THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XX, Issue 4, 1 October 1929, Page 11

THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU

By the Venerable William John Simkin, L.Th.. Archdeacon of Hawke's Bay. 1925. CHAPTER XL— ROTA WAITOA. l._Te Matamua o nga. Mmita Maori. Rota Waitoa, the first Minister of the Maori race was a native of Kawakawa, on the East Coast. For some ten years before his Ordination he had been m close cocntact with Bishop Selwyn, often as his travelling companion, having offered to accompany the Bishop to Auckland m 1842. "From being at first a barefooted lad m a blanket with a pack on his back he became a Lay-associate of Saint John's College m the position of Steward. Found faithful m smaller things he was at length chosen to be the first Abraham Scholar and an Assistant Master m the Maori Boy's School. Thus raised step by step he was called upon to cathechise m Church, for which his knowledge of scripture, far m advance of that of any other of the Maoris at the College, especially fitted him. 2. The question of the ordination of Maoris had long exercised the mind of Bishop Selwyn and his reluctance to take the step had been the subject of much criticism both m New Zealand and m England. Urged by many that the time had arrived for the beginning of a Native ministry and that the right man was at hand m the person of Rota, the Bishop no longer hesitated and himself undertook a special course of instruction for Rota and also sent him to the Reverend G. A. Kissling for further instruction. As may be readily understood the Bishop deumnderl thn.l:. thpm should he suitable educational attainment m those to be admitted to Holy Orders and m the case of Rota the Bishop required that his demands should be satisfied. The examination of Rota was conducted by Archdeacon Williams, Archdeacon Brown and Archdeacon Abraham. "Rota's sincerity was evident; his knowledge was of a high standard; his diffidence, m contrast to the usual selfconceit of the Maori was most reassuring. 3. Rota was ordained on Trinity Sunday, May 22nd, 1853. m old St. Paul's Ohurch, Auckland. "It was a great

and moving occasion. . Three Archdeacons, thre© other Priests, and three Deacons were present. There was a large congregation of English and Maoris, and the Bishop's sermon was accordingly partly m English and partly m Maori. The Maoris could not refrain from showing how deeply they were., touched by the words spoken to them; while Archdeacon Abraham writes: "the few words of special address to Rota from the Bishop were some of the most touching I ever heard. It was quite m the vein of Paul to Timothy, with the paternal feeling of the same Apostle to Philemon. Both were deeply affected." Thus was sent forth the firsts Maori to minister to, his race m Holy Orders. "4 After his ordination Rota was stationed at Kawakawa where he worked, except for intervals during which he returned to Auckland for furthei instruction, until hie death. It was his own desire to he allowed to return to the College from time to time m order, as he himself expressed it to "fill his seed bags again." Rota was ordained Priest on March 4th 18860, by William Williams, 'Bishop of Waiapu. ' The latter years of his ministry were over-clouded by the evil effects of the Hauhau rebellion. His people were passing- through a time of • great trouble and through it all Rota remained faithfully at his post, comforting them and minister ing to them. The work m hi lS district necessitated much travelling on horseback and on one occasion when riding to one of the places to hold service he suffered a severe fall from his horse from which he never recovered. On the invitation of Bishop Selwyn he went, with his wife and family, tp Auckland but it was evident he was very ill. Al that was possible was done for him but he gradually sank and finally passed away on Sunday, July 22nd, 1866. His body wa laid to rest m St. Stephen's Cemetery, Tararua, Auckland, m which stands the Chapel, on the site of a former one, wherein (was declared and established the Constitution of the Church of the Province of New Zealand. His grave is marked by a flat stone inscribed : — The Rev. Rota Waitoa. Died 22 July, 1866. "Te Matamua o Nga Minita Maori." 6. Of his character it is difficult to write after the long interval which has elapsed since his death and from the lack of authentic information; one trait of his character however stands out clearly, and that was his transparent sincerity; this endeared him to

all. His faithfulness m his work and his devotion to his people is a tradition warmly cherished by the people of his tribe and m the Church at Te Araroa there is erected a Memorial Tablet commemorating him and his son, Hone Waitoa, who some, twenty years after: his father's' death followed m his footsteps and became Minister at Kawakawa. The following verses appeared m an English newspaper a few days, after Rota's Ordination. 7. Oh, kneeling at a Christian shrine, Within thine own uhconquered land, May God, the Pakeha's God and thine, Anoint thee with His grace divine, And touch thee with His wounded hand. Weep'st thou? Ah weep not, He has trod The dark and toilsome path before; With bleeding brow, with feet unshod, The Omnipotent One, the world wide God, Stood m the Roman's marble floor. He stood forsaken and alone, But 'twas to wash thy sins away. — To claim thee, clasp thee as His own, And from a victor's golden throne To stoop and .wipe thy tears away. The simple robe of spotless white, The elements of bread and wine, Speak to the inward, hidden sight; Oh, may the sevenfold Spirit bright, Dpep-searching, rouse and waken thine. My soul is bowed m speechless prayer For thee, thou dark brow'd man; God lead thee by the rivers fair, And should thy spirit faint with care, Refresh thee, for alone he can. His latest heritage thou art, Foretold of yore by sage and king, When all earth's farthest isles shall bow, And bend the knee, and speak the vow, Rich gifts and glad Hosannas bring. Perchance the Martyr-deacon might, Amid his glimpse of harp and throne, Have seen that brow and eye of night, That dark form girded for the fight, And hail'd m distant times his own.