E te Atua o te aroha,
We gather in this space today, grateful for the whenua beneath our feet,
Rich with the stories of tangata whenua, and of all who now call Aotearoa home.
In your mercy, meet us here.
As we open this meeting, we seek not just clarity of mind, but also softness of heart.
We call upon Mercy to be a bridge, a bridge between generations, between cultures, between communities.
Help us to stand in the in-between places with grace, listening more than we speak,
May we be people who lift the mana of others, not lower them in judgment or assumptions.
May our decisions be rooted in justice, our words carried with humility,
and our plans sown with seeds of peace for tomorrow.
In this land of maunga and awa, help us be like the waters, always moving forward,
Reflecting the sky above and the land beneath our feet.
Bless this hui, unite us in Spirit and lead us forward in Mercy.
Āmene