In this conversation, Joey sits down with Treaty of Waitangi expert and scholar, Dr. Sam Carpenter. They talk about the Treaty of Waitangi history and how early missionaries were pivotal in its construction, translation, and acceptance. They also discuss how the current discourse around the Treaty needs a biblical worldview to be interpreted correctly.

Sam teaches into Laidlaw’s Church History courses with a specialist focus on New Zealand religious and political history. He leads Te Rongopai ki Aotearoa Project at Laidlaw that is exploring the multidimensional relationships of Christianity and Māori society. Sam’s research focusses on the intersections of Christianity and Māori society, and on New Zealand political and religious history more generally.

CHECK OUT Sam's personal website for current scholarly-informed opinions on the Treaty of Waitangi and more https://nzhistorian.com/

00:00 Intro
01:38 Sam' work with the Waitangi Tribunal
06:43 What was the Maori spiritual landscape like before Christianity?
12:13 How did Christianity arrive in Aotearoa (New Zealand)?
16:32 How did Christianity grow in Aotearoa (New Zealand)?
19:18 Why did Maori overwhelmingly accept Christianity?
26:33 Maori became early evangelists and missionaries to other Maori
30:23 Why was the Treaty of Waitangi was written?
36:21 How was the Treaty of Waitangi written and translated?
39:43 What the Treaty actually says
43:08 Why did every chief sign the Treaty?
48:13 Why did Maori eventually reject Christianity?
54:58 Bible in one hand Treaty in the other
1:03:06 1934 Declaration of New Zealand Independence
1:07:33 Is the Treaty misinterpreted in 2025?

Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.

In this episode, Graeme and Joey interview Dr. Maja Whitaker about Pentecostalism—the good, great, and not so great. We look at what make Pentecostal churches tick, like their unique take on mission, their need to be culturally relevant, and their obsession with pragmatism and why they have a PR problem.

Dr. Maja Whitaker is the Academic Dean at Laidlaw College; she oversees all programme development and delivery and contributes to the development and outworking of College strategy, with a focus on integrated programmes and a strong partner ecosystem. Maja is a lecturer in the School of Theology, and has served as Practical Theology Lead and with the School of Theology Leadership team. She teaches into courses on spiritual formation, reflective practice, leadership, and pastoral ministry.

00:00 Intro
01:28 What is Pentecostalism/Charismatic?
08:40 Experiencing God
11:50 Always looking to where the Spirit's at work — sacramentalism
16:07 Why does Pentecostalism have a PR problem?
21:38 How Maja dealt with the tension moments
26:00 Pentecostal churches in NZ are different
32:33 Maja's shifting relationship with God
36:20 Maja's ideal Sunday morning
41:55 What Graeme would add to church
45:25 Why Pentecostal churches are growing
47:40 Joey's theory about the Pentecostal movement
51:38 Maja's no longer Pentecostal

The music is by Josiah David Swim. You can find him on Spotify.

Lunch on The Way is a podcast that deeply discusses Christianity, Church, Culture, and Jesus.
Available on ALL podcast platforms https://lunchontheway.buzzsprout.com/share

Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.

In this episode, Graeme and Joey sit down with Rev. Dr. Sarah Penwarden to discuss why our experience matters for theology and understanding God, why emotions matters, how to integrate experience and faith, how stories help us creating meaning, and why people receive counselling.

Sarah Penwarden (Pākehā) has a doctorate in counselling, is a practicing counsellor, supervisor, and an Anglican priest. She teaches in the School of Theology (Laidlaw College) on a part-time basis. Her academic interests connect to practical theology and counselling, and how the realities of ordinary life can be held in tandem with the hope of the Gospel. She teaches papers about research methods and mental health.

Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.