THE REV. KINGI IHAKA IN HOLLYWOOD

Te Ao Hou, March 1961, Page 57

THE REV. KINGI IHAKA IN HOLLYWOOD Towards the end of last year, the Rev. Kingi Ihaka of the Maori Pastorate, Lower Hutt, was invited to Hollywood to advise and perform in the film of Miss S. Ashton-Warner's novel Spinster. He gave a lively account of his stay there in his Christmas Pastoral Letter and Te Ao Hou hopes to persuade him to write something more detailed for a later issue. In the meantime, this extract from his Pastoral Letter gives some idea of his experiences: “You will probably like to know some of our personal experiences here in this land of plenty. The people have been most kind and hospitable. We find them extremely friendly and pleasant and we have already met a number of Americans who at one time visited New Zealand, who speak very highly of our country. The studios cover a very extensive area, and I would estimate this area to equal at least three times that covered by Wellington and the Hutt areas. The staff numbers some thousands, although, according to my informants, there has been a gradual decrease on account of the competition from TV. My actual studio work is most interesting. I compose most of the lyrics for the film, take the part of the priest, check the clothing of all those taking part to make sure that they are similar in style to our N.Z. way of dress, check the scenery, teach the Maori songs, proper pronunciation, etc. The staff and actors are most helpful. I have met dozens of famous ‘stars’ the majority of whom are no different from anyone else: shy, nervous etc. “In the Church life, I was amazed to discover that the Anglican (Episcopalian in America) following is only four million at the most and this compares unfavourably with our figures at home particularly, when in Los Angeles city alone, there are about 8 million people. We attend the services at St Mary's Church, The Palms, Los Angeles, and I assist on Sundays. The churchmanship is very high, and for at least two Sundays we couldn't quite follow the order of Holy Communion. However, we have acquainted ourselves with the form used and we like it very much. The clergy is addressed “Father”, so the Rector (vicar) is called Father Wooster and I am called by all parishioners Father Ihaka! The normal Sunday programme is very light—compared to ours at home. There are three celebrations of Holy Communion—at 7, 9 and 11, with no afternoon or evening services. After every service, coffee and buns are served in the adjoining Parish Room. It is a smallish but active parish, and the response of the young people (ages 5 years to 24) is wonderful. Young children attend in large numbers the Services of Holy Communion, and just before the sermon, during the singing of a hymn, the children march out into the Parish Room where special lessons are given them. The parishioners are most kind and since our arrival, we have dined out every Sunday at parishioners' homes. It might interest you to know that Sunday afternoons are spent on social activities and for the first time in my life I attended a football match (quite different from our Rugby) on a Sunday afternoon. This was quite an experience for me. There were just over 53,000 present when Los Angeles played Detroit at the Los Angeles Coliseum which holds 100,000 seated patrons. Los Angeles won, 48–35. Seated immediately in front of my friend and I were some 30 or more Roman Catholic priests, which goes to prove that all Services, irrespective of denomination, are held in the mornings only. Perhaps parishioners would prefer such a time-table for the Pastorate! “Our Pastorate's ex-Secretary-Treasurer, Whata Winiata, telephoned us from Ann Arbor, Michigan, at 12.45 p.m. one day a week or so ago. At that time, of course, it was only 8.30 p.m. in Michigan. This change of time puzzles us. He is well, has already sat an examination paper which he thinks ‘fair’ and will return to New Zealand in June next year. Another friend of the Pastorate, Dr Jim Ritchie, who is at Harvard University, Boston, has written to us twice. He and his family are also well. Miss Pearce, New Zealand vice-consul at San Francisco, has forwarded me considerable data, booklets etc. on New Zealand for propaganda business here and the literature has assisted me greatly in my efforts to ‘sell’ New Zealand to the Americans. A number have already expressed their keenness to come and live in ‘God's Own Country’. Other wonderful and numerous experiences will be related to you on our return.”