Te Taniwha: The Manuscript of Arikirangi are on display at Victoria University of Wellington's Te Pataka Toi Adam Art Gallery.

They were given by the prophet to Richard Niania's great-great-grandfather in 1869. He passed them to Niania's grandmother. He himself has had them since 1988.

Niania commissioned Joyce Campbell to photograph the pages and these are hanging on the walls with the original manuscript displayed on a table.

Niania said Te Kooti founded the religion after escaping imprisonment by the Crown on the Chatham Islands.

While jailed there he began to write the founding documents of the church - inspired by the book of Exodus and a yearning to be free.

"It all hinges on Te Kooti's visions which he had in May of 1866, and the manuscript's actually inspired by that revelation ... that he had.

"It said 'you are like unto Moses, and your job is to do what Moses did for the Israelites out of Egypt ... your job is to take your people home from the Chathams'."

Te Taniwha: The Manuscript of Arikirangi is the latest version of Niania and Campbell's decade long project to capture and preserve korero about the people of Whakapunake te maunga (the sacred mountain of the Wairoa region) and Ruakituri awa (a major tributary of the Wairoa river).

At the centre of the exhibition is a rare manuscript containing hymns, prayers and whakapapa written by the founder of the Ringatu faith, Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki.

This is one of the founding documents of Te Haahi Ringatu mentioned by Judith Binney in an appendix to Redemptions Songs, her biography of the prophet.

Source

• rnz.co.nz
• photoforum-nz.org
• Image: Robert Cross

Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard from Wellington attended on behalf of Cardinal John Dew and the Catholic Church.

The photograph shows Karatea-Goddard with Anglican Archdeacon Don Rangi.

The late Pihopa Takuira Mariu always made a point of going to join the Ratana ceremonies.

The 8th of November commemorated the day 100 years ago in 1918 that Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana received an anointing from the Spirit.

The celebrations continued for most of the week. On Wednesday, the prime minister came as did the leader of the opposition and other ministers.

That was the official day to welcome all other Churches.

On Thursday the 8th, there was a special prayer service to offer thanks.

Apotoro Te Ringakaha-Tia-Ward from Te Tai Tokerau gave thanks for the blessings on Ratana and his descendants.

He renewed the commitment of the Ratana movement and government to the Treaty of Waitangi.

When he travelled, Ratana carried the Bible in one hand and the Treaty of Waitangi in the other.

About 2000 people, including the Maori Kingitanga and various other dignitaries, attended including Che Wilson, Chair of the Maori Party.

Ratana women, called Awhina, led the singing. They were dressed in purple robes, marking the time they were nurses for the sick.

Combined bands led the people from the marae to the Temple where the service concluded.

Members of the Ratana faith believe Wiremu Ratana was set aside as a prophet for Maori.

He was to be the ‘Mangai' or ‘Mouth-piece' of God.

His task was to proclaim the news of God to Maori and then all people.

Ratana travelled around Aotearoa and then made trips overseas to speak on behalf of God, "Matua, Tama, Wairua Tapu me Nga Anahera Pono," Father, Son, Holy Spirit and the Faithful Angels.

Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana is buried in front of the Temple. He died on 18th September 1939.

Buried next to him is his wife, Te Urumanao Ratana, who died in 1940.

Source

Supplied. Fr Philip Cody

A special commemoration day, a ‘Ra Whakamaumahara' of Te Haahi Ringatu will be held on Tuesday at Rangiwaho Marae just south of Gisborne near the area commonly known as Bartletts. Read more

About 30 Ringatu followers and tohunga went to a wananga at the University of Waikato last weekend, where falling church attendance and the abilities of the clergy of tohunga were examined.

A guest speaker at the hui, Pou Temara, said followers wanted to find ways to help make the church popular, which included changing the role of tohunga. Continue reading