Research - Dinah Hall's first New Zealand Christmas - competition entry - November 2014

 Dinah Hall's first New Zealand Christmas

It was to a glorious Christmas morning that we emerged from below deck. I am gradually becoming accustomed to these southern hemisphere Christmases although I don't believe it will ever feel right somehow. Yesterday we watched from the 'Active' as Ruatara made preparations onshore for Reverend Marsden to take Divine service for us and Ruatara's people. We laughed at the show made of landing of cattle and horses which created quite a stir amongst the natives. My husband, William, and I had met Ruatara on board the convict ship the 'Ann' on our voyage from England to Australia 5 years ago. I found Ruatara to be a most open and engaging person. An opinion which only strengthened with time and occasion of meeting.

Earlier this year William left me and our son, Willie, in Australia to journey here to New Zealand. He came with Mr Kendall to build relationships with the Maori people and explore the possibility of establishing a mission station. William had tried to prepare me for what I would see and experience on these shores but I must own that nothing quite prepares one for the reality of a tribe of Maori with tattooed faces and spears in hand standing on a shore bordered by tropical wilderness. With the memory of the fate of the 'Boyd' and its crew only 5 years before, I freely admit I am more than a little nervous of this fierce looking people. I am also mindful that I knew when I married William mine would be no ordinary marriage, as he was then already preparing for the mission to New Zealand.

This morning however the sight of the English flag flying on shore, albeit in this strange setting, gladdened my heart. There are no houses such as I know but I have observed some shelters on the hill to the left of us and Ruatara has done a wonderful job of fencing off an area for today's Christian service. In fact the red in our homeland's flag is reflected in the red of the abundant blossom of the trees which Ruatara told me yesterday are called Pohutukawa. My heart longs to reach out to these people with the good news of Jesus' life, death and resurrection so that we can be one family in God, and live together in peace.

My stomach was a quivering mass of nerves as we left the ship to go ashore this morning but the welcome we received when we landed settled my fears and I was able to join in the singing of the Old Hundred Psalm with a joyful heart. I must own that I was relieved to be back on board the 'Active' after the service was over and when Reverend Marsden administered the Holy Sacrament this evening it was with both gratitude for the Lord's faithfulness and trust in His provision for our future here. As our Lord said in the garden of Gethsemane, 'not my will, but thine, be done'.

Word count 499

Reference books used:

The Story of Northland by A.H.Reed
Missionaries, Wives & Roses by Ann Chapman
Tupu Whakarangi Issue 214 – Official Magazine of Maori Postal Aotearoa