“The prospects are very good for a greater increase among the Maori race. . . . During the year, twenty Maori public talks have been given, with a total attendance of 470, most of whom were strangers. Before the talk begins, and in accordance with Maori custom, one of the village elders first welcomes the speaker and visitors from other villages. At the conclusion the people do not leave immediately, but remain to discuss the talk. Perhaps one or two will give an impromptu speech, each expressing his view of the points raised by the speaker. One might be in full accord with what has been said. Another may express disapproval and raise questions. Then the speaker has the final say, clearing up the points requiring further explanation. Such discussions, all conducted in the Maori tongue, often last a long time after the conclusion of the public meeting.”

The first Kingdom Hall in New Zealand was built by the Maori brothers in Waima in 1950. Much of the timber was cut from trees felled on their own land.

ROYAL VISITORS RECEIVE LITERATURE

Early in 1954 the Queen of England learned from a Maori sister of the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New Zealand. The Wellington, New Zealand, Dominion newspaper explained:

“A Bible and a book published by the Watchtower Society were unexpectedly handed to the Queen by a Maori woman who came on the dais at McLean Park, Napier, today to be presented to Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh. Mr. and Mrs. Tuiri Tareha were two among the 74 people presented to the Royal visitors. Instead of shaking the Queen’s hand, Mrs. Tareha passed to Her Majesty a small, neatly-wrapped brown-paper parcel.”

The package contained the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures and a copy of the book “New Heavens and a New Earth.” Brother Tareha explained, as a newspaper report quoted him: “The Queen once said that she wished that she had the wisdom of Solomon so that she could rule her people with equity and justice. We were confident that these books would help her.”

By 1951 a total of 13 New Zealand pioneers had graduated from Gilead School and had been sent to serve in other countries. Included among them was the first Maori graduate, Rudolph Rawiri, who later returned to New Zealand to do circuit work.

[Picture on page 242]

Maori brothers built New Zealand’s first Kingdom Hall in Waima in 1950