SECT FOUNDED BY TE KOOTI STILL HAS MANY FOLLOWERS.

Shannon News, 5 July 1929, Page 4

SECT FOUNDED BY TE KOOTI STILL HAS MANY FOLLOWERS.

WAS AT ONE TIME POWERFUL FORCE IN LrVES OF MAORIS.

Kiuga-tu, the Elevated Hand, a ceremonial religion based on Jewish customs set out in the Old Testament, and founded by the rebel leader Te Kooti | some 70 years ago, is still observed in parts of the North Island, Bishop Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, told interviewers on Saturday. In Te Kooti's day, it was a powerful force, entering largely into the lives of Maoris. Its mystical rites and its superstitions appealed to the Maori mind. Associated with the Hau-hau movement, it, during the Maori wars, spread through many districts, in spite of the efforts of the clergy. It fostered a kind of patriotism in opposition to British rule. Its designation comes from a practice amongst its followers of holding up the right hand when they walk' round in the ceremonies, reciting Maori chants. Bishop Bennett said that it still has a hold amongst his people in the area from Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, to the Bay of Plenty, the Ngati-porou and Ngati-kahungunu tribes on the East Coast, and the Tuhoe tribe in the Urewera Country, observing it. Its headquarters are at Whakatane, where Tumu Tara, whom the devotees style bishop, lives. Its mana" rests on the fact that its birth was during the wars, and that it went' through a baptism of blood. The old people, on this account, are faithful to it; but Bishop Bennett explained that Te Kooti told his followers that if-ever they withdrew from the Elevated Hand movement they must return to their Mother Church, the Church of England. Some of the younger people are doing tliis, although the faith of their fathers has a strong hold amongst Maoris in. the Whakatane and Tuhoe districts. The Bishop of Aotearoa finds that members of the sect are not unfriendly to him. They do not offer opposition to the Church. They welcome him warmly, and have eveii invited him into their circle. They .observe Saturday rather than Sunday, as the day of rest. Their big days are in January and July, when they observe fasts, but they also meet on the twelfth day. of each month. They have been split into several sections under separate leaders. Bishop Bennett does not think that the sect will survive for many "years. ThereJs a friendly feeling between the Bishop and Ratana's followers. He reports an improvement in*'the living condition of the Maoris, with a more hopeful outlook than ever before. He attributes this largely to the work of the native schools and of the secondary schools under the different Churches. Te A-i-te College, Hawke's Bay, is developing leaders amongst Maori, boys, and good work is being done for boys or girls at Hukarere, Hawke's Bay, and Victoria School and -St. Stephen's, Auckland. The Presbyterian Church has a very good boarding school for Maori girls at Martpn.