BISHOP OF AOTEAROA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1943, Page 2

BISHOP OF AOTEAROA

VISIT TO WAIRARAPA MAORIS. SERVICES AT HOMEWOOD & GREYTOWN. On the visit to the Wairarapa, just concluded, of the Right Rev F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, the Bishop was accompanied by Mrs Bennett, Mrs T. Love, Queen of Raratonga, Mrs G. Chadwick, Mr and Mrs Ike Robin, > Messrs P. H. Tomoana, T. Tomoana J and R. Tutaki. His Lordship and? party were the guests of the Maoris at Okautete, Homewood, at the home of Mr P. H. Paku, “Ngamahanga.” The visitors, who included leading Maoris of Hawke’s Bay, were welcomed by Mr , Teoi Paku and Mr P. H. Paku. . A confirmation service and a christening were included in the services held there. Matters pertaining to the work of the church among the Maori people were discussed. Foremost among these was., the position of the Maori Bishop. His Lordship stated that the Maori people were passing through a tremendous religious awakening, as wherever he went, he was very impressed by the deep interest in and the avid thirst for matters of a spiritual and divine nature. Resolutions were passed urging all Maori Anglicans and other interested Maoris to endeavour to reconsider the position of the Maori Bishop, who at present was without a diocese, and it was very noticeable, it was stated, that his Lordship's work was being hampered in certain dioceses by misunderstandings and an attitude taken up by responsible people towards the Maori Bishop. The people, it was stated, realised that unless all these misunderstandings were cleared up, the work of the Bishop among the Maori people would be hindered. At Greytown Bishop Bennett preached in St Luke’s Church on Tuesday evening. The party left for Hastings on Wednesday evening.