Te Wairua o Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Our Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy
Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga, in acknowledgement of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the spiritual and founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand, commits to embodying the intent of Te Tiriti to create an inclusive and flourishing society. By honouring the wairua of Te Tiriti, our purpose is to achieve whānau wellbeing, transformation, and equitable outcomes for Māori, and for all.
We affirm that a kaupapa Māori approach in all areas of our work is integral to our journey at Visionwest, informing our values, practices and strategic priorities. Our waka for this journey is double-hulled, providing greater stability and propelling us to our destination of aroha and healing through partnership.
Waka Whakakitenga – A Journey of Partnership and Purpose
At the heart of Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga is a deep commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, not just as a historical agreement but as a living, sacred covenant – he kawenata tapu – between Māori and the Crown. We honour te wairua o Te Tiriti, the spiritual essence that calls us to a shared future of partnership, participation, and protection, where whānau can thrive, transformation is real, and equitable outcomes are not just aspirations but realities.
The Waka Hulls:
Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Visionwest
The journey began long before the establishment of kaupapa Māori services at Visionwest. Guided by the wisdom of highly respected Māori leaders and cultural experts, our Board and CEO undertook a series of Tiriti wānanga, laying the foundation for a place where Māori could belong and flourish.
These early commitments shaped what would become the Whānau Centre, the inclusion of Māori executive leadership, kaupapa Māori services, and the deeper integration of te ao Māori across Visionwest, alongside a strengthened Māori workforce. Today, this journey has led us to Te Tauihu o te Waka Whakakitenga, a new expression of shared leadership where the spirit and intent of Te Tiriti guide every step forward. Visionwest’s whakapapa is woven into this journey, which stems from Glen Eden Baptist Church’s deep desire to serve its community.
From the humble beginnings of the Friendship Centre Trust operating out of the Glen Eden train station, the Trust, now known as Visionwest has grown into a movement of hope – tūmanako – dedicated to seeing lives transformed.
The commitment to addressing homelessness, reducing poverty, supporting kaumātua/kuia, and uplifting rangatahi remains central to our mission.
The Papa Noho (Deck):
A Foundation of Faith and Commitment
Connecting these two hulls is the papa noho, representing te ao wairua – the spiritual and sacred foundation of our shared kaupapa. It is here that we embrace the desire to live out our wairua, expressed through our values of aroha, compassion, and kindness.
We uphold manaakitanga by caring for each other; we embrace whanaungatanga by strengthening our relationships, and we honour the mana of every person we serve by acknowledging their sacred presence in our midst. This foundation also reflects the role of Church and Trust, acknowledging the origins and ongoing relationship for Visionwest with Glen Eden Baptist Church.
From the beginning, faith has shaped our mission and continues to guide us as we navigate the journey ahead. Our connection to Te Tiriti is deeply rooted in this foundation, recognising the biblical principles that influenced the covenantal spirit of Te Tiriti, and calling us to be faith-led, in all we do.
Takarangi – Te Ao Wairua and Te Ao Marama
- “Taka” represents the continuous cycles – of seasons, generations, and relationships – that shape our individual and collective journeys.
- “Rangi” connects us to the spiritual dimension that guides and gives meaning to our actions.
Appendices: Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy and He Pou Whakakitenga.
Walking in the Wairua of Te Tiriti
Like the Takarangi carved into the tauihu of a waka, our journey with the Tiriti o Waitangi is one of sacredness and balance, honouring both Te Ao Wairua (our faith heritage) and Te Ao Marama (our vision of transformed lives and healthy communities).
At Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga, we embrace this covenant as a living kawenata (covenant), walked in aroha, partnership, and the enduring wairua of our relationship that binds us together. We recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi not only as Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document but as a breathing promise – one that calls us to mutual respect, justice, and shared destiny. Grounded in our Tiriti o Waitangi policy, we embed kaupapa Māori approach into our values, actions, and vision-ensuring that work reflects the deep kawenata (covenant) between Tangata Whenua (people of the land), Tangata Moana (people of the sea), and Tangata Tiriti.
As we navigate the currents of time with all its unique history, challenges and achievements, we invite others across Aotearoa New Zealand to join us on this voyage-to embrace the wairua of the Tiriti in their own ways.
Together, we move with the resilient strength of the waka, the clarity of faith-led purpose, and an unwavering resolve to see lives transformed and healthy communities become a reality for all.