Newsmaker: Destiny Church pastor Rewi Hare

OCCASION: Rewi Hare (second left) performs a haka with other members of Destiny Church at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Martin Luther King jnr's "I have a dream" speech. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 060913XX15

This week's Newsmaker is Rotorua Destiny Church pastor Rewi Hare, who was among a group to perform a haka at the recent 50th anniversary celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr's 'I have a dream' speech in Washington DC.

Tell us about yourself and your family.

I'm of Te Arawa and Tuhoe descent. I'm married to Davina Hare and together we have a 19-year-old son, Aden-Mecano. My interests are people, building God's church, fishing, hunting and horse riding.

Tell us about your role as pastor of Destiny Church Rotorua.

I've been pastoring Destiny Church Rotorua for the last five years, prior to this I was pastoring in Wanganui for three years. My role as a pastor consists of preaching, teaching and helping people reach their full potential in God and discover their purpose in life.

How were you selected to go to last month's 50th anniversary celebrations of Dr King's historic "I have a dream" speech in Washington DC?

I, along with 11 other men, were selected by our bishop (Brian Tamaki) who has a connection with Bernice King, who is the daughter of Dr King.

Bernice King asked the bishop if he could send 12 men to Washington DC to perform the haka at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Martin Luther King jnr's speech. I had the great privilege of being one of those 12 men selected to represent our church and nation.

Why was it important for you to be there?

The event itself was important, history-making really. So to be part of that was significant and I felt privileged to be there, let alone participate.

What was your role in the Dr King celebrations in Washington DC and what did you make of them?

My role in the celebration was one of the haka performers taking our wairua (spirit) and culture to America, which I must say inspired them. To be part of this occasion was mind-blowing. The stage platform where we performed was the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, now that was grandiose. We performed the same day President Obama spoke, that's big.

What else did you do while you were there?

While we were there we got to tour around Washington DC and look at the beautiful monuments and historical buildings. We also performed the haka out the front of the White House, that drew a crowd.

Who did you meet or come into contact with while there?

We met celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Forest Whitaker and several gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar and BeBe Winans.

What was the highlight of your trip?

The highlight for me on this trip was performing the haka at the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial.

What is the biggest thing you will take away from the 50th anniversary celebrations of Dr King's speech?

Make a career of humanity, commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in - Dr Martin Luther King jnr.