Friendships among Māori and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the last 150 years were remembered and strengthened recently when a Latter-day Saint delegation led by Charles Rudd, President of the New Zealand Hamilton Mission, attended His Majesty King Tuheitia Paki’s Coronation service.
“Latter-day Saints love the Māori people,” President Rudd said. “Our missionaries, members and leaders have been welcomed with love and kindness among Māori communities for over 150 years. Our congregations are enriched by our Māori members and friends.”
“My father, Glen L. Rudd, first came to New Zealand in the 1930’s as a young missionary. He learned much from the Māori people, in terms of language and culture. He also saw, first-hand, the Christian faith and devotion of thousands of Māori.”
President Rudd continued: “We are delighted to honour and thank King Tuheitia Paki, his family, and all Māori on this special occasion.”
During the Coronation celebrations, Latter-day Saint Wiremu Gudgeon — a former Member of Parliament and former member of the Church’s New Zealand Hamilton Temple Presidency — presented King Tuheitia Paki with gifts representing the many years of association and friendship between Māori and Latter-day Saints.
- Princess Te Puea Receives Navajo Blanket from Elder Matthew Cowley 1939
- Elder and Sister Cowley Navajo Blanket Princess Te Puea 1939
- Latter-day Saints, Wiremu Gudgeon, Rangi Parker and Vic Parker at the Coronation service for His Majesty King Tuheitia Paki on 21 August 2014.
- Maori King Coronation
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Mr Gudgeon presented King Tuheita Paki with copies of three historical 8mm films which include 1939 footage of a Navajo blanket being presented by Latter-day Saint leader, Matthew Cowley, to Princess Te Puea. A photo album providing a pictorial history of the Church’s long relationship with Māori, and a Māori copy of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ were also presented.
In 1938, during a Latter-day Saint conference held at the Turangawaewae Marae, Princess Te Puea, a grand aunt to the current King, presented to the then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, George Albert Smith, a Kiwi feather cloak as a token of friendship.
Later, to show his gratitude, President Smith sent a woven Navajo blanket from the United States to the Princess. The gift, delivered and presented in 1939 by Latter-day Saint leader, Elder Matthew Cowley, was an expression of respect and appreciation on behalf of the Church and its members.
Church History missionary, Sister Rangi Parker, said, “Princess Te Puea was very close to President Cowley and the Church.”
“She visited the Māori Agricultural College in Hastings that was built and operated by the Church, and was impressed by all the Church was doing to help educate the Māori youth, in particular the young Māori boys,” Sister Parker said.
At the close of Mr Gudgeon’s presentation, he and other Church members attending the Coronation sang the beloved Latter-day Saint hymn, “I am a Child of God.”
In a Pacific Mormon Newsroom commentary, titled, “Mormon and Maori,” it states: “Mormonism in New Zealand has been enriched in significant ways over the past century and a half by its Māori members. Tens of thousands have unified and edified Mormon congregations with their faith, energy, dedication and many other talents and contributions.”
In light of King Tuheitia Paki's recent hospitalization, this week President Rudd said: “We are very concerned by news of the King's health challenges. He and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.”