Ringatu Centenary Celebrations The Governor-General, Sir Arthur Porritt, enters the marae. As the Governor-General, Sir Arthur Porritt said in his speech at Muriwai on 2 July, ‘A hundred years of life, be it of an individual, an institution or a religion, is an event of historical importance and intrinsic significance.’ The occasion was the centenary of the Ringatu religion, founded by Te Kooti Rikirangi during his exile on the Chatham Islands, and the guests of honour were Sir Arthur and Lady Porritt, who with their daughter Joanna were paying their first official visit to the Gisborne district. Accompanied by the Mayor of Gisborne, Mr H. Barker, and Mrs Barker Their Excellencies walked through lines of local school children and were welcomed by Mrs P. Smith, a direct descendant of Te Kooti, and challenged at the entrance to the marae by The Rev. Kahu Te Hau welcomes the guests. Mr B. Wehi. After prayers said by the Poutikanga, Mr Paul Delamere, president of the Ringatu church, the guests were welcomed by Rev. Kahu Te Hau of the Ohinemutu Pastorate who spoke of the local people's loyalty to the Queen of England, their pride in being descendants of Te Kooti and their pride in welcoming Their Excellencies. Sir Turi Carroll asked Sir Arthur to convey to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ‘our loyalty to the utmost’, and renewed his request that Waitangi Day be made a national holiday for New Zealand. He congratulated Sir Arthur on his appointment as Governor-General, saying, ‘Thank God you're a Kiwi. What an honour this is—not just issued, but earned through your own ability—professional, athletic and per-