Te Toa Takitini 88

 

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TE TOA TAKITINI

Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.

Number 88

Hastings

1st December, 1928.

 

THE HONOURABLE SIR APIRANA NGATA

 

Our father, Sir Apirana, has been appointed to the high position that he is suited for, that of Minister of Maori Affairs. Besides

the Maori Affairs Department he is also Minister responsible for the Islands (Cook Islands) and the Government Insurance Office.

 

Te Toa Takitini and all our people congratulate him and are very happy that he has been chosen for these important offices.

 

Sir Apirana has ceased to be one of our lowly men. Had he wanted such positions of honour he could have had them years ago. He was aware that there is work to be completed, and where can one find someone as hard-working as Apirana?

 

Sir Apirana, we are grateful that you have agreed to take up these positions. This is an honour for you and for all of us. But why focus on the honour when there is work to be done for the benefit of the Maori People?

 

We also send our love to our leader, Mr Coates, who has laid down this office. Mr Coates has fulfilled our hopes for many years past. We wept at Mr Coates’ farewell words on the day when his  Government was defeated when he spoke of his deep love for you and for his Maori people and gave words of advice to the new government. So, Sir Apirana, be strong and love your people.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

TE TOA TAKITINI

It has been decided that we will continue to publish our paper here in Hastings. The responsibility for the management of the paper will lie with the Bishop of Aotearoa. From January the Editors will be the Rev Peni Hakiwai and P H Tomoana. The name of the paper will be reviewed in the January edition.

 

Published by the Rev F A Bennett and printed at the Cliff Press, Queen Street, Hastings, HB.

 

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Te Toa Takitini

Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.

The Price of the Paper is 10/- a year.

Address letters to ‘Te Toa Takitini,’ Box 300, Hastings.

Te Toa Takitini, 1st December, 1928.

 

THE CONSECRATION OF THE BISHOP OF AOTEAROA.

 

No matter how we searched for adequate words to describe the wonder we felt at the Service of Consecration of our Bishop we have not succeeded in finding them. The Pakeha folk who took part say that they had never before experienced such an awesome and holy and wonderful service.

 

The first cause for them saying this was the presence of all the New Zealand Bishops, not one was absent.  There were seven Bishops – eight with the Maori Bishop.

 

Secondly, for the first time at a major service in a diocesan cathedral, the cathedral was full with half the congregation being Maori and half Pakeha.

 

Thirdly, for the first time the service used both languages, English and Maori, in the hymns, the Litany, and the Sermon.

 

There was seating 1,200 in the Cathedral. All the seats were taken and people stood in places that were free. There were perhaps 1,500 in the Cathedral and another 1000 standing outside.

 

The first impressive part was the procession when the Church leaders and other participants entered. In front was the Crucifer carrying the cross; after him came the choir of children and adults; after them came the Diocesan lawyer; and then the Maori and Pakeha clergy, the Canons and Archdeacons, the Maori Bishop, the country’s Bishops, the Preacher (Archdeacon Herbert Williams Litt.D.), the Cathedral Administrator, and the Archbishop of New Zealand.

 

As they entered, the processional hymn was Number 102 in the Maori Hymn Book, ‘The Church’s one foundation.’ After that, the Archbishop led the first part of the Lord’s Supper.

 

When the time came for the sermon, Archdeacon Herbert spoke first in Maori and then translated his words into English. (Herbert’s sermon is printed below.)

 

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After the sermon, the Bishops of Wellington and Waiapu escorted the Maori Bishop up to the Archbishop who was standing in front of the altar. Then the lawyer read the deed authorising the consecration of this man as a Bishop in the Church of God. That being done the new Bishop swore the oath of loyalty to the Heads of the Church. The Litany followed. It was led in Maori by Pine Tamahori. Afterwards was sung hymn number 155 in the Maori Hymn Book, ‘O Gracious king.’ The Archbishop then put to the new Bishop the questions from the Consecration Service in the Book of Common Prayer and he responded.

 

Bennett had not yet put on all the episcopal robes. At this point he put them on. The hymn to the Holy Spirit was sung with the Bishops and congregation singing alternate lines.

 

The hymn ending, the Maori Bishop knelt and was surrounded by the country’s Bishops who laid their hands upon his head while the Archbishop said:

‘Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Bishop in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And remember that thou stir up the grace of God which is given thee by this imposition of our hands: for God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and soberness.’ [BCP]

 

That being completed he was presented with the Holy Bible. At the laying-on of hands the love of the Maori people welled up. Some people said that the Maori Bishop was like a lamb being offered up as a sacrifice. Many Maori and Pakeha were weeping at this part of the service; it was so awesome. Some spoke of the power of the solemnity – it was as if part of heaven had come down.

 

We end for the time being this account of the consecration of your Bishop.

 

ARCHDEACON HERBERT WILLIAMS’ SERMON

 

‘So that God may be glorified in all things.’  1 Peter 4.11

 

You will recall the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 where he speaks of the giving of the Spirit. He says there that although various gifts were given to the Church they were all given by the one Spirit and were not intended to divide the Church, rather,

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 each person who joined that body should see themselves as a part of that body. One gift may be given to this person and another to the other person – it has been arranged that one person will do one job and another a different one, just as in the human body the hands and the feet have different functions along with the other parts. One part doesn’t work just for its own benefit but for the whole body so that the whole body works together. But it is the same God who activates all the functions in everyone.

Paul also wrote to the people in Rome saying the same thing – that all parts should work together, one with the other, so that the whole body should thrive. Soon after, Peter arrived in Rome where he wrote his First Letter. If we read that letter carefully we see that Peter had heard Paul’s words since they both said the same things, that different gifts of the Spirit were given for people to use for the benefit of all and that it was God who blessed the work of each one. And, although the gifts were different, one thing was urged upon all, that they were to work together for the Church and to glorify God in everything.

 

That teaching given by Paul and Peter is for all members of the Church, but especially for the ministers. Ministers in those days were not like those of today. Paul described the work of the ministers in the Church in Corinth – some of their activities we do not see today. Likewise, the work of Bishops, elders and deacons now is different from what it was then.

 

However we know that the Holy Spirit guided the work of the Church after the time of the Apostles so that we now have  bishops, priests and deacons in the Church – and each minister is given the gift of the Spirit so that the Church may flourish and glorify God, as Peter said.

 

Let us turn to the service for the ordination of ministers; there one finds the words that begin the prayers for Embertide which perhaps draw on the words of Peter and Paul. That occurs five time in the service for the Ordination of Priests and many times in other prayers making us aware that the main reason for the establishment of the Church and its ministers was to glorify the Name of God. All the Church’s energy is to be devoted to doing this.

 

But perhaps someone will say – That may have been alright for ministers in the past, the bishops, priests and deacons, but who knows what should happen when there is a new practice? Indeed, we have gathered together now to support with prayer the consecration of our friend standing here as a bishop. But his bishopric is something new. He is not to be the bishop for a prescribed area as was the case in the past, but he is to be Bishop for the Maori People in various dioceses of this country.

 

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There may be someone who is wary of this new arrangement because it could be disastrous and bring about division in the body of Christ, the Church. How are we to answer that person?

 

They would be right and there could be a disaster if it is not carefully handled. But that kind of disaster is not something that could happen only now. The Apostles had similar difficulties when they were setting up the first ministries in the early Church. The Greeks grumbled that their widows had been overlooked in the distribution of food, so seven people were chosen for that work – they were Greeks. There would have been division had the Apostles not followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And it has been the same in each venture of the Church up to the present day. If the Church remembers the teachings of Chriat given by the Apostles it will flourish, however, if it forgets his teachings there will be troubles, disasters and divisions. In our case also if we follow the teachings of Christ as we take forward this great project of ours the Church will thrive, but if we deviate from his teachings the Church will die.

 

Let me summarize the story of the growth of the Church amongst the Maori People. The Gospel was first preached to the Maori People by Marsden on Christmas Day, 1814. That was the beginning. Eleven years later – the work was difficult but hope remained – at last the first member of the Church was baptised. From this point the Church grew rapidly and by 1840 all Maori had had some contact with the Church, some joined it, some stayed outside. But within twenty-five years there were troubles.  There was fighting over land. Many turned away [from the Church]. That was a great disaster which has not yet been healed. But the Church continued to work and in recent times some have returned. But the place of Maori in the Church had not been properly established. They had not been incorporated in the one Church. There was still work for Maori to do to grow the Church, and things to set in order in the Church using the gifts of the Spirit given to it. But as yet there was no obvious way for Maori to achieve that work. And then in 1925 the General Synod carefully considered the matter and set out a plan to set up a bishopric and everything associated with that bishopric, and to choose a bishop, whether Pakeha or Maori. But the Select Committee did not agree on who should be bishop and so the proposal was altered to say that a Maori person should be chosen. This man would be an assistant to the Bishop of Waiapu. He would work with Maori in this Diocese and in other Dioceses with the consent of the bishop of the diocese. And now we have come together to witness his consecration and to pray to God that he will bless this work.

 

We affirm that this action by the Church has been guided by the Holy Spirit and express the hope that

 

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the Spirit will guide him and us.  But let us think carefully about this matter. What is the purpose of what we are doing? Let us not mistakenly think that this is a way of setting the diocesan standing committee free from the obligation to pay its Maori clergy, or of easing the bishop’s burden of work of travelling to distant parts of the diocese to visit the Maori people. And do not think that this is done just to flatter you, my brothers and sisters of the Maori people, when you see a Maori person clothed in a bishop’s robes and doing the work of a bishop.

 

You also, my have been called to this important work; it is not just an empty honour to you. No. It is a serious task that has been allotted to you, to change yourself for the better, to exercise self-control, to pray, to study the scriptures so that you are able to guide and teach and instruct your people and to cast out all wrong teachings. These things are serious and difficult, and the means by which you can achieve them is by relying upon the Holy Spirit. It is he who will give you strength and all his good things. Always focus, not on just each day’s work, but on the reason you have been called to this work of ministry. You are thinking, if God wills, that you will direct the Maori People to matters of the spirit, and that many will participate in Holy Communion, and that many people will consider being ordained to ministry, and that you will further the faith of the people and that they will be committed to the things of God. By such means the Maori will forget their former arguments, the elders will urge the younger ones to build fine churches, to collect money to decorate those churches and to provide stipends for the ministers. This is your task – and although you want to do these things they will not happen if you are not strengthened  by the prayers of the Bishops, of the ministers, and of all the people, whether Maori or Pakeha. May your  heart, your soul, your strength, be committed to the real work of the Church and its ministers which is this: ‘That God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.’

 

HUI FOR THE BISHOP AT TE PAKIPAKI

 

There will be countless words of praise written about the day when the tribes of the country came together to witness the consecration of our friend, ‘Fred,’ as the first Bishop for the Maori People, to be known as the Bishop of Aotearoa.

 

Te Pakipaki was the marae where the tribes gathered and were welcomed along with all the Bishops and the Archdeacons, the Pakeha clergy and the members of ‘Ngati Wiremu’ – the Williams Tribe, after the Consecration Service at the Napier Cathedral. Hori  Tupaea welcomed the people along with the Archbishop and all his friends and their ministers. Sir Apirana Ngati and Mita Taupopoki supported him. Following the Archbishop’s response, further speeches were delayed until after dinner.

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Dinner time. The table for the Bishops was in the middle at the top with the Archbishop at the head. On the right-hand side was the table of the Bishop of Aotearoa and some of the Archdeacons of the Pakeha clergy. On the left was the table of Sir A T Ngata and some of the Pakeha ministers. Next were the tables of the Maori ministers and the visiting tribes – Ngapuhi, Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato, Taranaki, Wanganui, Ngati Whiti, Rangitane, Raukawa, Te Atiawa,

Because there were so many people there were seven sittings. By the time the meal was finished it was evening, and the Bishops and some of the Pakeha friends left before the speeches.

At this point there were speeches from the tribes congratulating the Bishop and the marae – Hori Tupaea and Puhara, their elder Ihaia Hutana, and the tribe. Their contributions for that day were laid down:

                    Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa & Mataatua            £66   0   0

                    Ngatiporou                                                             36   0   0

                    Ngati Kahungunu in Hastings                       53   13   0

                                                                                                    £155  13   0

But it is right that we say something about the gifts given to the marae of the Bishop of Aotearoa by Te Pokiha – his body and soul were devoted to the Church.

We were observed by friends from afar as we honoured our lineage and Maori heritage during this ‘Day of Aotearoa.’ It is right that we say, ‘We have brought people closer.’

These are the country’s ministers who attended on the day we acquired the first Bishop of Aotearoa.

Diocese of Waiapu

Rev Hemi Huata       Rev Ra Rangiaho      Rev Wipere Mataira        Rev Wharetini       Rev Peni Hakiwai

Diocese of Waikato

Rev Kahi Harawira     Rev Karira Karaka       Rev Hori Raiti      Rev Hemi Pou

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Wellington Diocese

Rev H Keremeneta      Rev Temuera Tokoaitua      Rev P Kokiri        Rev Pakaki Leonard

Ngati Porou

Rev Pine Tamahori      Rev Wiremu Moana      Rev Poihipi Kohere

Matatua

Rev Canon Pahewa      Rev W A Te Waaka      Rev Ropere Tahuriorangi

Te Arawa

Rev Eruini Tikao      Rev Rewi Wikiriwhi      Rev Manihera Tumatahi

Auckland Diocese

Rev Canon Keretene      Rev Keina Poata      Rev Wiremu Panapa      Rev Taurau Hohaia

With this group were Canon Arthur Williams of Te Aute, Canon W G Williams of Whanganui, Archdeacon Chatterton of Rotorua and Archdeacon Herbert Williams of Gisborne.

(The names of the Lay Representatives will appear in the January paper.)

A GREETING FROM THE BISHOP

To my people in every place, greetings to you all. To my clergy friends in each parish, kia ora to all of you. Here I am, having been called to be a father to you all in the Church. I greet you. I salute you. Thank you for your welcome to me – to those who came bringing your love on the day of the Consecration Service and to those who sent telegrams or letters with your congratulations. Kia ora, all of you.

 

The hopes of our fathers up to the present generation have been fulfilled today. The spiritual chisel has been placed in or own hands to hold. The days of our apprenticeship are ended; we have become masters today. So what are we to carve?

 

We have climbed into our own Maori canoe. How are we going to wield our paddles?

 

Tribes of the country, let us show love to one another. We have become a minority people; let us stop being divided. We have been given a great treasure by our heavenly Father. It has not been given to bring us honour but

 

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as a way to spiritual blessings in our hearts. There are blessings for us from this agreement that we should have our own Bishopric.

 

Therefore, I ask all of you to be committed to helping the spiritual side of our work. If the spiritual side is right then the material side will be right too. Chriat says, ‘First seek the kingdom of God, and all  these things will be given to you.’ [Matthew 6.33]

 

My personal greetings to each tribe will have to wait until I visit your marae.

 

TIME-TABLE

 

During the months of January an February I plan to travel around the Parishes of the Diocese of Waiapu, then in April to the Dioceses of Waikato and Wellington, then in May to Nelson and Christchurch. It would be good to arrange classes for those wishing to be confirmed by the Bishop.

 

Your Bishop will live in Te Kohupatiki here in Hawkes Bay. Write to me at the following address:

                                        Bishop of Aotearoa,

                                        Box 300,

                                        Hastings.

Let the Bishop know as soon as possible about hui that you would like him to attend so that he can enter them in his diary.

 

People of the country, show you care for me. Be gentle. Be a blessing. Let us work together.

                    Nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora te manuhiri.

                    By your food basket and mine the guests will be satisfied with food. [cf Nga Pepeha 1981]

 

May God keep and bless all of you.

From your servant,

Frederick Augustus Aotearoa.

 

GREETINGS TO THE BISHOP OF AOTEAROA

 

Archdeacon Cowie, Hamilton

May the Father’s blessings descend upon you on this day of your consecration and all the days to follow.

 Archbishop Julius, Chrsithurch

I am prayng that God’s blessings will be given to you, and that he will help you.

The Mission Chaplain, Ratana Pa

I congratulate you who have been placed in this honourable position, having been called to be the first Bishop for the Maori People. May the Father’s blessings rest upon you in all your work. With much love.

 

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Auckland Maori Association

We send our congratulations and love to you on the day you are consecrated as our Bishop. We hope you will have many years as our leader in projects which will enhance the lives of our Maori People.

Archdeacon Dart, Nelson

Your friends here in Nelson greet you and pray for you.

Rev Tangohau, Uawa, Tolaga Bay

I am sorry that I cannot be with you because of illness. The people of Whangara and Te Hauiti congratulate you, and pray that the blessings of God will rest upon you on the day of your consecration.

Te Puea, Ngaruawahia

Greetings to you who are greatly blessed by the two peoples. May God keep you.

Tau Henare (To Sir Apirana Ngata)

Because we are grieving for one of our elders I am unable to attend. Please give our love to the Bishop of Aotearoa. Greetings to all of you.

Tahupotiki Haddon, Hawera

Greetings to you, the Bishop presenting the Church of England to the Maori People of Aotearoa. May God guide you every day.

Hon K S Williams, MP

I am very sad that I am unable to come to see you being made the first Maori Bishop for Aotearoa. But although my body is left here, my thoughts have been supporting our treasure. To you and the people, kia ora.

Taiporutu Mitchell, Te Puke

Although I am absent, my thoughts are with you during these days. Do your best for us. With our love.

Henare Ruru, Tutepuaki, te Aitanga-a-Mahaki

Although we cannot be physically present we greet you and are very happy that one of us Maori people is to be head of the Church, a treasure sought by thee many chiefs who have passed on. Long life to the Bishop! May God give you grace, and wisdom to settle the people according to his word. Let us work together.

Herepete Rapihana and all Te Rarawa, Kaitaia

May the blessings of the Almighty rest upon you and all who attend your consecration. From your servants in this place.

 

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Mutu Kapa, Te Rarawa

My congratulations to you on the day when you are consecrated as Bishop for the Maori People. Since we are not able to travel we will all be with you in spirit. May God help us in the work in the days to come. May peace be upon all the tribes who will come to the marae to celebrate all that is to be done in the Lord.

May God bless and keep you on the day you are set apart to be first Bishop for the Maori People. Stand firm in the faith. Be a man, be strong! Fight the good fight of faith. May God protect your going out and your coming in, now and for ever. I am very sad that I cannot be present. I hope you have in mind to visit this area next year.

Teihi Parata, Ruatoki

Because of difficult circumstances I am unable to attend. May God protect you.

Tui, Ruatoki (To the Bishop of Waiapu)

I am sorry that I am not free to attend. Blessings upon the Maori Bishop.

Tutepuaki and Te Rangikawhit, Turanga

Many problems mean that we are not free to attend. Our thoughts and our spirits are all with you. Greetings.

Barnard, MP, Helensville. The new member for Napier.

My greetings to you who have been called to this sacred office. My hope is that much good will come to the Maori People through your work. I am sad that I am not free to come to your consecration tomorrow.

Toru Rupuha Ashford, Ratana Pa

Congratulations to you on being appointed as Bishop for the Maori People. May the blessings of Heaven rest upon you. Best wishes.

Te Kanapu Haerehuka, Ratana Pa

We congratulate you who have been appointed as first Bishop for the Maori People. May the blessings of the Almighty rest upon you now and until your work is done.  Much love.

C Broad, Principal of Nelson College

Your old College congratulates you today.

The Assistant Bishop of Sydney, NSW

I still treasure the memory of the beautiful hui at Rotorua. I continue to pray that you will be blessed.

 

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Rev and Mrs Coats, Auckland

Much love. Our thoughts and our prayers are with you all on this great day. May you be strengthened as you lead your Maori people to Christ.

Rev Fraer, Christchurch

My parish and Te Waipounamu College are praying that God’s blessing may rest upon you and the Maori People at this time. To all of you, kia ora.

Rev Smith, Tolaga Bay

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. May God bless and keep you. May God’s Holy Spirit come powerfully upon you.

The Hon J G  Coates, to the Hon Sir Apirana Ngata, Pakipaki

The business of this time keeps me here. I would like to have been present for the consecration of our Maori Bishop. But although I cannot be physically present, my thoughts are there, and my hopes that the desires of past days that a Maori Bishop will unite and care for our Maori Church of England here in Aotearoa will be fulfilled. Give my greetings to our Maori Bishop. Greetings to you and to all the tribes gathered to celebrate our gift.

Uta Waitford, Hiruharama

The bird moves slowly along the perch chattering. It is happy that you have ascended to this highly important position. Do support all my ageing parents.

 

Whakarewarewa

26th November, 1928

 

To the Rev F A Bennett.

Greetings. At last I can congratulate you on being called to this important and sacred office in the Church, that of first Bishop for the Church of Aotearoa.

 

I am delighted that you are the first of us Maori to be chosen for this sacred office. Therefore, I hope in my heart that you will long hold this sacred position and that your works and your good and wise management wsill stand as an example for those who take this office after you, and will demonstrate to the Pakeha that it is right for Maori to ascend to this important office. Therefore, be stout-hearted and understand that He will be your guide on this new path.  

 

I also salute all the people of your village, Te Kohupatiki, for the hospitality they have shown to you and your family,

 

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and for their loyalty in recent times when the whole country was impatient.

 

I also salute all the chiefs of Ngati Kahungunu and their hapu for the way they have helped you in your work, which has been widely recognised by the elders of the Church so that you have been appointed to this position.

 

I also honour Sir Apirana Ngata who fought so hard to get this treasure for the Maori People.

 

And so, although I cannot be with you on the day of your consecration, my thoughts will be with you at that hour. May the heavenly Father bless and strengthen you at that great hour.

 

Raimona Heretaunga

 

From Hemana Pokiha, Maketu

Tama Ra, e! Tama Ra koe.

? You there, lad. you are the one.

‘[He] was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’  [Luke 15.24]

 

We shudder beyond the peaks of the frightening mountains beyond Hawaiki at the Pae-ki-Tawhiti where the image of your ancestor, Puhaorangi [? an atua on Te Arawa canoe], appears who gave the name, Te Heketanga-a-Rangi, to your calling in this world.

 

For nearly 2000 years it was lost on the waves of the sea, hidden behind the clouds of the sky. However, with your exaltation on this day, what was dead is disinterred, what was lost is found: ‘Time’ snatched it in order to spread ‘His’ flowering in Aotearoa and has spread over your Maori People the pre-eminent name in this sacred tongue of ‘Bishop.’ The voice is not earthly but from above, from the clouds. The screen of the heavens was pulled back and the name of your ancestor, Puhaorangi, was flung down upon you.

 

Best wishes to the two of you, your young one and all your family, who are included in the calling of your ancestor, Te Heketanga-a-Rangi.

 

Rangi, let me grasp the words of your ancestor, Elizabeth [sic], for you to ponder in your heart [hai koa natu hoki ma o maatua mokai i tawhiti].

 

‘My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand-maiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.’ [Luke 1.46-48 BCP]

 

You will be taken under the shadow of your ‘chief’ and led together to that sacred dwelling, to that  Tuaahu [sacred mound] set apart as a pinnacle for the Ruanuku [wise]. You will live in the carved house

 

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set apart as a dwelling for the chosen ones.  By the Almighty Creator, may the two of you, and all your family and household be blessed and kept and guided in the understandings you will get as you battle with the works of this ‘Palisaded Pa.’ In the strong name of our Saviour. Amen.

 

CONFIRMATION SERVICE AT HUKARERE SCHOOL

 

On the night of 6th December, the Bishop of Aotearoa conducted the Confirmation Service in the Chapel of Hukarere School.

These are the first children to be confirmed by the Bishop of Aotearoa.

1.           Alice Hodge of Tuparoa.

2.          Kaputu Katad of Tikitiki.

3.          Whakamaungarangi Babbington of Ruatoria.

4.          Whakaherehere Heperi of Takapau.

5.          Merehana Curtis of Tangoio.

6.          Huatahi Marunui of Carterton.

7.          Mary Rapana of Tikapu.

8.         Clytie Huata of Mohaka.

9.           Te Aotaihi Kururngi of Hicks Bay.

10.      Manu Mataira of Nuhaka.

11.        Annie Sadlier of Whenuakura.

12.       Lydia Boyd of Te Araroa.

13.       Hiwinui Haig of Ruatoria.

14.       Mihi Tahuaroa Watson of Picton.

15.       Hinehaere Hutana of Porangahau.

16.       Pupene Te Ohoomauri Mackey of Waiomatatini.

17.       Mere Karaka Mackey of Waiomatatini.

18.       Florence Lucy Wallis of Porirua.

19.       Mary Moana Jensen of Hicks Bay.

20.      Ruiha Keremeneta of Pipiriki.

21.       Lucy Te Atua of Porangahau.

22.      Mereana Tangaere of Rangitukia.

23.      Ruta Erena Paerangi Durie of Feilding.

The following people were confirmed by the Bishop of Aotearoa at Te Kohupatiki on the night of Wednesday, 12th December, 1928

Hirini Waaka,  Albert Te Auheke Bennett, Hikiera Mihaere, Whetu Marama Rawhiti, Tai Awhi Rawhiti, Ruth Hararutu Chadwick, Mabel Waipurukamu Potaka, Kahukiwi Gloria Chadwick, Ureni(?) Tangi Wehi.

 

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SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE MAORI MINISTERS

 

Pukehou, Napier,

14th November, 1928

 

To the Editor of Te Toa Takitini.

 

My friend, the Maori ministers and their Pakeha friends were very sad to hear the news from the Trustees of the Te Aute College Lands that they are unable to assist the Maori ministers’ children who are being sent to Te Aute College and Hukarere School in the years to come. The reason given is that there is insufficient money from rents to meet the needs of those schools.

 

Because some ministers have several children, and most of the clergy get very small stipends, they are right to be upset. At the October session of the Synod of the Diocese of Waiapu, the Rev Pine Tamahori put forward a motion asking the Standing Committee to set up some scholarships to Te Aute and Hukarere to help Maori ministers with children at those schools. It is a very worthy cause, and it would be very good if the Committee responds positively, but who knows if they will do so? And where is the money for scholarships?

 

Therefore, at the meeting of the Trustees of the Memorial Fund to Mr Williams Four-eyes (Henry) and his younger brother, Mr Williams the Brother (William), a motion was put forward: ‘That the Maori Ministers and their children who are completing their state schooling and moving on to the Church’s colleges, have scholarships made available for them.’

 

4. Agreed unanimously.

That help is to be available to all the Maori ministers of the Church throughout the Bishopric of Aotearoa for their children who are being sent to Te Aute College, Hukarere, St Stephen’s, and Victoria.

 

Our thinking was that St Stephen’s and Victoria are closest for the children of ministers in Auckland and Waikato. The amount of one scholarship should be twenty-five pounds a year, available for two years.

 

We were not able to decide on most of the scholarships as we did not know how many of the children were in a position to go to those schools. But we have sent this information to the Diocesan Offices so that they can tell us the names and other things we should know. If in some years we are unable to help all the applicants, the Trustees will choose the appropriate children to receive the scholarships in those years. This will depend on how many children the minister has and how small or large his stipend is. But we hope to help most of the ministers insofar as all their stipends are small.

 

So, my friends, I have had this important information printed in Te Toa Takitini for you, to encourage our minister friends lest some of them be sad and disheartened. Let us know quickly the number of children for 1929. The minister should tell his diocesan office or he may inform me.

 

Best wishes to you my Maori minister friends and brothers. Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your families, too.

 

Yours sincerely. from one who is deeply committed to loving and supporting the Maori People.

 

Canon Arthur Williams.

 

Kia ora to our elder, Canon Arthur Williams, and to the Board that manages the Williams Fund. This is, at last, a real blessing to the Ministers and their children. I am very happy that this blessing is being shared with all the Maori Ministers of Aotearoa. We are now beginning to see the blessing of God on the work of the Maori Bishopric. My Ministers, what word is there for us. Here is the word:

‘And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days.’

 

Now I can sincerely send this greeting: Happy New Year to the Ministers. Kia ora, Ministers, your wives and  children.

 

The Bishop of Aotearoa.

 

 

A SUPPLEMENT TO TE TOA TAKITINI

Waiata 41 – 60

 

Please look carefully at these waiata and the explanatory notes. If the words or the explanations are wrong, do point these out to Sir Apirana Ngata MP, Wellington, as soon as possible.

The waiata are being printed in book form, but the Committee wishes to ensure that the words are good, correct and clear. – Editor.

[These waiata and their translations were printed with corrections in Nga Moteatea Part 1. – Barry Olsen]

 

 

 

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