As Easter approaches Anglican Canon Reverend Christopher Huriwai has been doing his best to make people smile throughout lockdown by sharing videos on TikTok of him burning it up on the dance–floor.
Huriwai says when he and another reverend started posting the videos they thought only their mates would watch and make fun of them.
“I think if there’s one thing Anglicans are known for, for being quite serious, stiff-upper-lipped type people. So we’ve been streaming karakia online throughout the lockdown and we thought sometimes the best rongoā for the soul is just a good laugh, is joy, and why not have that laugh at the expense of uncoordinated ministers like myself and brothers.”
Huriwai, of Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Te Rangi, Raukawa, Rongowhakaata and Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, says laughter and joy is "probably the only antidote" at a time like this.
“It’s easy to be pulled into the worry and the stress of this time if you give that time and space. So we need to be really intentional about giving our time and our space to things that make us laugh, to things that bring us joy. In that way it makes this lockdown seem shorter.”
Huriwai says he will continue to share Tiktok videos and bring happiness to people as the lockdown continues.