The Honest Disciple in New Zealand - Day 4
In a picturesque valley of New Zealand, nestled between the rolling hills of the South Island, there lived a farmer named Hemi. Hemi was a humble man, known throughout his village for his hard work and deep faith in the teachings of the local Māori elders. Each time a renowned elder, Te Rongo, passed by his farm, Hemi would bow respectfully and greet him. He admired Te Rongo’s wisdom, and like any good disciple, Hemi believed in following his guidance without question.
One sunny afternoon, as Te Rongo walked along the edge of Hemi’s farm, he saw the farmer kneeling by his crops. The golden fields of wheat, flax, and vegetables stretched across the land, but one particular crop stood out—Hemi had been growing kumara (sweet potatoes), a staple of the Māori diet.
Te Rongo, noticing that the kumara plants were still small, only just beginning to sprout, stopped to speak with Hemi. “Why do you always bow before me when I pass, Hemi?” Te Rongo asked kindly, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. “Do you truly listen to my guidance, even when it seems difficult?”
Without hesitation, Hemi replied, “Yes, Te Rongo. I will always follow your words, no matter what they are.”
Te Rongo smiled and glanced over the field of young kumara. “Cut them now,” he instructed, pointing at the small plants. “If you wait, they will be ruined when the storms arrive.”
Hemi was taken aback. His kumara had only just begun to grow, and he knew it was too early to harvest. However, he trusted Te Rongo’s wisdom. “I will do as you say,” he answered.
When Hemi returned home, his wife, Aroha, was worried. “The kumara are not ready yet, Hemi,” she said. “If we cut them now, we may not have enough for ourselves in the coming months.”
Hemi reassured her and went to the farm to gather the crop. Yet, before he could do so, the neighboring landowner, Te Awhina, approached him with a stern look. “Hemi, I understand you are going to cut your kumara,” she said. “But you know that I have a share in your harvest this season. If you cut your crop now, I’ll need to ensure you’re following through on our agreement. We made a deal for two full harvests from your farm.”
Te Awhina insisted that Hemi sign a written agreement, guaranteeing her two full yields in exchange for allowing him to proceed. Hemi signed without hesitation, trusting in the wisdom of Te Rongo’s advice.
Days passed, and a great storm rolled in from the sea, battering the region with heavy rains and strong winds. Farmers across the valley, including those who had ignored Te Rongo’s counsel, watched helplessly as their crops were destroyed. But Hemi’s early harvest of kumara fared much better. Because he had listened to Te Rongo’s guidance, his crops were safe, and he found that they were even more abundant than he had expected.
When the storm had passed, Hemi’s fields were full of plump, healthy kumara, much more than he could use alone. True to his nature, Hemi gave two portions of the harvest to Te Awhina, honoring their agreement. The rest, he divided into six portions. Six portions went to those in the community who had lost everything in the storm—widows, elders, and struggling families.
Months later, as Te Rongo walked by Hemi’s farm once more, Hemi ran to meet him, eager to share the news of his good fortune. He had helped the community and was thriving in his own way, all thanks to Te Rongo’s guidance. As Hemi fell to his knees, ready to express his gratitude, Te Rongo spoke before he could.
“You have done well, Hemi,” said Te Rongo, his voice filled with warmth. “You were blessed with a bountiful harvest because I knew that you would share your good fortune with others. Your heart is pure, and you have always been honest in your intentions. You gave six portions to those in need, and only kept two for yourself, showing that you understand the true spirit of giving.”
Hemi stood, deeply moved by the elder’s words. “I only did as you instructed, Te Rongo,” he said. “Your wisdom guided me, and my heart could not bear to keep all of it for myself. The people in this village are like my family.”
Te Rongo placed a hand on Hemi’s shoulder and nodded. “That is the heart of an honest disciple—one who listens not just to words, but to the needs of the world around them. You’ve demonstrated that, Hemi. This is why the land has blessed you.”
And so, Hemi continued his farming with a humble heart, sharing not just the fruits of his labor but also the wisdom of Te Rongo. His actions spread through the valley, reminding everyone that true abundance comes not from hoarding, but from sharing with an open heart.
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**Moral:** Just as Hemi trusted the wisdom of his mentor, Te Rongo, and followed through with honesty and compassion, so too must we strive to act with integrity and generosity. In doing so, we not only receive blessings but also help uplift those around us. True discipleship is not in mere obedience, but in the heart's honest desire to serve others.
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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78.5% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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21.5% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Charities turning away high numbers of volunteer applications
Charities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation Volunteering NZ has been tracking the trend. Spokesperson Margaret McLachlan said there has been a considerable rise in applications for volunteer roles across a range of charities.
Many application forms asks people to divulge if they are job hunters.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place."
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
At the same time, she said community organisations supporting social services were busier and needed more helpers.
McLachlan said depending on the organisation, they might want to do a police check, a reference check and an interview.
"In some cases it can be a process to go through and not always, and that can take some time.
"It's actually the same barriers that a person might find in finding a job, can also apply to volunteering. It's not always a easy option."
SPCA had 120 op shops and animal rescue centres across the country in which volunteers worked.
General manager of retail Cathy Crichton said they received about 1300 extra applications for volunteer roles, a 32 percent increase, from June to November 2025, compared to 2024.
"There's definitely a nudge forward which is very exciting and we're very grateful."
But it meant they were not accepting any more volunteers in some areas.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity - and that's very rare and it's a very new trend."
Crichton said anyone seeking volunteer work should think creatively about what skills they can offer - it could be in administration or marketing.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community."
She said people were self-motivated to apply for volunteer work.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, meaning 160,000 people were jobless. The next quarterly figures are out in February.
"There's a willingness to give back and contribute to the community. Unemployment being high really does encourage people to engage with the workforce and get experience," Crichton said.
"It really is about staying connected with the community and meeting others."
She said they had also seen an increase in young people seeking volunteer work experience.
"It's a great opportunity to get work experience and a reference and there's an appeal there as an employer...I really do think it adds value to a CV."
Stats NZ data showed over half of New Zealanders, 53 percent, volunteered during March 2025 and of those, 27.6 percent volunteered through an organisation and 40.8 percent volunteered directly for another person.
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