Page 36 Maungaturoto Matters

IAN ROSS

CARPET LAYER
PHONE 09 431 6939
MOBILE 0217 499 6413
Maungaturoto Matters
OUR HERITAGE
Standing on the shores of this silent place it was hard to
imagine that once, over a century before, Tanoa was a hub of
activity. The settlement of an Uriohau Chief Arama Karaka was
here and later the Wesleyan missionary Reverend William
Gittos. So much history to be told . What went on there during
those early years that shaped the lives of the generations that
have followed since. It is what stands there now as silent per-
haps, an almost a shadowed testament to those events of the
early days of settlement.
Tanoa was once known by the name of Kakaraea and just
beyond Oahau, now called Batley.
In 1874 on the shores of Kakaraea a fine gothic-style church
made of the mighty kauri was built. Its siting had a particular
significance. According to Dick Scott in his book "Seven Lives
on Salt River" the site was Wahi Tapu and for Arama Karaka it
held a personal concern. Having converted to christianity he
had also abandoned his father's name Haututu, to take the name
Adam Clark and the doing came the rejection of the tapu sur-
rounding his father's death. Dick Scott recorded the following:
"Haututu had been killed defending his land from Ngapuhi
muskets in 1825. His body had been taken by canoe down the
Page 37
Otamatea to be cooked and eaten at his own Kakaraea kainga.
A big pohutukawa marked this especially tapu ground. The
missionary (William Gittos) set out to destroy the tapu by em-
ploying Europeans to build a church on the site. A handsome
building with great kauri beams supporting a high vaulted roof,
it became known as the "Cathedral Church of Gittos". At first
Arama Karaka was afraid to enter it and violate his father's
memory, but Gittos persuaded him with a prayer".
After much research and finding different years 1875 and 1877
for the construction of the Gittos Church I finally found an
article from the Daily Southern Cross dated 17th April 1874.
Opening of the Wesleyan Church at Kaipara
"The opening of this new Church took place on Sunday March
29th. The building is of wood, built in the gothic style. It is fifty
feet in length, by thirty feet in breadth, and provides sitting ac-
commodation for about three hundred worshippers. It is propor-
tionately of a very lofty character, the matter of ventilation
having received due consideration, a requisite quality in any
church where the natives worship. We were glad to notice there
was no pulpit, but a plain reading desk inside the communion
rail.....Mr Symonds* was the architect and builder."
Cathedral, no longer. Time took its toll on the grand gothic
facade finally succumbing to rot and a high wind the high
vaulted roof structure in the end was removed for safety rea-
sons. The church originally faced the shoreline. According to
local Iwi sources the building was turned around and was short-
ened. What remains is a plain unassuming building flanked by
old gravestones, its bell now erected alongside no longer tolling
the call to morning service. Birds fly in and out of the gaps left
behind from long since broken windows - a sad testament to a
glorious past. Now though, hope is on the horizon for this spe-
cial place. Plans are in place to restore this icon of our heritage
where once William Fox had visited and memories of old
battles remain.
Who would like
to celebrate
Maungaturoto’s 150th
Anniversary in 2013.
If you are interested
please give us a call.
Ashley Cullen
09 4318530
or 0211366447
Karen Smales 09 4316829
 Page 38 Maungaturoto Matters

APPARELMASTER KAIPARA
DRYCLEANERS & LAUNDERERS
106 VICTORIA ST
DARGAVILLE
PH:439 7139 or 0800 808 820

YOUR LOCAL KAIPARA RENTAL SERVICE’S

BUSINESS

FOR WEEKLY SERVICING OF

DIRT / DUST STOPPER WALK OFF MATS
CABINET TOWELS
TOWELS / TEA TOWELS
OVERALLS / DUSTCOATS
WASHROOM SERVICES
Many years back a lady I knew told me a story about one of her
Mondays. She was out in her garden happily planting away, lis- EASY TO READ WEEKLY RENTAL INVOICES
tening to the sounds of little lambs cavorting in the paddock next NO “ENVIRONMENT” CHARGES
door, and the sound of birds singing away. It was tupping time - CALL US FOR AN OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE
the time when the rams are put in with the ewes to make well...
more little lambs and next year's export dinners. That was okay.
All of the rams were in with the ewes, the garden was doing well
Weekly Drycleaning & Laundry Service.
and.......then there was the crashing sound. Little did she know DRYCLEANING DEPOT
one of the fence posts had come to the end of its life and had rot-
ted out. She had been spotted by one particular ram who NOW AT
'rammed' his way through the entire fence then 'rammed' her in TONY’S POSTAL/LOTTO SHOP
her rear end with his big thick woolly head which in turn sent her MAUNGATUROTO
flying up into the air straight into the compost heap..head first.
I'm not kidding either. Let's just say the next day that same ram
was hanging on a hook in the chiller....wonder...why.
-Mad Bush Farm

ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE VET CENTRE MAUNGATUROTO

Phone 431 8318
Maungaturoto Matters Page 39

Hey kids!
Write a story
or a poem and
send it in to us!
Draw a picture
of your
favourite
animal or pet.
First name only
Email to us
here at the
Maungaturoto
Matters. We
would love to
hear from you!
Did you know that there are white lions right here in
Northland? This is Gandor. He lives at Zion Wildlife
This is Mandla. He is a black Asiatic leopard. He
Gardens in Whangarei. Gandor came from South
Africa. White African Lions were first found in the
can hide in the shadows then catch his prey.
Timvati Region and were once thought to be just a Leopards can lift their prey up into trees so
legend. They are the result of a special colour gene other animals like Lions and hyenas can’t steal
and are the same as African Lions. it.

The bad poacher is in trouble with

the big huge elephant. Colour them
in.
 Page 40 Maungaturoto Matters

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
ESSENTIAL NUMBERS INTEREST GROUPS
FIRE POLICE Art Group 09 431 8044
AMBULANCE
DIAL 111
Ambulance 0800 42 62 85 (non essential) Ba’hai Faith 09 431 8782
0800 78 56 46 (Gen.Enquiries)
Police 09 431 1150
Medical Centre 09 431 8576 Garden Club 09 431 9101

Public Health Nurse 021 735 313 Dee Millen Otamatea Repertory Society 09 431 8728
021 2445 415 Sue Plunket

09 431 8129
Maungaturoto Pharmacy 09 431 8045
Veterinary Centre 09 431 8318
Care & Share Family Support 09 431 8227 SERVICE CLUBS
Homebuilders 09 431 9080 Lions Club 09 431 6373
Linking Hands 09 431 8969 Rotary Club 09 431 8388
Kaipara District Council 0800 727 059 Returned Services Association 09 431 8313
Dog, Stock, Noise Control 0800 105 890
NZ Post 09 431 8315 SPORTS CLUBS & GROUPS
Plunket Society 09 431 8187
Arataki Ministries Mental 09 431 9091 Esther Thomas Ararua Pony Club 09 431 8806
Health Outreach
Sport Northland 09 431 8427 Renee
CHURCHES
Anglican Church 09 431 8193 Hockey Club 09 431 8530
Catholic Church 09 431 8499 Trevor Brljvich Indoor Bowls 09 431 8055
09 431 2226 Peter Jackson Maungaturoto Bowling Club 09 431 8148
Congregational Church 09 431 8172 David Patterson Maungaturoto Squash Club 09 431 8599
Presbyterian Church 09 431 7106 Otamatea Hawks Rugby Club 09 431 8279 Hayden Foster
COMMUNITY FACILITIES Paparoa Golf Club 09 431 8773
Maungaturoto Centennial Hall 09 431 8388 Kaiwaka Sports Association 09 431 2051
Maungaturoto Country Club 09 431 8326 Maungaturoto Junior Touch 09 431 9133 Linda Little
Maungaturoto Library 09 431 8811
Maungaturoto Money 09 431 8028 CONFIDENTIAL 021 886434
Exchange DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HELPLINE
Maungaturoto Rest Home 09 431 8696 DEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER
MAUNGATUROTO MATTERS
Otamatea Marae 09 431 8337
ADVERTISING 15TH AUGUST (No Exceptions)
EDUCATION EDITORIAL 20TH AUGUST 2010
Maungaturoto Playcentre 09 431 8517 CUT OFF 23RD AUGUST (No Exceptions)
Email maungaturotoeditor@gmail.com
Maungaturoto Primary School 09 431 8106 Or phone Liz Clark Editor 09 431 9129
Otamatea Christian School 09 431 8487 Please leave a message on the answer phone if there is no
answer
Otamatea High School 09 431 8230