INSPIRING CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

INSPIRING CHURCH

Beautiful And Historic Building At Otaki

LINKED TO TRADITION

As an example of Maori energy ami workmanship, Rangiatea. the famous Maori Mission Church at Otaki, is without rival in New Zealand. .No one visiting Otaki should miss seeing the old church, completed in 1849. The sight of the three main pillars, single totara trunks, standing in the centre of the aisle, and reaching up about 70 feet to support the weight of the structure, is, in itself, inspiring. About 120 years ago Otaki was inhabited by the peace-loving Muaupoko, Ngatiapa and Ngatiawa tribes. Then the great chief, Te Rauparaha, .from Kawhia, descended on them, raiding the whole of the west coast of the island. To suit his desire to trade with Europeans for firearms, be settled at Otaki with his followers from the Ngatitoa and Ngatiraukawu tribes. Otaki became his homeplactj. with Kapiti Island as his stronghold. When he ceased his active fighting career, he lived in a house at a place which later

became the corner of Matene and Hadfield Streets. As a prisoner in H.M.S. Calliope, le Rauparaha had beeu taken to Sydney, and while’ there had seen many churches, with which he bad been greatly impressed. On returning he urged the people to build this now-famous church, and not to set their minds at rest till it had been completed. In 1847 the Maori began to cut timber for the building, mostly in the Mapawatu and Ohau districts. All hauling was doue by hand. . The great totara were ■ landed at Waitohu, near Otaki. Then hundreds of men hauled them over the sandhills to the site where the church now stancls. There all the timber was trimmed with Maori adzes, still to be seen in the church. All the trees which act as pillars were erected by hand labour, there being no nufehinery. Archdeacon Samuel Williams, for instance, would take out bis watch, tie a string to it, and hold it up to plumb the large upright pillars. When Te Rauparaha and Matene te- Whiwhi asked their people to assist with the building, hundreds responded. Te Rauparaha compelled many from the Manawatu to come to Otaki and Carve and weave tukutuku panels. Religious Tradition. The naming of the church as Rangiatea, links it .with Maori religious tradition dating back to the time before the hardy warriors of the Maori ever touched the shores of Aotearoa. According to tradition, when the canoes Tainui and Arawa sailed from Hawaiki, they brought with them the soil on which stood their sacred altar, Rangiatea, in Hawaiki. They touched first at Whangaparo,’ near Mawetu, Bay of Islands. The Tainui then set off with a select crew toward Auckland, where they anchored. A seagull was seen flying from the west coast over Otahuhu, so they surmised the other coast could not be far off. Climbing a large hill they found this was so. They drew their canoe overland to the other side, and in due course reached Manakau Harbour. Proceeding south they touched at Aotea; and finally landed at Kawhia. There the canoe was hauled ashore and an altar built, on which was spread the soil brought from Hawaiki. The altar was then dedicated in the sacred name of Rangiatea.