10 June 1886
Tarawera (eruption)
25 April 1915
Gallipoli (war)
2 February 1931
Napier (earthquake)
24 December 1953
Tangiwai (lahar)
10 April 1968
Wahine (cyclone)
28 November 1979
Erebus (plane crash)
19 November 2010
Pike River (mine explosion)
Every decade or two New Zealand is hit with a deep sadness that adds to our self-understanding as a people. Our story can be retold in a minor key – and another sad stanza has just been added. There are more – but this is more than enough just for now…
Paul
About Me

the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
Wahine! oh Tangiwai!
the skies that fall
the seas assault
the children cry
did you hear there’s been a fire down the mine?
Wahine e! oh Tangiwai!
we’ll land with our battalions at gallipoli
we’ll fly above the mountains in the storm
as the fire erupts on every side
we hold onto each other tight
for we will be the first to see the dawn
so here's to tragedies!
long live the casualties!
as we dry our eyes
and write our lives
in minor keys
tighten the tourniquets
oh god is it over yet
here’s to the ones we lost before
before our watching eyes
and here's to the beautiful
bruised and broken
left behind
over the mountains, seas
and weary trees they came
but Mahuika still had one more flame
can you hear the sound of old Mawhera cryin’?
oh rock of ages cleft for twenty-nine
may they ride with our battalions from gallipoli
may they fly above the mountains and the storm
high above this land that quakes
and trembles with each heart that breaks
for we will be the first to carry on
so here's to tragedies!
long live the casualties!
as we dry our eyes
and write our lives
in minor keys
tighten the tourniquets
oh god is it over yet?
here’s to the ones we lost before
before our watching eyes
and here’s to the beautiful
bruised and broken
left behind
did you here there’s been a fire down the mine?
oh rock of ages cleft for twenty-nine