Who would have thought that so much effort would go into planning our water—something that is in never-ending supply? However, we can understand from the public forums that supply is not the issue; delivery is.
I commend the group of Waikato Regional Leaders who continue to gather to enjoy robust discussion through vibrant, political nuance, all the while seeking the good of their represented communities. It’s a healthy sign to see collaborative efforts of local Mayors so close to a public election season. Elected leaders should be judged by what they achieve rather than by slick slogans plastered across front lawns or farm fences.
Waikato Water Done Well appears, from all accounts, to be a strong idea that would see partnership for the future at the forefront of solution design. This bodes well for the generations to come that will wash, play, and flush in the flow of what we hope is accomplished today.
In the Biblical narrative we often read of collaborative partnership between tribes. Numerous instances record historical battles as God’s people unified against their enemies, finding solidarity, strength and success.
Our local landscape shows significant scars from the tremors created by the land wars of the nineteenth century. The growing unity of Māori tribes under the Kingitanga movement demonstrated commitment to the honour of ancestors, past, present and future. By coming together, the tribes stood side by side to defend their whānau, crops and mana.
Doing things together is a means of doing things well; to misquote Aristotle, “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
To accurately quote Aristotle we must say, “the whole is something besides the parts.” In speaking of unified matter, the great philosopher and theologian reminds us that totality of parts is “not a mere heap,” rather something besides that. He is saying that the whole is unique in and through its unified state.
Take your physical body, for instance, made up of individual parts. We do not call you ‘body parts’ but instead a ‘person.’ Only when the body parts are joined as one can we see a personality and destiny uniquely formed.
God’s plan for humanity is exemplified in unity. Scripture states that God’s blessing flows in unity. When we are together, we are stronger. Do not miss, though, the importance of being together under God. We must not stand unified and yet remain estranged from Him.
Jesus, Himself a great philosopher and theologian, invited us to drink of the ‘Living Water’ as a means of finding abundant life with Him. Being one with Jesus will unquestionably lead you to become someone besides the collation of your history.
I applaud leaders who pursue unity for greater good, seeing the whole as something greater than collation—rather, uniquely crafted for the flow of future favour for families. Waikato Water Done Well has the potential to pave a pathway for future communities to become something besides the sum of their parts. Perhaps that’s a nation that is united for the good of all? Perhaps that’s what the partnership of Te Tiriti o Waitangi intended also?