SACRED EARTH

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6238, 5 June 1946, Page 8

SACRED EARTH

LINK WITH ARRIVAL OF THE TAINUI SAID TO REPOSE AT OTAKI A portion of the sacred earth brought to New Zealand by the Maoris , in their great migration is reputed to be buried beneath Rangiatea, the Maori mission church at Otaki. The name of the great Te Rauparaha is linked With this historic church, though authorities differ as to the part he played in its erection. Of the seven principal canoes that brought the Maoris to this country, the canoe Tainui was chosen to convey the sacred earth. This account is from a printed one in the church under j the signature of the priest, the Rev. IPaora (Paul) Temuera. The Tainui landed at Kawhia. Hoturoa, the master of the canoe, brought out the sacred earth and deposited it for the first time upon the new country, and over it he erected an altar, naming it Rangiatea. About 100 years after the landing of the Tainui the descendants of the crew migrated from Kawhia and settled about the Waikato district, some at Pirongia (Huntly), and others at Maungatautari (Cambridge). The Maungatautari party claimed the sacred earth and brought it away . with them wherever they went. During 1818 Te Rauparaha, a very ambitious young man of the Maungatautari party went south and settled in the Otaki district with a part of his people, the Ngati Kaukawa tribe. I After several years of restless and turbulent life, Te Rauparaha became i more settled. As a guest of the Government he was given a trip to Sydney. On his return after two years he was met by his people, who by now had been thoroughly taught the Christian religion by the Rev. Octavius Hadfield. At the welcome home Te Rauparaha referred to the wonderful church buildings he had seen in Sydney. Just before he concluded his .reply Te Rauparaha unsheathed the sword presented to him by Sir George GYey, the Governor, and thrust it into the ground at the same time beckoning ! the chief Paora Pohoturaha and say- | ing, “Come, take possession of this. I no more seek honour on earth. I seek honour in heaven. Go to and build us a church.” The Maori people took up this comwere organised and plans drawn up. When all was ready and the timber mand with great enthusiasm, parties cut and dressed and brought to the chosen spot, the sacred earth of the ancient altar Rangiatea was brought forth and deposited for the last time, and the present ehurch was built over it. It was completed and dedicated in 1849. Te Rauparaha died on November 27th of the same year, soon after the completion of the church. The names I of Bishop Hadfield and Archdeacon • Samuel Williams are inseparably i linked with this church, which was I built at a time when tools of any ■ importance for the erection were ! almcst non-existent. So much for the account as given in the ehurch.