By Amanda Wells
On Saturday 4 August, a special service was held at Maungapohatu, in the Ureweras, to return land from the Presbyterian Church to the local people.
Te Aka Puaho and the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees conducted lengthy negotiations to return the title of the land to the Te Mapou Papakainga Trust of Maungapohatu. Negotiations started in 1991 but stalled several times; they resumed last year and the Rev Wayne Te Kaawa carried extensive research into the complex history of the property and its title.
Wayne says this research revealed that the property was originally part of a 60 acre Mapou Papakainga block that belonged to the the people of Maungapohatu, with ownership residing with the hapu rather than any individual.
In 1923 the Crown purchased part of this Papakainga block. In 1927 it sold this property to the Presbyterian Church for 10 pounds.
“It is wonderful that the property is returning to the Mapou Papakainga Trust, completing the circle.”
The Rev John Laughton started a mission and school on the land in 1918, both of which operated until 1950, after which the buildings gradually fell into disrepair. The property will be restored to maintain its unique character, with uses under consideration including housing, a school, Kohanga reo and retreat centre.
The handover celebrations started with a visit to the grave of Sister Annie Henry, who had established a school and mission in Ruatahuna in 1917, both of which are still operating.
After this a special service was held in Maungapohatu, with several hundred guests including the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Assembly Executive Secretary, representatives of the Church Property Trustees and the Council of Assembly, and many connected with early missionary families.
On the Sunday a special service was held to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the relationship between the Presbyterian Church and the Tuhoe Iwi. The relationship began when Sister Annie Henry established her mission and school in Ruatahuna and Mrs Annie Gorrie started her school and mission in Te Whaiti.
The weekend of celebrations concluded on Monday 6 August with an invitation from Whakatane Museum to the people of Maungapohatu and Ruatahuna to view some taonga of the Tuhoe people. These taonga were gifted to the Rev John Laughton and Sister Annie Henry while they ministered in Maungapohatu and Ruatahuna. Included among the 50 artefacts are a cooking pot that belonged to Captain James Cook and a carved gourd brought to Aotearoa New Zealand aboard the Mataatua waka in 1350.