MAORI SYNOD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 75, 25 May 1945, Page 5

MAORI SYNOD

UNIQUE EVENT AT OHOPE

1 'RESBYTERTAN CHURCH

WORKERS

An event unique in the history of New Zealand took place at Ohope Beach ? Bay of Plenty, from Tuesday to Frida3 r of last 'week. This was the meeting of the first Hinota Maori (Maori Synod) of the Presbyterian Church. Despite wartime difficulties the Hinota was attended by twenty voting and fifty-live associate members from Northern Hawke's Bav Southern King Country, Taupo, Urewera and Bay of Plenty areas. The Hinota, which is run on the lines of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, adopted its own Standing Orders; set up permanent committees to deal with matters affecting Church Life Work and *Youth Publications Missions and Public Questions and appointed its own officials. The first Moderator is the Rev. Hcmi Potatau, of Northern Hawke's Bay, who recently returned from service in North Africa and Italy with the Maori Battalion, and is now the minister at Te Whaiti in the Urewcra Country. The Clerk is the Very Rev. J .G. Laughton of Ohope, and he has as hi& Assistant Clerks the Rev. J. N. A. Smith of Taupo and Mr Kilioro Te Puawhe of Opotiki. Mr Te Puawhe has been elected Moderator-Designate ' for 1946/47. A full programme of business was entered upon and the Standing Committee tabled various reports, with many important recommendations. Among other things it was decided to embark upon a building programme, and erect a Wliarepuni, along with other buildings, at Ohope, in order to give the Hinota a permanent home. Visiting speakers were Miss D. Arrowsmith, Principal of .the Presbyterian Women's Training Institute, Dunedin and formerly of the Presbyterian, Church of England Mission in China; the Rev. J. H. Starnes, Moderator of the Bay of Plenty Presbytery; and the "Rev. H. M. Bell, Moderator of the New Hebrides Synod. The setting up of this Hinota crowns the. work of the Presbyterian Church among the Maori peoples' over the past 100 years. The devoted and courageous labours of the band of Missionaries, the majority of whom have been women workers, plus the vision and planning of the Superintendent of the Mission, the Very Rev. J. G. Laughton has reached yet another objective. The Hinota is also ane more link in the chain of events over recent years which focuses attention on the growing desire, and ability of the Maori people to accept full responsibility for their material'and spiritual destiny.