Presbyterian Maori Synod

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 47, 18 May 1948, Page 5

Presbyterian Maori Synod

Third Annual Session In Progress At Qhope

On Friday night the third annual meeting of Te Hinota Maori (Maori Synod) of the Presbyterian Church opened at Ohope. The retiring Moderator, Rev. Kihoro Te Puawhe, conducted the opening service, and will also conduct the closing service of the session tomorrow. He represented Te Hinota Maori at the Centennial celebrations of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland in March.

On Friday night he installed the new Moderator, Mr Te Uaua Turuwhenua, of Waimana, who has been an elder of the Church for many years and has loyally supported the Mission workers throughout that time.

In his address, the new Moderator referred to the privileges and responsibilities- that had come to the Maori people in this new age. He also referred to tlje Christian faith as the ladder up which Maori people were climbing to new heights of spiritual and cultural achievements. Approximately 120 delegates are some from as far away as Taumaranui and Nuhaka, Hawkes Bay, with the Tuhoe tribes of the Bay of Plenty strongly represented. The meeting continued with business sessions on Saturday, those present slfowed particular interest in a

special missionary , lantern lecture on the New Hebrides by the Rev. R. T .Dodds who has recently visited the islands.

Special services were held on Sunday. Business sessions were resumed on Monday, with competitions comprising Maori items in the # evening, when various Mission Stations competed for a special cup that has been presented by Sister Annie, of Ruatahuna.

Reports from the five committees; of Te Hinota dealing with various aspects of the welfare of the Maori people and the furtherance of Church work were discussed and adopted.