Toi) Matenga-Paerata. Māori Marsden is affiliated with the Te Aupouri
iwi
Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English.
...
, and also
Ngāi Takoto
Ngāi Takoto is a Māori iwi from Northland, New Zealand. The iwi is one of the six Muriwhenua iwi of the far north of the North Island. Ngāi Takoto trace their whakapapa (ancestry) back to Tuwhakatere, and trace their arrival in New Zealand to ...
, Ahipara, and Ngāti Wharara of
Ngāpuhi
Ngāpuhi (also known as Ngāpuhi-Nui-Tonu or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland regions of New Zealand centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei.
According to the 2023 New Zealand census, the estimate ...
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...
and studied a
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
. He was also educated in the traditional
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
centre of learning 'Te Whare Wananga o Ngāpuhi. He was the chair-person of the Auckland University Māori Club while he was studying there.
Marsden's father was a member of the clergy Reverend Hoani Matenga, and Marsden attended New Zealand Bible Training Institute (now
Laidlaw College
Laidlaw College (previously known as the Bible College of New Zealand) is an evangelical Christian theological college based in Auckland, in New Zealand. The college operates two campuses in Auckland (Henderson and Manukau) and one in Christchu ...
). Marsden also graduated from St. John’s College, Auckland in 1957 with a Licentiate in Theology (2nd Class Honours). The same year at age 33 he became an Anglican minister.
He was priested in 1958 at St Peter's Waikato by the Ven. John Holland; was the assistant curate of Frankton (1957-59); was the assistant curate of Tokoroa (1959-60); priest in charge of the Taranaki Maori Pastorate (1960-63); Māori Chaplain to the NZ Armed Forces (1963-71); assistant priest of Devonport (1971-74); officiating minister to the Auckland Dioceses (1974-76); assistant priest of Devonport (1976-84); pastor of Northern Wairoa (1984-85); Auckland Māori Missioner (1985-87).
Marsden was in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN; ) is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. The fleet currently consists of eight ships. The Navy had its origins in the Naval Defence Act 1913, and the subsequent acquisition of the cruiser , whi ...
chaplain for twelve years. He was the first Māori chaplain of the Navy. Researcher Robyn Tauroa says whilst Marsden was at the Navy he 'provided ''
karakia
Karakia are Māori incantations and prayer used to invoke spiritual guidance and protection. As a writer Marsden wrote about 'matters facing the contemporary Māori quest for social justice and the achievement of authentic being.' Marsden also composed waiata, and was a guest speakers at many events.
Publications
*''Te Ao Hurihuri'' (1975)
*''Māori Illness and Healing'' (1986)
*''Resource Management Law Reform'' (1989)
*''Kaitiakitanga: A Definitive Introduction to the Holistic World View of the Māori'' (1992) co-authored with T. A. Henare
*''The Woven Universe: Selected Writings of Rev. Maori Marsden'' (2003) edited by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, produced by the
Royal Society Te Apārangi
The Royal Society Te Apārangi (in full, Royal Society of New Zealand) is a not-for-profit body in New Zealand providing funding and policy advice in the fields of sciences and the humanities. These fundings (i.e., Marsden grants and research fe ...
and
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) is New Zealand's Māori Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE). It was established in 2002 and is hosted by the University of Auckland with 21 research partners and is funded, like other CoRE's, by the Tertiary E ...
Death
On 18 June 1993 Marsden died at his residence (the old hospital) in
Te Kōpuru
Te Kōpuru is the largest community on the Pouto Peninsula in Northland Region, Northland, New Zealand. The Wairoa River (Northland), Wairoa River separates the peninsula at this point from the main North Auckland Peninsula to the east. Dargavil ...
.
References
External links He Rerenga Kōrero 1985 speech by Rev Māori Marsden before the
Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal (Māori: ''Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi'') is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975. It is charged with investigating and making recommendations on c ...