New Zealand Mourns Loss of Maori Leader
The Salvation Army in New Zealand is deeply saddened by the promotion to Glory from active service Aux-Captain Hohepa (Joe) Patea.
Joe was co-leader of Salvation Army Maori work with wife Aux-Captain Teao Kauirangi (Nan) Patea. He passed away on 4 April from from Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington.
Joe was born on 22 February 1949. He met The Salvation Army when he took part in a Salvation Army stage production called ‘The Homecoming’ at Wellington City Corps in 2002 that toured internationally. Although Joe was from a Catholic background and wife Nan from an Anglican one, neither one was a practicing Christian. But the seeds of commitment were being sown in their lives.
The couple became adherents and then took the step of becoming senior soldiers. Joe said, ‘We wanted to be uniformed soldiers, but more than that, we were called to be soldiers. We wanted to be immersed in The Salvation Army.’
Joe was appointed co-leader with Nan of Salvation Army Maori Ministries on 22 June 2006, serving part-time and then full-time. He led numerous powhiri (formal welcome ceremonies) at major Salvation Army events, always with great dignity and humour. Joe and Nan were commissioned as auxiliary captains on 15 February 2007.
Joe played a pivotal role in strengthening The Salvation Army’s Maori work, assisting Salvation Army corps (churches), social service centres and Salvationists across New Zealand. His fluency in te reo Maori and understanding of Maori tikanga were critical factors in helping The Salvation Army better serve within the bicultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Joe was the respected kaumatua at The Salvation Army Booth College of Mission in Upper Hutt, where he made a considerable contribution in building future Salvation Army leaders. He enjoyed sharing his faith with inmates at Rimutaka Prison’s Maori Focus Unit and Wellington Prison.
Together, Joe and Nan became a taonga to The Salvation Army, giving themselves as cultural resources to Salvation Army leadership and the wider Army, but Joe said he simply saw himself as a ‘pononga o te Atua’ (servant of the Lord).
Confronting ill health in recent times, Joe’s faith in God remained strong and his strength came from the knowledge that God was with him. He did not let his health concerns hold him back from his calling and ministry. Joe said his calling could be found in John 15:16, ‘You did not choose me, [says Jesus], but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.’
A celebration of Joe’s life was held on Tuesday 5 April at Orongomai Marae, Upper Hutt. Joe’s tangi was at Kaiwhaiki Marae (Joe's Marae), Whanganui on Saturday 9 April.
‘Kua whawhaitia e ahau te whawhai pai, kua omakia toku omanga, kua rite i ahau te whakapono’ … ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’
(2 Timothy 4:7). Well done, good and faithful servant of Jesus!