I whakatūria a Presbyterian Support Northern e Duncan Macpherson i Aotearoa nei te tau 1884. I whānau mai i Kōtirana (he whiri-taura tana mahi) he tangata whakapono ki te oranga o te tangata, I kitea e ia ngā tāngata e taumahatia ana me tōna aro nui ki a rātou. Ko Macpherson te Mihana tuatahi a te hāhi Perehipitīriana ki roto o Tāmaki Makaurau.
I te tau 1884, ko Kuini Wikitoria te Ariki nui o Piritananui, ā, puta noa i ngā whenua tōpunui o te ao, ā, ko Kīngi Tāwhiao te Kīngi Māori hoki o taua wā. I whiti atu a Kīngi Tāwhiao ki Ingarangi i te tau 1884 kia tono atu ki a Kuini Wikitoria kia whakaū ki ngā oati a Te Tiriti o Waitangi i tana āwangawanga nui mō ana uri, ā haere ake nei. Ka titiro whakamuri tātou hei Whakanui i te rirohanga o Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, me te titiro whakamua kia whakahōnoretia a Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō i tana koroneihana.
Ko tētahi o ngā uarā a PSN ko te Tangata Whenua me tā mātou whakahōnore nui i tēnei whanaungatanga. E ūpono ana mātou ki te whakapakari te oranga o te Māori, ā, e whai hua ai a Aoetearoa whānui. Ko tētahi atu o ngā uarā a PSN ko te mahi tahitanga me tā mātou whakamihi i ngā roopu Māori e āwhina ana i ngā whānau hei whakawhanake i a Aotearoa.
E noho tahi ana mātou me ngā iwi 56 o te rohe o Presbyterian Support Northern. E mōhio ana mātou ki ngā taumahatanga e pā ana ki ngā iwi ia rā. Ka whakanuia e PSN te 140 tau e mahi ana i tēnei tau 2024, ā, e kore hoki mātou e karo i ngā taumahatanga e pā ana ki te tāngata me tā mātou tauawhi i a rātou. Kua eke ki te wā kia kōrerotia me pēhea hoki tā mātou whakautu i ngā manaakitanga kua ūhia ki runga i a mātou tae noa ki tēnei wā.
E tūkaha ana mātou ki tā mātou whakakitenga a Duncan Macpherson kia piki te ora o te tāngata – Ko te whāinga kia pai te oranga mō te katoa | the hope for a better life for everyone.
Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN) was established in Aotearoa in 1884 by Duncan Macpherson. Scots-born (and a rope-maker by trade) he had strong humanitarian beliefs, saw people struggling and was determined to do something about it. Macpherson was the first Presbyterian City Missioner in Tāmaki Makaurau.
In 1884, Queen Victoria was the reigning British and Commonwealth monarch and Kīngi, Tāwhiao was the Māori King. Kīngi Tāwhiao travelled to England in 1884 to petition Queen Victoria to renew the promises made in Te Tiriti O Waitangi as he was deeply concerned for the future of his people. As we look back we acknowledge the recent passing of Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, and looking forward we acknowledge and congratulate Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō on her koroneihana (coronation).
One of PSN’s values is Tangata Whenua and we honour this as a critical relationship. We believe that when we improve things for Māori everyone in Aotearoa benefits. Another of PSN’s values is Partnership and we acknowledge the positive mahi of Māori organisations to help their whānau realise their potential and contribute fully to Aotearoa.
We reside alongside 56 Iwi in the rohe of Presbyterian Support Northern. We recognise many Iwi are impacted by the challenges of today. PSN celebrates 140 years of service in 2024 and, we will not shy away from the challenges facing so many people and how we support them. It’s time to have a kōrero about how we can reciprocate the support we have received during this time.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to the humanitarian vision that drove Duncan Macpherson – the hope of a better life for everyone | kia pai oranga mō te katoa.
Pam Elgar
Interim CEO | Kaiwhakahaere Mātua