JOURNEY INTO RUA’S STRONGHOLD: HE MURIMURI AROHA KI NGĀ MŌREHU O MAUNGAPŌHATU

Rights Information
Year
1928
Reference
F7138
Media type
Moving image
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Rights Information
Year
1928
Reference
F7138
Media type
Moving image
Item unavailable online

This content is for private viewing only. The material may not always be available for supply.
Click for more information on rights and requesting.

Place of production
New Zealand/Aotearoa
Categories
Actuality
Duration
0:05:28
Production company
Edward Brown
Taonga Māori Collection
Yes
Credits
Producer: Edwin Coubray
Camera: Edwin Coubray
Camera: Edward T Brown

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