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A documentary about the Māori prophet Rua Kenana and his temple of the Ringatū faith at Maungapōhatu in the Urewera district.
It features first-hand accounts of the events that lead to his arrest, which was prompted by his resistance to Ngāi Tūhoe men being recruited to fight in World War I.
A waiata tawhito composed by Rua Kenana while in prison, is sung by Ngāi Tūhoe kaumātua at Ruatahuna.
Ernie Morris, a historian of Hamilton gives some of the few known details of Rua's early life. An unidentified man and woman who knew Rua Kenana in his early life comment. Rongo Teka, son of Te Kau Ma Rua, one of Rua's followers and a leader in the Ringatū church speaks in te reo Māori about Rua's transformation into a prophet [his comments are translated into English.]
Peter Webster, a social scientist, comments on the development of Rua's following and how he came to be connected to Te Kooti's prophecies of a saviour to lead Māori. He offered hope to Māori and Maungapōhatu, Te Kooti's former stronghold, became the centre of his community.
Hugh Ross of Whanganui speaks about the government plans to build a road through the district, which he says was not done tactfully and met with opposition from Tūhoe.
Matiu Te Hau, anthropology lecturer at Auckland University comments on the Ringatū Church and Rua's development of it.
An unidentified man talks about the communal farming which thrived at Maungapōhatu and Matahi under Rua. His father was one of the leading farm hands, looking after the stables of 40 horses.
Herbie Duff, who was working as an engineer in the area, recalls Rua's appearance when he would ride into Whakatane with his disciples and describes the round, two-storey temple at Maungapōhatu.
Rua had 12 wives and up to 70 children. An unidentified man recalls his experiences with him and several wives. Rongo Teka explains why Rua took so many wives [in te reo Māori.]
The sale of liquor to Māori was forbidden by law and Rua complained that pākēha sly-groggers were selling alcohol in his district. He felt there was one law for Māori and one for pākēha and applied for a liquor licence himself. Several men comment about Rua and alcohol sales in the district.
Beryl Gollner visited Maungapōhatu in 1915 at the age of 9 and describes the community and Rua's welcome.
When war broke out Māori signed up, but Rua felt it was a white man's war and did not feel his young men should take part. [Dramatisation of Rua's exchange with a local policeman Constable Grant when he served a summons on him in 1916 for sly-grogging.]
The government decided his statement was sedition and a large party of 60 armed police went to Maungapōhatu to arrest Rua. Two women and several men, give various accounts of the approach by the police and Rua's arrest. Officially the police opened fire in self-defence, but Wairemana Te Kaawa, wife of Toko Rua, who was an eye witness, gives a different account [in te reo Māori to Joe Bennett, who translates.] She describes how her husband Toko and Maipi, Rua's uncle were shot by the police.
Rua was tried in Auckland over 47 days and found not guilty of sedition but morally guilty of resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 12 months hard labour. Brian Brooks Auckland University law lecturer comments. Further comment from the New Zealand Herald at the time is read.
A report on the state of Rua's community at Maungapōhatu is read. Rua's waiata composed in prison is sung
Rua Kenana was released from jail after nine months by the intervention of Sir Apirana Ngata who made Rua promise not to oppose conscription. His mana was unimpaired but his community at Maungapōhatu was in ruins, his stock gone, and the capital reserves dissipated. A new development had taken place during his absence. New chiefs had taken over and were keen on Pākehā education for their people.
Rua moved from Maungapōhatu and built himself a house at Matahi. He died on 21 February 1937. Some mourners at his tangi who were disappointed when he did not rise from he dead as promised, turned to the Rātana faith. His movement is still alive amongst many Tūhoe however.
Peter Webster, social anthropologist at Victoria University, puts Rua Kenana’s movement into context of other messianic beliefs worldwide.
Voices heard in this programme include: Ernie Morris, a historian of Hamilton, Rongo Teka, a Ringatū minister, Wairemana Te Kaawa, the wife of Toko Rua; Mr R. Bell, the Waimoana publican; Ted Addison; Peter Webster, Victoria University social anthropologist; Morris Lennard, Auckland solicitor; Herbie Duff who prior to World War I was an engineer draining swamps in the Bay of Plenty; Matiu Te Hau, anthropologist at Auckland University; Mrs Beryl Gollner; Hugh Ross of Wanganui; Mau Rua, son of Rua Kenana.