MAORI PROPHET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 71, 23 February 1937, Page 13

MAORI PROPHET

DEATH UF RUA. ROTORUA, Feb. 22. Rua, the noted Maori prophet, died ou Saturday at Matahi. on the Wainiann River, at the age of 65. The body was subsequently taken to Maungapohatu, where a big tangi is now in progress and will continue for two or three days. Rua had not been in the limelight so much of late, his mana amongst the Maoris having waned in recent years, although he still had a small following for his “Ringatu” religion. At the height of his religious fame lie claimed that, if fired at, the bullet would be deflected from his body. He established his pa at Maungapohatu amidst the splendour of the rugged Urewera country and seldom ventured far from its precincts. Rua came in the forefront of the news in 1915 when a police constable tried ro effect his arrest on a charge of slv-grogging. Rua resisted so an armed force of 42 police was sent in under Commissioner Cullen. The party was ambushed and in the fighting one of Rua’s sons was killed and some of the police injured. Finally Rua was arrested and taken to Rotorua and arraigned on several charges as a result of the incident. He was sentenced to 18 months’ gaol on the charge of resisting arrest.