THE TE KOOTI TRAIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 50

THE TE KOOTI TRAIL

BIG N.Z. HISTORICAL FILM. BASED ON OTAGO WITNESS SERIAL. WHAKATANE, July 25. Arrangements are now being completed for the filming of a thrilling page from New Zealand history, the story of which is now appearing in serial form in the Otago Witness, the first instalment being published on July 26. Under the title of "The Te Kooti Trail’’ it deals with one of the most romantic and adventurous periods of. the Dominion’s history, when the great Maori rebel and fanatic leader. Te Kooti, terrorised the East Coast, and evaded every effort to capture him. It was a period of New Zealand history closely resembling that of Western America in the early days, and is filled with the quaint characters of the old bush trails, the scouts and frontiersmen, the armed constabulary, the savage Hau Haus, and oifr own pioneering .orofathers and mothers carving homes for themselves in the wilderness. Whakatane Filins, Ltd., a new company, has been formed to make the film on the actual spots where the events took place. Mr Rud’all Hayward, who will be remembered for bls previous New Zealand historical film, “ Rewi’s Last Stand,” has prepared the scenario from the well-known historical works of James Cowan and the Otago Witness serial by Frank 11. Bodie. Mr Hayward will produce and photograph the film at Whakatane and in the nearby Urewera , Country. where wonderful scenery for film backgrounds . bounds. Many local residents in Whakatane are keenly interested in the venture, and working parties are busy reconstructing “Jean the Frenchman’s ” mill and the adjacent redoubt and mill pond exactly as it stood when the old French veteran. Jean Guerrin, nude his last heroic stand against the Hau Haus. Miss Tina Hunt, the Maori heroine of “ Rewi’s Last Stand,” has been engaged to enact role of Monika, Jean Guerrin’s sister-in-law, who gave her life to prevent Te Kooti securing certain stores of ammunition. A number of well-known Auckland professional and amateur theatrical folk leave for Whakatane next week to take part in the film, which will be the first New Zealand picture to be made for registration under the new British Film Quota System.

Te Kooti Rikirangi, an outstanding figure in New Zealand wars, was arrested for suspected treason in 1866, and exiled on the prison island of Wharekauri, Chatham Group, from whence in 18GS lie escaped with a number of followers in the captured schooner Rifleman, and landing on the New Zealand coast commenced a reign of error against white settlements, murdering and laying waste in many East Coast districts. For 15 years m 1 up until the time of his pardon in 1883 he evaded and outmanoeuvred eary British expedition that could be sent after him, costing the New Zealand Government £70,000 and over 250 lives in fruitless efforts to bring him to justice.