ROYAL GIFT UNVEILED IN MAORI CHURCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23207, 20 March 1950, Page 6

ROYAL GIFT UNVEILED IN MAORI CHURCH

(P.A.) OTAKI. March 18. The climax to the Rangiatea Maori Church centenary celebrations was i reached this morning when the service jof thanksgiving and benediction for the centenary and restoration of the church was held in the presence of the Governor-General. Sir Bernard Freyberg. and Lady Freyberg, the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. R. H. Owen, and other church dignitaries and a big congregation from all parts of New Zealand. There was a large overflow which the church could not accommodate. It was a solemn service, made the more impressive by the towering pillars supporting the white scroll patterned rafters of the roof offset by the tall narrow reedwork panels lining : ’the walls painted in kura—the sacred colour of the Polynesian people. English and Maori. The service was conducted in the English and Maori tongues by the Bishop of Wellington and the Bishop of Aotearoa. the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett. assisted by the Rev. Paora Te Muera. priest of Rangiatea, and the lesson was read by Sir Apirana Ngata. The organ and pulpit were dedicated and at the appropriate moment the Governor-General moved into the sanctuary and unveiled the altar frontal. He asked the Bishop of Wellington to accept it as a gift from His Majesty the King to replace the one given a century ago by the late Queen Victoria, i All the restoration work was blessed and Bishop Bennett during his sermon traced the history of Rangiatea and told the congregation of his visits to Buckingham ' Palace rml discussions about the new altar frontal with the King. Hundred Years Ago. One hundred years ago under the . inspiration of Octavius Hadfield. second ! Bishop (J Wellington, and the direction of Samuel Williams, and with the j support of tiie famous Ngati Toa chief, i To Rauparahu. the great Rangiatea Church was built by the Maori people. When finished it was consecrated as a j Christian church and given the name j most sacred to ' the Maori people— | Rangiatea. the abode of to. the supreme

being, the eternal. When the canoe Tainui set out for New Zealand, some of the sacred sand from Rangiatea in the Society Group was brought away, and in one of the migrations from Taranaki some of it was taken to Otaki and strewn in the foundations of tiie Rangiatea Church. A Maori singer. Inia Te Wiata, who is studying in London, was responsible for the Maori motif in the new frontal, which is the work of the Royal School of Needlework. Thousands of people thronged the marae this afternoon to watch haka, poi and action-song competitions.

Haka of Welcome

Members of the Parliamentary party were welcomed on the marae this morning with great enthusiasm. Tiie visitors included the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr. E. B. Corbett, Mrs. G. H. Ross, M.P., the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. P. Fraser, Mr. W. Nash. M.P.. Mr. E. L. Tirikatene. M.P., Mr. H. E. Coombs, M.P. and Mrs. Ratana, M.P. They were greeted with Te Rauparaha's famous “kamate kamate” haka and after a welcome by Mr. T. Parata. a leading chieftain of the district, Sir Apirana Ngata addressed the visitors.

He said that politics today came second to the famous Rangiatea Church. In a welcome to the Parliamentary party and to Mr. Corbett in particular. Sir Apirana said: “Carry on the good work of building the marae and meeting houses. This is the time to shell out money with wool at £SO a bale. I think you might be walking on a tightrope. Of course you want to stay in office for your term of longer. I think you do not know whether to chuck money away or to keep it and save it for your successors. Kia ora to you.”

Mr. Fraser said the historic church embodied the spirit, heart and soul of. the Maori people. He wanted to see that same spirit soar higher and higher in our national life.

Minister's Address

Mr. Corbett addressed the gathering as “Fellow New Zealanders.” He said that he, as a great-grandson of the first white woman born in New Zealand, and his family had had a long association with Christian endeavour and a great deal of good influence had been spread among the Maoi'i people by Europeans from the Taranaki district.

He had been asked by the Prime Minister, Mr. S. G. Holland, to convey his greetings and thoughts on this memorable occasion to mark the restoration of the Rangiatea“ Church to its full glory and its rcdedication to the Christian belief.

Mr. Corbett said that politics had too great a place in the community. There was something greater than politics—He Who was above us. “He is greater than any political party,” said Mr. Corbett. “Christianity should walk hand in hand with economic and social advancement.

“Today you are rededicating your church and rekindling faith.” During his term of office, if there was anything he could do to raise the status of the Maori people from the spiritual aspect lie would do it. said the Minister. “Insofar as the status of the Maori people in the community is concerned that is in your own hands,” he declared. “I shall do everything to assist you to hold and maintain your rightful place.”