Theology Programme statement on mātauranga Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi
Kotahi te kohao o te ngira e kuhuna ai
te miro ma, te miro pango, te miro whero
kia mau ki te aroha, ki te ture me te whakapono
hei aha te ahaThrough the eye of the needle pass
the white thread, the black thread, and the red thread
hold fast to charity, to the law, to the faith
Forsake all else1
The Theology Programme acknowledges that in doing Christian theology in Aotearoa New Zealand we must engage with mātauranga Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi.
Theology is informed by remembrance of the past; it seeks justice and reconciliation wherever these are lacking; and it is profoundly enriched as tangata whenua and tauiwi each bring wisdom and insight from their own baskets of knowledge to the shared task of reading Scripture together and seeking to attend to what God is doing in our world.
We are building our capacity in this area, through the appointment of our Lecturer in Māori Theology (Māmari Stephens), through the development of specific papers on aspects of Māori theology, and through each lecturer's commitment to strengthen the Māori content and tikanga of our courses. It's a start.
Background to the above tongikura2
- This proverb is attributed to Kiingi Pootatau Te Wherowhero, the first Māori King who said these words at his Coronation in 1858. This tongikura has been used with the permission of the Office of the Kiingitanga.
- A tongikura is a statement attributed to one of the Māori monarchs.
Teaching Theology
Our courses are taught by committed staff who are accomplished teachers and scholars.
In teaching Theology we assume no particular denominational or theological perspective.
Engaging in the discipline of Theology involves a detailed exploration of the ways in which questions about God, about Jesus, about humanity and about our world have been addressed by people of faith.
How you can study Theology
We offer a specialised degree in Theology: the Bachelor of Theology, which is designed to give you both breadth and depth within the discipline.
Biblical Studies and Christian Thought and History can be taken as major subjects in the Bachelor of Arts degree. Theology papers can be included in other study programmes.
There is no end to the value gained from a few papers or a whole degree in Theology.
We teach our papers on campus and by distance, in both semesters, and sometimes in Summer School.
Visit 'Our people' for details about our teaching and research expertise
Find out about our papers and qualifications
Find out about our distance learning programme
Donate to one of our initiatives
The Theology Programme at the University of Otago offers a distinctive model of theological education in Aotearoa New Zealand—combining academic rigour, historical depth, and spiritual vitality. Strongly connected to churches across denominations and supported by a far-reaching distance programme, we serve students locally and globally. Our work is enriched by interdisciplinary collaboration across the University and sustained by international academic networks that integrate scholarship, faith, and practice in response to contemporary challenges.
We are committed to teaching that is responsive, relevant, and forward-looking. With the generous support of our donors, we have a proven record of bringing new initiatives to life. Our Chaplaincy programme is a notable example: established in 2016 through early support from the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland and the Longview Trust, it now delivers unique postgraduate qualifications in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its graduates serve widely—in education, healthcare, sport, the film industry, and beyond—and its success has recently been affirmed by a grant of one million dollars from the Douglas Goodfellow Trust.
We are now seeking support for further key projects, including a Lectureship in Catholic Theology, a Centre for Creation Care, the Jack Somerville Lectureship in Pastoral Theology, and flagship events such as the annual McKinlay–Matheson Memorial Lecture. Each of these initiatives strengthens our capacity to serve both Church and society.
We warmly invite you to be part of this work. Support can come in so many different forms—donation, bequests or gifting in kind. Please contact us to learn more, or use the links below to support these initiatives.
Thank you for your support.
Professor Murray Rae
Head of the Theology Programme