SPCA 2008 Hui Announcement

[manucaddie]

SPCA Conference Komiti announce the date of the 2008 gathering...

We will congregate from 11-13 July at Ōnuku Marae, Akaroa - an hour or so through the Horomaka (Banks Peninsula) from Otautahi/Christchurch.

Ōnuku Marae is home to the hapū of Ngāi Tarewa and Ngāti Irakēhu. Irakēhu was the mother of many of the hapū and pā in the Horomaka area.

Transport will be provided from Otautahi - but hitchhikers and car poolers can organise rides through this website or by contacting one of the organisers.

The theme of the event will focus on women as leaders in the peace-making process.

Watch this space... more details to come!

[JoC]

Kia ora koutou

On behalf of the Komiti Whakahaere (organising committee) for the 2008 SPCA Hui/Conference, I encourage everyone to begin planning to be at this year's Hui.

When my husband Graham and friend Manu organised the first SPCA conference in Tauranga, July 2006, the conversations began between a group of committed and diverse people about what it means to authentically live out our faiths within our own communities and countries of the South Pacific.

With the joining of many more voices, stories and experiences at last year's gathering in Queensland, inspiration and momentum was increased for each of us to pursue peace and justice and community building in our own contexts.

Over the past year there have been several assaults on the right to voice dissent against the injustice, oppression, violence, war and poverty within our societies, as well as many encouraging moments and even miraculous victories.

This year we in Aotearoa invite you to come down to Te Wai Pounamu (the sparkling waters of the precious greenstone) AKA The South Island of New Zealand and spend 3 days with us in retreat, discussion, debate, creativity and story-telling and conversations alongside others who are equally interested in the journeys of justice, peace and faith.

The overarching kaupapa/theme for the 2008 SPCA Hui is examining how women lead in peace-making, justice-making, community-building and family. We hope to have several women speakers at the Hui, and to offer some discussion threads/workshops that examine issues that women are grappling with in anarchic community life.

The whole conference will be a space where all genders, experiences and contributions are valuable and worthwhile. So if you are not (currently, or ever likely to be) of the female gender, please do come along!

Email me with your ideas and questions, as we are putting together the Hui over the next couple of months: cameronwhanau@paradise.net.nz

Ma te Atua e koutou te manaaki
Na,
Jo Cameron
(Tauranga, Aotearoa NZ)