I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.
ONUKU CHURCH, THE ‘KAIK’, AKAROA
It's sheer joy to draw the church at Akaroa's Onuku Village and to emphasize its 'Maori-ness' that turns a typical, simple Anglican nave and porch into something very special. Even the picket fence that surrounds it is a celebration. Although I've drawn it many times in the past, it always comes out differently.
It was begun in 1876 and opened as a non-denominational 'all-welcome' whare karakia on 21 March 1878 to a congregation not only of locals but also of people from the North Island and the Chatham Islands.
There's a sealed bottle in the foundations containing secret documents concerning the now resurgent Ngai Tahu iwi.* I'd love to know what's written on them...
'Kaik', by the way, is simply an unfortified village.
* In Maori, ‘Iwi’ equates to ‘tribe’. Ngai Tahu is the iwi that largely dominates Maori presence in the South Island. Whare karakia means house of prayer.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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