MAORI FAITHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3936, 30 April 1929, Page 2

MAORI FAITHS.

.93 PER. CENT. CHRISTIAN. - LARGELY ANGLICAN. The religious affiliations of the Maori of to-day form a particularly interesting branch of the census, and one which has never hitherto been quantitatively investigated by census methods, states the Government Statistician in a report upon the result of the 192 G census. Over 93 per cent, of all Maoris recorded their adherence to Christian beliefs. A comparison with the European census o‘f religious professions shows that the Maori is 'by no means a replica of the European in his spiritual beliefs. The Church of England has the greatest, number of Maori followers. If the majority of those classed under “Missions’’ be added, the proportional share of the population would be little different from that of European Anglicans to the total European population.

The detailed return of adherents of Christian faiths is as follows: Church of England, 21,738; Ratana Church, 11,507; Roman Catholic, 8558; Ringatu, 4540; Methodist, 4060; Mission (“Mihinare”), 3804; Latter Day Saints (Mormon), 3461; Presbyterian, '638; Followers of Te Whiti and Te Tohu (Raukura), 375; Maori Church, 90; Seventh Day Adventist, 84; Seven Rules of Jehovah, 71; .Salvation Army, 43; Church of Christ, 27; Baptist, 24; Bible Student, 21; other Christians, 220; total, 59,327. 'The second largest body is that of the Ratana Church, or Morehu, a 'church of comparatively recent origin. This is essentially a Maori Church, and is practically without representation on the European side, other than for a few quartereast European-Maoris. The Roman Catholic and Mormon Churches, the latter in particular, have a higher ratio,of adherents among the Maori than among the European. For the converse, 'the most striking example is the Presbyterian Church, for which only 1 in every 100 Maoris claimed adherence, as against 1 in every 4 Europeans. The fourth church of the Maori in numerical precedence is that of the Ringatu, with which has (been added those returned as “Hauhaus” and those belonging to “Te Wairua Tapu.” The main strongholds of the Ringatu Church is in the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay districts.

The Anglican, Ratana, and Roman Catholic Churches are fairly well represented in unost districts. Methodists are found chiefly in Auckland and Taranaki; and “Mission” Maoris and Mormons in Auckland and Hawke’s Bay. Twothirds of those objecting to record their religious belief at the census were in the Auckland district, particularly in the King Country. ,