26 Jul 2019

Māori prophet Te Kooti's manuscripts displayed for first time

From Morning Report, 8:51 am on 26 July 2019

The first-ever public showing of the the religious manuscripts of the Māori prophet Te Kooti opens this evening.

Pages from 'Te Taniwha: The Manuscript of Ārikirangi'. Ngā kupu whakamahuki nā Richard Niania, photographs by Joyce Campbell.

Pages from 'Te Taniwha: The Manuscript of Ārikirangi'. Ngā kupu whakamahuki nā Richard Niania, photographs by Joyce Campbell. Photo: Supplied / Joyce Campbell

The original documents of the Ringatū religion he founded 150 years ago go on display on Friday in an exhibition in Wellington.

Hamish Cardwell went to the gallery as final preparations were being made and he spoke with Richard Niania whose great-great grandfather was handed the manuscript by Te Kooti in 1869.