2020: A Year in Review

Little ink need be spent (or typed) describing the type of year it has been. A pandemic, race relations, Jacinda-mania, lockdowns, Donald Trump, and Zoom calls—these will be some of the legacies, feelings, and images evoked in history as we think about 2020.

Amidst this year, sometimes hindered by it and sometimes benefiting from it, we launched Metanoia: an online blog and platform to discuss issues of contemporary life and Christian faith in Aotearoa New Zealand. We got the joy of sharing creative writing, visual art, election guides, and even an article about Hobson’s Pledge which garnered a comment and email from the real-life Don Brash himself.

It’s been a wonderful journey so far and we wanted to highlight some of our favourite features from the year around the themes that emerged for us as 2020 unfolded here at Metanoia.

Race, Identity, and Faith in Aotearoa

This year’s Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests grew into one of the most global and expansive civil rights movements in modern history. As we joined in solidarity against forces of racism in the United States, here in Aotearoa we took the challenge of BLM to also think about the intersections of race and injustice in our own past, present, and future.

We heard from Eugene Fuimaono in “Hobson’s Pledge, He Iwi Tahi Tātou – We Are Now One People” as he reflected on the dangerous theme of unity and in re-reading story of Babel in Genesis 11. As I mentioned before, the article received a comment and email from former-National Party leader Don Brash, who apparently has a fair bit of spare time on his hands to reply to us!

Stephanie Chan 陈雪莹 reflected on growing-up as a Chinese-New Zealander in her “Reflections from a Recovering Banana” and interview “‘But Your English Is So Good!’ An Interview on Racism in Aotearoa,” both of which spoke powerfully of the devastating effects of whiteness for Asian people and people of colour.

And Andrew Clark-Howard shared a reading list “Things to Read On Race, Christianity, and Aotearoa” as well as a review of Alison Jones’ recent memoir “Alison Jones’ Insightful ‘This Pãkehã Life’” about the dilemmas of being white in Aotearoa and how other Pãkehã might begin to learn the slow and purgative process of decolonisation.

Politics and the 2020 New Zealand Election

Here in Aotearoa, through pandemic an all, we held our national election, which resulted in a landslide victory for Labour. In the (long and delayed) build up towards the voting date, we shared a number of perspectives, opinions, and guides regarding our political system, key political issues, and the two referenda that featured in this election. As well as this, Metanoia (almost) held its first ever event which was initially delayed by a lockdown, and then unfortunately canceled. Nonetheless, as far as 2020 goes, that’s a success in our books. Look out for upcoming Metanoia events seeking to engage in public issues and Christian faith in Aotearoa in 2021 and bring the conversation to you. We’d love to hear any ideas you might have.

David Gerbault, in our most read article of the year, shared his thoughts about of one of the referendum in “Why I’m Voting ‘Yes’ in the Cannabis Referendum.” Metanoia editor Jaimee van Gemerden wrote up her thoughts about the other referendum in “End of Life Choice: A Clash of Irreconcilable Ideologies.” Ironically, both the voting results ended up different from the positions advocated for by these writers.

Law and economics student Etienne Wain argued from a human rights perspective for the the teaching of te reo Mãori in his article, “Should Te Reo Mãori Be Compulsory In Our Schools?” Children’s rights remain an underexplored consideration in this important debate.

Andrew Clark-Howard interviewed Bridget Barnard about “Ethical Consumption, Plastic Free July, and Following Jesus” where she spoke about her whãnau’s journey cutting our plastic from their lives. Bridget shared how this practice of creation care is a key part of their discipleship and also gave some practical tips in going plastic free.

Later on in the year, Jaimee van Gemerden again reflected on her experience in the ethical fashion industry in “My Response to Tearfund’s Ethical Fashion Guide.” Though the guide has had its gaps in the past, this year’s guide took many important steps in the right direction in teaching people about the complexitites of ethical fashion and raising awareness regarding consumer choices and global inequalities.

Art, Music, and Faith: Towards Engagement

Finally, Metanoia hosted a number conversations about art, music, and faith. Though this year looked very different for many creatives, the value of art to inspire, probe, and reflect the human experience remained vital. Part of this engagement was sharing the work of artists themselves. As one example, we shared two pieces of creative writing from Marcus Brooking: the first being “Themes in Yellow,” and the second “Rivulets of Pink.”

In one of our earliest posts, Jaimee van Gemerden reflected on Kanye West’s 2019 album “Jesus is King” in “‘What Have You Been Hearin’ From the Christians?’ Kanye West and Christian Art” looking at the way the evangelical church often shuns engagement with popular culture and those within it.

Stephanie Chan 陈雪莹 explored the desires and drives behind the music of Lorde in “An Itch for the Transcendental: What Lorde’s ‘Perfect Places’ Reveals About Our Postmodern Angst,” showing how Lorde’s music elucidates key ideologies and feelings of contemporary youth culture in Aotearoa.

And finally, Chasing South singer Chris Dies also wrote his fiery “Music is Dead Because We’ve Killed It: Punk Rock, Tattoos, and Jesus in the Alternative Music Scene,” defending his love for punk and hardcore music.

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All up, we’ve got to share and voice some pretty awesome content this year. As is sometimes the case, as 2020 dragged on, Metanoia’s regularity and submissions slowed down. But while we’re glad to see the year out, don’t take this as an indication that we want to stop the conversation and kõrero.

In 2021, we want to see this conversation grow and develop that more of us can learn to think critically and serve wider culture and public life in the places we live. And if inspiration strikes you this summer, please get in touch with us here or at editors.metanoianz@gmail.com. In the meantime, from us at Metanoia we wish you a Merry Christmas and enjoyable New Year. Comment below on some of your favourite pieces from the year. See you all in 2021.

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Metanoia is an online blog and platform which engages in issues of contemporary life and Christian faith in Aotearoa New Zealand. Submissions of written essays or creative pieces are welcome and open to anyone. You can find out more about Metanoia here.