Our logo

Some of the healthy harakeke that surround our church whare

The Flagstaff Community Church logo interweaves several important elements which together strongly represent who we are and what we stand for.

There is harakeke (native only to NZ, Tasmania and Norfolk Island and not to be confused with flax) which not only grows profusely on our property but is spread widely across the slopes of the Flagstaff maunga. Then there is the tui which along with other native birds now visits the creek area frequently.

Within our name, the elongated letter “t” is not a typo but rather a reminder of the centrality of the cross which is at the heart of our shared faith. We aspire to be a Christ-centred creative community that is open and welcoming to all.

Below our name, we pose a question: “Hutia te rito o te harakeke, Kei whea, te kāmako e kō?” Or “When the heart is torn from the flax bush where will the bellbird sing?”

This is the first part of the karakia traditionally prayed during the harvesting of harakeke leaves; the remainder being “Kī mai ki ahau, He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao, Māku e kī atu, He tangata, he tangata, he tangata”. Or “You ask me what the greatest thing on Earth is. My reply is it is people people people.”

Māori describe harakeke, which has a fan-like growth pattern, as a whānau or family. At the centre is the rito (baby) leaf, then followed by the tamaiti (child) and āwhi rito (parent) leaves. Traditionally, none of these are taken but only those leaves that are fourth from the centre, thought of as the tupuna (grandparent). By protecting the whakapapa of harakeke through sustainable harvesting this gives it the best opportunity to grow and flourish. The whānau share common roots and derive strength and stability from forming part of a larger whole.

At Flagstaff our hope, our desire is to see the harakeke metaphor come alive on two levels: one being our shared commitment to the renewal of God’s creation, expressed in the creek restoration project and other new initiatives; the other being our sense of call to being a welcoming community where people of all ages, stages and backgrounds can find a place of rest, celebration and abundance in God.