NEW MAORI CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1931, Page 3

NEW MAORI CHURCH.

CEREMONY AT HOKIANGA. The most representative gathering that has been held by the Hokianga Maoris was held at Waima at Easter in connection with the opening and dedicating of tho new Methodist Maori Church at Tc Poinga. All parts of the Far North were represented by a gathering of 700 people. The Rev. R. Tahupohki,Haddon, sen., Maori superintendent, was the chief guest, others being Mori Erihana (Otago), Waka Taituha (Taranaki), Hiringa Mateono (Waikato) and Repeka (King Country). The visitors were welcomed in typical Maori style by the chiefs Tawhai, Rameka, Pehi, Romana and Kingi. The church was opened and dedicated on Good Friday, and an open air service was held near the historic oak tree. The Rev. Haddon and the Rev. Te Tuhi were the preachers. During the course of the three days of meetings lengthy references were made by the older chiefs to the history of Christianity in Hokianga, the Christian faith having been established in that district by the Methodist missionaries 105 years ago.

On the Saturday many matters of importance to the Maori people in the Auckland peninsula were discussed, and in the evening a festival of song and oratory was held in the Waima Public Hall. "The work of the Methodist Church in Hokianga was the subject of an address by the Rev. Haddon on Sunday, and he congratulated the Maoris on, their fine new church.