Filmmakers Edwin Coubray and Edward Brown visit the prophet Rua Kēnana Hepetipa (1869-1937) at his settlement at Maungapōhatu in the Urewera, March-April 1928. They journey into the hills on horseback. Rua, his family and followers are shown.
“Rua’s Stronghold, or fortress, lies between Ruatāhuna and the summit of Huiarau Range... The only way in, in 1927, was to walk or go by horseback along the track from Ruatāhuna. Then some ten miles of rugged country going... Finally our party reaches the ridge over looking Rua’s fortress, “Maungapōhatu,” the home of the Tūhoe people. It was not long until we found ourselves in Rua’s private living quarters, comprising many crude wooden buildings and a meeting house. The latter to be our sleeping quarters during our stay. We expected to see a sharp-eyed man with a beard. Instead, we found a clean shaven, well dressed, well fed gentleman, with seven well fed wives.” (Correspondence from Edwin Coubray.)
Coubray took two cameras with him on this trip; a spring-driven DeVry and a motor-driven all shutter dissolve by Debrie (the camera used for his sound work and later passed to Welsh by Alexander Markey)
For a brief shot of Rua Kēnana holding one of the cameras, see F37787, JOURNEY INTO RUA’S STRONGHOLD: HE MURIMURI AROHA KI NGĀ MŌREHU O MAUNGAPŌHATU. OUT-TAKE