Interesting question, hadn't heard of Goffman before so couldn't say re: these particular Maoris. Their website says they were:

'Established in 2020 [...] during the unprecedented challenges [of] COVID'

and are:

'dedicated to uniting the church through impactful worship and connecting believers with essential discipleship programs and resources. Having successfully hosted five encounter nights, our vision is clear: to create intentional spaces where individuals can encounter Jesus and empower the church through worship!

Community Engagement

Our focus on community engagement allows us to foster meaningful connections and build strong relationships within the church and beyond. We are dedicated to serving the community and creating a sense of belonging for all individuals.

Empowering Worship Experience

At Remnant Collective, we are dedicated to establishing a space that facilitates intimate connections with God, while also empowering individuals to nurture similar relationships beyond our hosted events.
Transparency and Integrity

At the heart of our values lie transparency and integrity. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of biblical principles, making sure that our actions reflect our to promote unity and authenticity in worship.

Our Vision

Uniting Hearts Through Worship

At Remnant Collective, our vision is to create a world where worship becomes a unifying force, transcending differences and bringing people together in a spirit of harmony and love. We are dedicated to building a community where all are welcome to express their faith through the power of worship.' - https://www.remnantcollective.org/about-us

The formation during covid stands out to me because the last thing I remember reading about the Maori community was that they were among the least vaxxed and most distrustful of the govt in NZ during that time. Presumably that perception has only hardened in the meantime, and since the left broadly went along with govt authoritarianism they found solace in the right and the attendant 'conspiracy' culture, which is often tied in with christian beliefs & cultural traditionalism.

But I expect that's a simplistic view, that there are plenty of other factors involved and a complicated relationship with christianity and the rest of the dominant colonial culture. Some seem to have managed to develop a critique of it and are attempting to keep their indigenous traditions alive. This group, not so much (or in a way that's particular to them which I can't understand).

Any recommended reading on Goffman? Wiki says the main book on total institutions is 'Asylums' - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erving_Goffman#Asylums

cheers,
I