Rehua Hostel Block

Te Ao Hou, March 1967, Page 26

Rehua Hostel Block Boys from Rehua Hostel and members of the Avonside Girls' High School Maori Club joined to welcome the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. J. R. Hanan, Mrs Hanan, the late Sir Eruera Tirikatene, Lady Tirikatene and Mr and Mrs J. Lewin when the Minister opened the new hostel block last October. After challenging the Minister. Don Onekawa led the official party round to the new block where speeches were made by the Deputy Mayor of Christchurch, the President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Rev. A. R. Witheford, and Sir Eruera, acting as tangata whenua of the Maori people. Mr Hanan then presented the lease on behalf of the Government to the Superintendent of the Christchurch Central Mission, Rev. W. E. Falkingham. who acknowledged the presentation. Rev. Witheford dedicated the building and named it Te Koti Te Rato in honour of Rev. Te Koti Te Rato, who in 1866 was Te Waipounamu's first ordained Maori Minister when the Methodist Church appointed him to serve the Maori people of the South Island. The people present then joined in the dedicatory prayers. During the ceremony, speeches were followed by action songs performed by several Maori clubs: Te Whetu Ariki O Kahukura. Awataha. Te Waipounamu Maori Girls' College. Te Ropu Maori O Hoani, Kahurangi, and the Rehua Concert Party.