RELIGIOUS HISTORY

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33463, 19 February 1974, Page 4

RELIGIOUS HISTORY

The Rangiatea Maori Church at Otaki is one of the oldest church buildings in New Zealand. It is an unusual building, with an unusual past, and has great significance in the present day. It was built as the result of an initiative by Te Rauparaha and is structured along meeting house lines. Under the altar lies sacred soil brought to New Zealand in the canoe Tainui. This blend of ancient Maori religion and Christianity gives the building much of its character and significance. An N.Z.B.C. documentary “The Good Seed,” tells the story of the building since it was commissioned by Te Rauparaha, and examines the things it stands for today. Much of the programme was filmed after WNTV-l’s outside telecast unit had presented u live service from Rangiatea last August. It stayed on a further day to film what has become the basis of this programme. Old film and stills were added

and interwoven with a script 1 by Father Charles Harrison, I who spent a great deal of t time researching the history ( of the building. The programme is intro- r duced by Derek Fox and in- q eludes interviews with Canon s H. Taepa (the church’s historian), Charles Tuarau (A

Tipua or master carver), and Bishop Paul Reeves, who talks about the place of the Church today. "The Good Seed,” a documentary produced by John Terris, will screen on Sunday at 6.27 p.m.