Sunday at Otaki

Te Ao Hou, December 1967, Page 26

Sunday at Otaki It was a fine day on Sunday, 20 August, and people were waiting near the Maori church Rangiatea. It was quite early, so we waited in the car. It was good to see the gathering getting larger as time wore on. The service was to be at 11 a.m. ‘Better go in and get a seat, or we'll be standing,’ said my friend. I agreed. Getting out of the car, we walked slowly to the gate, and followed the path to the door. There were many interesting graves round the building. On the one nearest the road, we read, ‘Rev. P. Temuera.’ It was quiet in the church. We walked in and took our places. It was filling now. Representatives of other churches came in and sat near the altar. Choir members past and present took their places and filled the stalls. As we waited, my eye roved upwards to the high ceiling. There was the long beam that reached from one end of the church to the other, helping to hold up the roof. It was hard to visualise that this very long pole was once a huge tree. What a tremendous job it must have been for the many men to place it just where it was without any machinery. The church had an atmosphere. There were shaped tree trunks placed along the aisle. The altar rails had many carvings, each one different, and representing some facet of the life of the people of the many tribes throughout the dominion. The organist for the first hour was a member of the famous Tahiwi family, then Mr Bill Te Awe Awe played the hymns during the service. The church was filled to overflowing. There was a hush when the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Fergusson. Lady Fergusson and Geordie walked in, accompanied by Revd H. Taepa. The service was most enjoyable. The singing and harmonising was really something not soon forgotten. Sir Bernard read the first lesson and Revd Taepa gave an excellent sermon. Later, everybody adjourned to the Raukawa marae where seats were ready for the visitors. The local people and the sorg and haka groups gave them a rousing welcome in true traditional style. The warmth of the welcome brought a warm smile to the face of Sir Bernard. Two beautiful cloaks were thrown over the shoulders of father and son. The fine taniko work on the band of the cloak worn by Geordie stood out, the patterns stamping him as a true rangatira of the Tainui Canoe. There were many speeches, all claiming Geordie as a member of all the tribes. The Secretary for Maori Affairs, with his party. Mawai-Hakona, gave fine items, as did Ngati Poneke. A banquet was held to honour the

guests, then more speeches and presentations followed. A waiata was performed after each speech according to tradition. The Revd Taepa carried out his ‘Master of Ceremonies’ duties to perfection. Rangimahora presented Geordie with the traditional three tiny baskets. The perfect workmanship caused much admiring comment by the public. Two other baskets, one feathered, the other made simply, with the finest talented work and material gave joy to the guests. In return the members of the Raukawa tribe were honoured to accept a gift—a banner with the personal crest of the Fergusson family stamped on royal blue velvet. It was an afternoon of friendship and good fellowship between our two races. The Mayor of Otaki said that the example of the Governor-General in interesting himself in the customs and language of the Maori people, was something that would never be forgotten. Geordie and his father read their speeches in reply in Maori. The people were delighted and ended the day with many songs and haka dances. Eve Magee Geordie makes his reply in Maori. ‘Dominion’ photographs Geordie receives a Maori Bible from Te Oenuku Rene and Hepa Taepa.