Apostle finds connection between elements of Māori ceremony and aspects of the gospel
Kimo Decaires leads Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and others into George R. Biesinger Hall during a pōwhiri (Māori welcome ceremony) in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
HAMILTON, New Zealand — It’s not every day that a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is greeted by a warrior wielding a ceremonial weapon.
But Wednesday, Oct. 12, just wasn’t an ordinary day in Hamilton, New Zealand, as local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf with a pōwhiri, a traditional Māori greeting ceremony.
The traditional start soon gave way to a celebration of messages, gifts, connections, singing and food — lots of singing and food.
“The pōwhiri is a traditional ceremony to welcome guests to a marae or local meeting grounds, and it’s done through a wero — a challenge — which is what I’ll do,” said Kimo Decaires, a short time before Elder Uchtdorf’s arrival at the old Church College of New Zealand grounds near the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.
Kimo Decaires lays down a ceremonial fern for Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, during a pōwhiri (Māori welcome ceremony) at George R. Biesinger Hall in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
In performing the wero, Decaires represented the lead warrior or challenger who goes out in front of the visitors, laying down a weapon or a fern branch as a challenge. After a brief moment of respectful silence, if the senior-most male picks up the object, it represents they come in peace.
“Nowadays, the pōwhiri is done out of respect for the guests who are coming,” said Decaires, adding that originally it was to learn if a visitor was a friend or foe. “Traditionally, it was done to determine the intent of the visitors coming into the area.”
And it would have covered a greater and more protective distance, far from the village or meeting grounds, rather than the mere handful of meters separating the hosts from the guests, with the contingent including Elder Uchtdorf and the Pacific Area presidency — Elder K. Brett Nattress, Elder Peter F. Meurs and Elder Taniela B. Wakolo — and their wives.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, holds a ceremonial fern branch, which is a symbol of peace, during a pōwhiri (Māori welcome ceremony,) at George R. Biesinger Hall in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Here’s a quick synopsis of Wednesday’s pōwhiri, with additional key Māori terms:
The pōwhiri begins as the manuhiri (visitors or guests) reach the waharoa (entrance) of the marae. Conducted by a kaikaranga (woman caller), the karanga (initial welcoming call) acknowledges the arrival of manuhiri (visitors or guests), invites them to approach and sometimes includes the Kaupapa (purpose) of the visit and who the manuhiri are from where they came.
The wero begins, used to determine the intent of the manuhiri. A taki (dart) or taiaha (spear-like weapon) is laid down, or sometimes a small fern branch is used. The object is then picked up as a demonstration of peace, this time done by Elder Uchtdorf.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, picks up a ceremonial fern branch as a symbol of peace during a pōwhiri (Māori welcome ceremony) at George R. Biesinger Hall in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
The manuhiri are then welcomed into the wharenui (carved meetinghouse) by the tangata whenua (hosts), with men sitting along the front row and women behind. For the pōwhiri in Hamilton, the day’s wharenui was the restored historic George R. Biesinger Hall — built by labor missionaries and named for the leader of the Church’s construction that built the temple in the 1950s and other buildings throughout the South Pacific.
The haukāinga (local people of a marae) initiate the whaikōrero (formal speech), which is followed by a waiata (song or chant), with the manuhiri following the same kawa (protocols) of speech and song.
Alberta Harmer and Te Puea Corbett-Searancke perform with Te Roopuu Tuhikaramea kapa haka during a pōwhiri (Māori welcome ceremony) for Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at George R. Biesinger Hall in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
For Wednesday’s pōwhiri, a representative of the king overseeing the large group of Waikato tribes in the area, spoke on behalf of the haukāinga, while Elder Uchtdorf offered a message for the manuhiri, followed by the visitors singing “I Am a Child of God.”
Then comes the koha (gift or offering), which is placed in front of the haukāinga and offered by the manuhiri as thanks for the Manaakitanga (hospitality) of the hosts. However, Wednesday in Hamilton, the hosts offered the koha to Elder Uchtdorf, a pendant with a carved piece of greenstone.
At the conclusion, the hariru (shaking of hands) closed the proceedings, followed by plenty of kai (food) for the kaitahi (shared meal). The luncheon was done in the restored Kai Hall, built by the local labor missionaries as a dining area for those camping nearby while constructing the temple and Church college buildings. And the local Latter-day Saints continued with additional songs during the meal.
Te Roopuu Tuhikaramea kapa haka performs during a lunch with Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in Kai Hall in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
In his message representing the manuhiri at the pōwhiri, Elder Uchtdorf likened many elements of the ceremony to aspects of the gospel.
He first recalled having witnessed a similar Māori welcome years before when he and his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, visited the Polynesian Culture Center in Laie, Hawaii. And he acknowledged Sister Uchtdorf’s absence in Hamilton, having remained home in Salt Lake City while recuperating from recent eye surgery.
“Thank you so much for this wonderful and peaceful way,” he said of the ceremony, adding that “your gestures, voices and words are ones of power — they show strength.”
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, greets members of Te Roopuu Tuhikaramea kapa haka after they performed during a pōwhiri (Māori welcome ceremony) at George R. Biesinger Hall in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Mentioning that one of his assignments this week in New Zealand is to rededicate the Hamilton temple on Sunday, Oct. 16, Elder Uchtdorf celebrated “the return of the house of the Lord, which is a symbol of peace that can give us strength and connection with others. It will be dedicated to the Prince of Peace, who gives strength to all of us.”
Noting the difference in languages, Elder Uchtdorf said he looks forward to the time when the earth will once again be “of one language” (Genesis 11:1).
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, tours the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Center in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
“I will speak Māori, or maybe you will speak German, or we’ll all be speaking English,” he quipped.
“But the language of the heart is always understood. And I have felt that language from you today.”
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, joins in singing a song while touring the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Center in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Following the pōwhiri ceremony, Elder Uchtdorf also toured the nearby Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Center, part of the Church’s complex of buildings, offices and services in the shadow of the temple and on the old Church college grounds.
He began this current ministry assignment in Australia last weekend before arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday, Oct. 10. He visited the New Zealand Missionary Training Center and stopped at the construction site of the Auckland New Zealand Temple, which is adjacent to the MTC.
Later this week in Hamilton and prior to presiding at Sunday’s temple rededication, Elder Uchtdorf will continue his ministering efforts, including a meeting with missionaries of the New Zealand Hamilton Mission, a lunch gathering with some of the area’s long-time members and an evening youth devotional.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, signs a guest book while touring the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Center in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
A guest book signed by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is pictured in the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Center in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News