[129] TE TOA TAKITINI
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.
November 1, 1924, Hastings.
Number 39.
CHURCH EXHIBITION AT NAPIER.
(Missionary Exhibition)
April 19 – 24, 1925.
A meeting of the Pakeha clergy of Hawkes Bay took place at Havelock on Monday, 20th October. The Bishop attended.
Bennett was the speaker at that meeting. He explained the arrangements for the large gathering in Palmerston [North], the Missionary Exhibition.
At the end of the discussion it was decided to bring together a Church Exhibition in Napier from 19th to 24th April, 1925.
A committee was set up to make the arrangements for this event. The Committee wants Maori to take a full part in this. So perhaps you possess old treasures that could be exhibited. The sort of things they have in mind are old treasures which will spark conversations and make people exclaim in wonder. If they are things that are associated with the early days of the faith here, do let the Committee borrow them. They will be treated with great care and returned in good condition to their owners. They would also like some Maori groups to assist with the exhibition. Do help this activity of the Church.
THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR OF THE MAORI CHURCH.
This is a reminder to Churchwardens and Church Committees of the Parishes of the Diocese of Waiapu that the Financial Year of the Church ends on 31st December. Therefore amounts due for minister’s stipends and the missionary work of the Church should be sent to the Diocesan Secretary so that our parishes are not in debt when Synod is held.
Published by Rev F A Bennett and printed by Cliff Press, Queen Street, Hastings, HB.
[130]
Te Toa Takitini
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.
The Subscription for the Paper is 6/6 a year.
Address letters to ‘Te Toa Takitini,’ Box 300, Hastings.
Te Toa Takitini, 1st November, 1924.
THE BISHOP OF WAIAPU’S SERMON.
On Sunday, 19th October, the Bishop visited Moteo in the morning and Pakipaki in the evening and spoke very clearly and forcefully to the Maori. His text was The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 1, Verse 8. ‘You shall be my witnesses.’ This is part of his sermon,
‘Towards the last days of our Lord Jesus Christ on this earth, he laid down guidance for his Church which would not stop growing but would stretch out branches to all peoples around the world. The people to whom he spoke were not highly regarded by the world. However, he himself showed them the source of the power which would enable them to do great works, the power of the Holy Spirit. They were to begin theirs witnessing in Jerusalem but they were not to restrict themselves to that. From Jerusalem they were to go to Judea, to Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world. This command was to be taken up by each generation. My Pakeha forebears heard that voice and Samuel Marsden came one hundred years ago to bring the Gospel of our Lord to you, the Maori People. Because of his command the Williamses came first, then Bishop Selwyn and other ministers to work among the Maori People.
It is right at this tim e that we ask this question, ‘When will the Maori Church send their messenger to spread the light of the Faith to peoples living in darkness?’
I acknowledge the signs of a living faith among Maori people this year in my Diocese. At last Maori are supporting missions which are taking the Gospel out. At last we are also seeing many young people wanting to go to Theological
[131]
College. I am also seeing Maori parishes taking worship seriously and many new churches being built at this time.a
But one of the indications that the Maori Church is a living Church is that it is fulfilling the command in my text. I am now very old. My body is getting weary. I can no longer do strenuous work, But my great desire is to see my Maori people taking steps to carry the Gospel to distant parts of the world.
Think about Bishop Azariah. Azariah’s parents were very poor; they were unable to send Azariah to school. He himself worked to get money so that he could attend school. Azariah is not from a noble family. He grew up amongst troubled peoples, the impoverished groups of India. Now Azariah is set upon the lofty peaks of the world. What he says has been heard, and he has been seen in person, by the whole world. How was he able climb so high? Through the power of the Holy Spirit. His heart was determined to seek God. May my Maori People have the same strength. Then you will see from amongst your descendants your own Bishop, if the Holy Spirit lives in your hearts.
I am very happy that you Maori have set about helping the work of Bishop Azariah amongst his many peoples of India. The first step is to help the evangelists. The next step is to send Maori people to India to preach the Gospel of our Lord.
When I went to Wellington I saw the poles standing alongside the road. The wires were attached to those poles. Those wires carry the Government’s electricity. That electricity turns the machines that provide light to the homes of those who ask for the electricity to be brought to them.
Our bodies are those wires. The electricity is the power of the Holy Spirit. We are channels of that Holy Spirit. He conveys to us power, the power to give light to those living in darkness. Let us obey the voice of our Lord who says, ‘You shall be my witnesses.’
At the end of his sermon the Bishop asked those Maori who are making wills to remember in them the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel. He pointed out that this was a practice among Pakeha believers and an example to be followed by Maori. The works that we support while we are alive we can continue to support after we have died by what we leave for the work of God in our wills.
[132]
MISSIONS TO SOME MAORI PARISHES.
To the Editor of Te Toa Takitini.
This is to inform all the folk of the Maori section of the Church of the parishes where the activities called Missions will be held this year, and the dates of those Missions. It is also a request for each person to remember to pray to God to bless the preacher and the people of each parish. If it is not blessed by God then there will be no good fruit from the work.
A mission is important and sacred. It enables the human heart to ascent to lthe peak where it may receive life, light, strength, happiness, peace and the holiness of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: there is renewal, the dead heart becomes a living heart, the darkened eyes become seeing eyes, the deaf ears become hearing ears, the faith of believers is increased.
This is a long-established practice in Pakeha parishes, one which seeks to bring a person life in all its fulness.
When a person is ill he wants medicine; by taking that medicine and believing in it he is healed of his illnes
Therefore pray earnestly for me that I may be strong and clear, that my mouth may speak the words of God; that the Holy Spirit my descend in power upon me to strengthen me in body and spirit. Remember also to pray for the local people and all the parishes, that his Holy Spirit may be given to all at this time, that many hearts may be turned to believe in him, to trust in him, that they may dwell in Christ and Christ may dwell in them. At the request of the Bishop and the minister of the parish, and the people of the Church, it has been arranged that I conduct the following missions this year.
Parish of Taupo – October 31 to November 9 at Waipahihi.
Parish of Te Puke – November 21 to 30 at Te Matai.
Parish of Whakatane – December 5 to 14 at Te Pahou.
This is important work, demanding work, which cannot be done in human strength.
Therefore, all of you, make every effort to assist and support the missioner, and every day pray for the blessing of God to come upon the Mission.
Te Wiremu [Arthur Williams]
Te Aute, Pukehou, HB.
[133][BO1]
IT HAS BECOME A HABIT.
R[eweti] T K[ohere]
When a person does something twice or three times or ten times, it eventually becomes routine with him; that practice, that behaviour becomes a habit, The habits of a person determine his nature, whether he is a good man or a bad man. Many of the things a man does he knows are bad but because he is accustomed to doing those things he continues to do them; they are habits. When a child first puffs on his elder’s pipe he gets a headache or he may vomit, but if he persists it becomes pleasurable, he gets accustomed to it, it has become a habit. What liquid is as bitter as alcohol? When a person swallows it he has thrust a fire into his mouth but, if he perseveres in drinking it, that bitter thing becomes pleasant, it is desirable, it has become a habit. Many people are coughing continually, not because they have sore throats but because they are addicted. Some people have difficulty listening to a sermon or a conversation, they are unable to fix their minds on listening; they are embarrassed because they are in the habit of allowing their thoughts to wander. Some men, when the minister is preaching, look at Te Toa Takitini, while some women are gesturing to their children. That is what they are in the habit of doing.
It is right that children should be introduced to the practices and the customs of their parents and ancestors which they are drawn to by their blood, but most of what we do and think are things that we learn as we grow up. A person is not born as a drunk or a thief, or as a murderer. Drunkenness is something a person learns as are thieving and murdering and many other sins. A person becomes a thief because it was taught him as he was growing up. It began with him taking things belonging to his parents or from other people without permission. To his mind these are insignificant things but in the end he is stealing big things; it has become a habit. The fault lies with the parents who allowed him to take things without permission when he was a child. If someone is violent it is not because he has become violent as an adult, he learned it as a child. During his childhood anger or greed lurked in his heart; it was not suppressed and eventually greed and giving way to blazing anger, became habits. He would have committed murder but the thing that delays him is finding the right time. It is the same with the drunk; although he is ill, poor, lacking clothes, and his children have no food, if he gets a shilling his first thought is alcohol. He is habituated to that practice and now has no power to deal with it
[134]
and the time has gone when he might fight the wrong. This is addiction to evil.
A man swore to his mother that he would not drink alcohol and only from the hand of his mother would he drink it. When his mother died the man filled a glass with alcohol, placed it in his mother’s hand, then he knelt and drank the alcohol. The man was a Pakeha. Here is a story about a Maori. A nurse said to the man that what would stimulate the heart of his ailing child was brandy and that he should go immediately and fetch brandy. The man went. He got the brandy and drank it all on the way. When the nurse asked where the brandy was the man lied saying that the Pakeha would not give it to him. His child died. It had become a habit. He had no power over his addiction. Alcohol was more important than his child,
Dickens wrote a pitiful story. It is a sad story of the powerlessness of a man to take a stand against what was wrong because he was addicted and there was no way of reawakening his mind.
When Dickens saw the prison cart heading to the courthouse, he knew that there would be prisoners being carried to gaol and followed it. The cart stopped outside the courthouse where there were many people waiting for the prisoners to come out. Here I will let Dickens speak. He said: ‘It was not long before the door opened and the prisoners came out two by two. Two of them were only girls; the elder was not more than 16 and the smaller had not yet got to 14. From their looks it was clear that they were sisters but signs of ill-treatment were to be seen on the face of the elder as if she had been marked with hot iron. Their clothes were good and those of the smaller were very good. Because their wrists were handcuffed one had a clear view of their fine appearance and their clothes, but the attitude of the elder, her gaze, her speech, differed from that of the younger. The younger was weeping copiously, not just crying or crying to be pitied, but crying in great shame. She covered her face with her scarf; her whole aspect was one of pain and sorrow.’
When a blushing woman asked the elder how long she had been sentenced to prison for, she answered with a sneer, “Six weeks with labour, but what of that? It is better than staying at home washing dishes …. For Pera here it is the first time she has been in prison. Get up, scarf!” At this she pulled on the scarf of her younger sister and called out, “Hold up your head so that we can see your face! I’m not afraid, I’m strong.” The younger struggled to get quickly out of sight in the prison cart and she pulled at her sister’s hand; then she let go and almost fell. Reader, it is clear that the elder of these children had become habituated to wrongdoing; she had no shame or embarrassment, while for the younger
[135]
this was her first offence; her feelings were aroused, she was sad, she was suffering, she was weeping, she had not yet got into bad habits. However, should she return to prison she would lose her shame like her sister, become a habitual criminal, and lost. Dickens said that the reason why these girls had fallen into wrongdoing was that their mother was a bad woman who did not teach or protect or care for her daughters but permitted them to go about unsupervised, to wander the streets at night, and sell their bodies for money.
Parents play a large part in raising up or putting down their children. Rebekah was a kind of thief. Her brother, Laban, was a thief, a deceitful man, and his son learned to be the same. He was not taught deception and theft. Children learn good and bad from the examples of their parents, families and friends. If a child is greedy it is something he has been taught; that child has not been taught to give some of his food to his friends.
It is in the nature of humans in this world to be sinful – ‘there is none righteous, no, not one.’ But we must be careful not to do wrong. If it becomes a habit then we lose our strength and our sense of shame.
When a man collapsed it was said that he was suffering from a lack of food. When he had eaten the two of them struggled and he fell down. While he was down he called to his enemy, ‘Enough! Strike your man, otherwise he’ll be left here to be eaten.’ It is indeed the case, no-one can always stand and never fall, but take care lest you ‘be left on the ground to be eaten.’ It becomes a habit.
However, although it has become a habit, although you are ‘left on the ground to be eaten,’ there is a Saviour, a guide for people, Jesus alone. Repent, call upon him to forgive all your sins and to give you strength to be afraid of your sins and to be concerned with what is good, and you will know real peace and the joy which passes understanding.
COLLECTION FOR THE MAORI MISSION.
It is a long-established custom to give all the collections on the first Sunday in Advent to support Missions amongst the Maori People. It is an established rule affecting all the parishes of the Diocese of Waiapu, Pakeha and Maori. Therefore, all our parishes should remember that day, 30th November. Give many shillings towards sustaining our Missions working amongst Maori. Draft out the black sheep at this time! Let the white and the red and the [?puhipuhi] through.
[136]
MAJOR PEACOCK HAS DIED.
There were wonderful tributes in the September edition of Te Toa Takitini from the Te Arawa soldiers to their good leader, Major Peacock. However, their tributes were premature because Major Peacock was still alive at that time; the Te Arawa soldiers mistakenly thought that he had died. Those soldiers had perhaps been given the power of foresight for two months after their laments their Major has gone to his rest.
Major Peacock died at Paeroa on 21st October, aged 53. He leaves behind in the world his widow and their four sons to weep for the father who has been laid to rest. He entered upon his career as a soldier when he was 19, and continued in it until his death.
It is right that the Maori people praise this man. He was the bulwark of the canoes of the Maori who crossed the seas to distant lands; he stood up-right on the various marae of Tumatauenga [battlefields]; he covered our name of Maori with honour and glory.
Farewell, Sir! Farewell, Sheltering Rata! Farewell, Rock in the Sea! Go to join your children who fell on the fields of battle. They will welcome you to the heavenly marae. Go to our Father. Enter into your rest.
IRITANA KAINAMU
I am sending my tribute to my companion who worked with me in the work of the Church. It is fourteen years since I first met Iritana at the Mission at Te Whakarewarewa. Our firm friendship lasted from that time up to her death. The two of us worked together at Tokomaru for three years. One of Iritana’s fine characteristics was her knowledge of how to care for and teach children. Iritana stayed at my home in Otaki for a month and she was going to return, but her death meant that we were not able to fulfil our plans. In 1915 Iritana left Tokomaru and returned to her home in Mohaka to care for her parents and her orphaned nephews [? and/or nieces]. She ran a Sunday School at Mohaka right up until her death.
She has gone to the place of light. She has received the blessing pronounced for those who work faithfully for God,
There is great affection for this good child of the Maori People.
S M Lee (Otaki).
We have also received tributes from the Teachers at Hukarere to their friend, Iritana.
[137]
THE CHURCH EXHIBITION.
This is something new in New Zealand, holding an exhibition to show the work of the Faith amongst the many peoples of the world. The example was set by England. There was a desire to awaken the people of the Church to think about and to act on the words of Christ, who said, ‘Go and preach the Good News to the whole world.’
In 1923, the first Exhibition was held in Wellington. It was held this year in Palmerston [North]. That Exhibition was opened by the Bishop of Wellington on Monday, 13th October, and closed on Saturday 18th. Many Pakeha parishes helped with that project, ten in all, from Otaki to Whanganui.
Not many Maori participated in this event, though it was concluded by the children of Putiki School. They were there for just one day. Their performances of waiata, poi and haka were excellent. There were thirty children. The eldest of the children were twelve and the youngest, five. Their kuia were Peihana, the widow of Takarangi Mete Kingi, and Mangu Tahana, one of the first women to be educated at Putiki. The teachers were also present. The Whanganui children performed very well.
The Maori party which stayed, to the gratification of those running the Exhibition, from beginning to end, was the group of Ngati Kahungunu children from Moteo and Waiohiki. This was the bait which drew forth the fish floating about in the waters of Palmerston. The Palmerston paper said: ‘the beautiful stars of the Exhibition were Bennett’s group from Hawkes Bay.’ The group performed Poi, waiata, ancient games, ‘hula,’ and sang old hymns to Maori and Pakeha tunes. The group was greatly appreciated by the Pakeha.
When they returned the Bishop of Waiapu visited Moteo and congratulated the children who went to help with that Church event. He also invited them to help with his exhibition in Napier next year.
J B FIELDER.
On 30th October this well-known elder in the Diocese of Waiapu died. He was Diocesan Secretary from Go to your famous friends, the Bishops and the Ministers, Pakeha and Maori. Go to your rest. We, the remnant of the Maori Ministers, grieve for you and salute you.
[138]
WRITE CLEARLY.
This is a plea to those writing to Te Toa Takitini to write clearly so that the printers are able to read the letters.
The printers are Pakeha who do not know the Maori language. Therefore, they have to ask the Editor to decipher the writing. If you are able to get your letters typed on a typewriter it makes the printers’ work easy.
If you are writing then ensure that the ‘u’ and the ‘n,’ the ‘h’ and the ‘k,’ the ‘w’ and the ‘m,’ and the ‘a’ and the ‘o’ are clear. Also, space the words as in the Maori in the Scriptures.
COLLECTION FOR THE MAORI MISSION. [This also appeared on a previous page.]
It is a long-established custom to give all the collections on the first Sunday in Advent to support Missions amongst the Maori People. It is an established rule affecting all the parishes of the Diocese of Waiapu, Pakeha and Maori. Therefore, all our parishes should remember that day, 30th November. Give many shillings towards sustaining our Missions working amongst Maori. Draft out the black sheep at this time! Let the white and the red and the [?puhipuhi] through.
WHICH PANGO?
Akapita H Pango
Part 2
After the death of Hongi trouble arose between Ngapuhi of Kororareka and Ngapuhi of Hokianga. Whareumu was killed. Mr Williams was summoned and he negotiated a peace settlement. At that time Pango and Te Arawa were with Ngapuhi.
Ngapuhi had not long returned from Hokianga when Pango was accused of killing Hongi and Whareumu. This was because all Ngapuhi knew Pango to be a great tohunga. Hence Ngapuhi’s accusation that Pango’s incantation had directed the bullet that wounded Hongi and the bullet that killed Whareumu. This was why Ngapuhi wanted to kill Pango Ngawene. Soon after, Pango and Te Arawa arrived at Paihia. It was Patuone who saved Pango and Te Arawa this time. One evening one of Mr Williams’ people returned and told Mr Williams that Pango and Te Arawa were at Paihia and that they were returning to Rotorua the next morning. However, they were going to be ambushed by Ngapuhi. The war party was waiting beside the road. Marupo was the chief. When Pango and Te Arawa came they were to be attacked.
[139]
This was because Ngapuhi alleged that Pango, being a pwerful tohunga, was responsible for directing the bullets which wounded Hongi and Whareumu. And this was why Maripo set up his war party to attack Pango and all from Te Arawa. Mr Williams heard of it and sent a man to the captain of a ship anchored outside Kororareka to ask him to take Te Arawa on board his ship. The captain agreed. That night Te Arawa boarded his ship. Sime of them boarded Te Karere, Mr Williams’ boat. This was the first time Pango had met Mr Williams, who came to take them away. They landed at Tauranga. There Pango said to Mr Williams: ‘Afterwards bring the Faith to Te Arawa.’
It was in 1828 that Pango arrived here in Rotorua. Six months or a year after Pango arrived in Rotorua he went to Waikato to find his sister, Pareto, who had married Te Area, a Waikato chief. Pango was invited there so that they could see him. So Pango went to Waikato. At that time the Waikato party was setting out for Auckland to fight Ngapuhi, that is, Ngati Whatua. Pango was asked by Waikato to go with them as their tohunga. Pango went with Waikato. At that time Mr Williams was travelling around Waikato on a visit to Te Waharoa. When Mr Williams and his companions arrived at a certain place in Waikato, they came upon that war party of one hundred heading for Auckland. Pango was with them as tohunga. Mr Williams criticised Pango and urged him to abandon that activity because he had saved him from Ngapuhi. Pango returned here to Rotorua.
In 1831 Pango sent Wharetutu to Ngapuhi to fetch the Faith.
(To be continued.)
ETHNOLOGICAL BOARD.
People everywhere are praising the Ethnological Board for their Supplement to Te Toa Takitini and the books they are printing. These thanks are not limited to Maori alone but are perhaps exceeded by those of educated Pakeha familiar with Maori culture. A few Maori mistakenly think that Board is in the business of making money, Such talk is foolish and it is right that it is answered by people with understanding. The work of the Board is a noble work and it should be welcomed by educated Maori. They will be treasures for the benefit of our descendants and our grandchildren in years to come. If this Board had started fifty years ago w would now be in possession of the wonderful teachings of the leading tohunga of those times.
[140]
In these days we are glad to have just fragments of those stories. However, although this has happened late in time, we want our elders, men and women, to make every effort to set down the wisdom of our parents and ancestors as adornments [hei tiki] for your descendants after you.
Good health and thanks to all the members of the Ethnological Board for the excellence and the clarity of this wonderful work you are doing.
This is the letter of thanks from Tamihana Tikitere which came to Te Toa Takitini in which he also asks if the books by Te Peehi [Elsdon Best] and other books from the Ethnological Board can be printed in the Maori language. The Board will respond to this.
Canon Pahewa and Paratene Ngata have also sent thanks and praise for the contents of the Supplement to Te Toa Takitini.
CALENDAR
November
1 (Saturday) All Saints’ Day W
2 20th Sunday after Trinity G
Ezekiel 34, 2 Timothy 3
Ezekiel 37, Luke 22 1-31
9 21st Sunday after Trinity G
Daniel 3, Hebrews 2 & 3.1-7
Daniel 4, John 1.1-29
16 22nd Sunday after Trinity G
Daniel 6, Hebrews 10.1-19
Daniel 7.9-end, John 5.1-24
23 Sunday before Advent G
The Collect, Epistle and Gospel for the 25th Sunday.
Ecclesiastes 11 & 12, James 2
Haggai 2.1-10, John 8.1-31
30 1st Sunday in Advent V
St Andrew’s Day
Use the Collect for this Sunday every day in Advent.
On one day this week the prayer for the Spread of the Gospel is used,
The collection today is for the Maori Mission.
Isaiah 1, John 1.35-43
Isaiah 2, John 12. 20-42
December
7 2nd Sunday in Advent V
Isaiah 5, 1 John 1
Isaiah 11.1-11, John 16.1-16
14 3rd Sunday in Advent V
Use the Collect for Ember Week every day this week.
Isaiah 25, 2 John
Isaiah 26, John 20.1-19
21 Fourth Sunday of Advent V
Thomas, Apostle
Isaiah 30.1-27, John 20,19-24
Isaiah 32, John 14.1-8
Publish the services for Christmas Day.
SUPPLEMENT TO TE TOA TAKITINI
Pages 25 – 34
There are two editions of this Supplement containing waiata. The Board wishes to lay out before the people the words and explanations so that they may make any corrections needed.
[The waiata that follow were printed with amendments and additions and an English translation as Numbers 17 to 24 in Part One of Nga Moteatea by A T Ngata.]
