Trailblazer for Maori women

By CLAIRE TREVETT

The lines on the face of the Anglican church's first Maori woman priest are remnants of a life spent battling both within the church she pledged her life to, and in communities rife with social problems.

Stories of her struggles to cement a place for women in the church emerged at celebrations marking the first 25 years of the Rev Puti Murray's priesthood, at the Maori Anglican Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday.

Ms Murray was ordained on June 11, 1978, at Potahi Marae in the small village of Te Kao in the Far North.

The event came after the Te Kao kaumatua agreed to a petition Canon Hone Kaa took to them to allow women into the priesthood.

Ms Murray was the second Maori woman to be ordained, following Rev Diana Tana in the Methodist Church three years earlier.

Her ordination came one year after Pakeha women were allowed to become Anglican priests.

At the commemoration, Canon Kaa said Ms Murray had been a crucial force for women in the church. He recalled visiting marae where Ms Murray could not take the prayers, because of bans on women praying on marae.

"Puti opened all sorts of doors, and look at the number of Maori women in the priesthood now," he said. "All we need now is for a woman to be made Bishop."

John Paterson, Bishop of Auckland and head of the Anglican Church in NZ and Polynesia, recalled Ms Murray's ordination.

"Shortly after that, when I was working at Queen Victoria school I was able to say to those I was working with, 'Look at this example. Maori women can do anything'."

As well as those who had shared her journey, there were those who followed.

At the service, Dr Jenny Te Paa said Ms Murray should be thanked for trailblazing the way for women within the Church and for her unique way of ministering to the people in her care.

"The big difference to make between the ministry of Puti and other priests is that while many simply talk about their faith, Aunty lives her faith in many communities - Maori, Pacific Island and Pakeha."

Many priests sought out Ms Murray for advice on ministering, she said. "Aunty would respond with a clear reminder that her responsibilities as a priest are no different because she is a woman. She is also clear her responsibilities are no different because she is a Maori."

She also spoke of Ms Murray's determination to tackle social agencies, the church and society to help the poor.

Ms Murray had been unafraid to tackle Maori tradition where it perpetuated social ills or the subordination of women.

The Puti Maori Scholar scholarship for Maori women is to be established at St John's theological college in her honour.

Former archbishop Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves, members of the Maori Women's Welfare League, and others whose lives Ms Murray has touched attended the service.

Ms Murray now lives in Te Kao, where she continues to minister.

She has also been active in Te Aupouri's Waitangi Treaty settlement negotiations.