Te Ara Mo Te Rongopai. (The Gateway For The Gospel) A Puppet Christmas Drama. (accompanied by pictures on power point) Cast: Narrator, Chief Te Pahi, Chief Ruatara, Samuel Marsden, Mrs Marsden, (Angel, Angels, Shepherds) Scene 1: Power point of Bay of Islands with tall masted ship/s. Ruatara and Te Pahi meet and hongi. Ruatara: Kia ora Uncle Te Pahi. Te Pahi: Kia ora Ruatara. Hey boy! Look at all these whaling ships in the Bay. I can remember when the first ship arrived. I was about 15 when Captain Cook sailed here to the Bay of Islands in 1769. Wow! We'd never seen anything like it. Tall masts and huge white sails! Ruatara: Uncle, next year I'm going to get a job on a ship that's going to England. I want to meet the Big Chief over there. Te Pahi: Ka pai, Ruatara. I too, want adventure. I'm taking 4 of my sons to Port Jackson in Sydney. I want to thank the Governor for the potatoes and pigs he sent, and see if we can trade with him. (They exit) Narrator: (Accompanied by suitable power point pictures ) Te Pahi did fulfil his wish for adventure. The Governor of New South Wales welcomed him and gave him training in carpentry and gardening. Te Pahi also spent time with the missionary, Samuel Marsden, at his farm, and church. Te Pahi and Marsden had lots of talks about Jesus Christ. Te Pahi learned that Jesus' way was not utu – pay back- but to forgive, and to show love – even to enemies! Later when Te Pahi returned to New Zealand he was very happy, because Marsden said he would come and set up a mission station in the Bay of Islands in 1810. Te Pahi's nephew, Ruatara began his sea adventures when he was 17, in 1805. Sadly, he was often badly treated by ship captains. When he was 22 a ship took him to England, where he was sure he would meet King George III. However, when they landed in July 1809, the Captain wouldn't even let Ruatara off the ship. After 15 days of cruel treatment, he put him aboard another ship that was taking convicts to Sydney. Who should be on that ship but Samuel Marsden and his wife! They had been to England to recruit new missionaries for Australia and New Zealand. Now they were returning to Sydney. They found Ruatara wrapped in an old great coat, lying by the mast, close to death. Marsden recognised Ruatara, for he had met him before in Sydney. They kindly took him to their cabin and nursed him. When they reached Sydney, Marsden took Ruatara to his farm at Parramatta. Scene 2: Power point picture of Marsden's farm at Parramatta, Sydney, 1809. Marsden: I want you to get really well here. Ruatara: (Holding a plant) I'm learning so much about planting crops. This will help my whanau when I get home. Marsden: Next year you can go with some of our missionaries to set up a school and Church on your Uncle Te Pahi's land. (They exit) Narrator: Sadly, that did not happen. In December 1809 there was a terrible massacre on board a trading boat called the Boyd. Te Pahi was seen rowing by, and was blamed for it. Europeans attacked and destroyed his pa. (Enter Samuel Marsden and his wife. Samuel has a letter and reads). Marsden: Oh, no! Our friend Te Pahi has died of battle wounds. Europeans were wrong to blame Te Pahi. I knew him well. He would not have done that. One day I will clear his name. Mrs Marsden: But who is going to be brave enough to live among Maori now? Marsden: We'll have to wait until things settle down. (Ruatara enters) Marsden: I have some very bad news for you, Ruatara. Your uncle, Chief Te Pahi, was wrongly blamed for causing a massacre, and he has died as a result of battle wounds. Ruatara: Oh no! This is terrible news! Marsden: It surely is. I will do everything to clear his name. But now we will not be able to start a mission on his land, and help your people learn about peace. Ruatara: Please come to my pa at Rangihoua. I will protect you. (They exit) Scene 3: Power point of Rangihoua Bay and of Marsden preaching. Narrator: Ruatara tried to return to New Zealand, but he was cheated twice by cruel sea captains. Finally, after 8 years away, he returned in 1813. He discovered he'd been made chief in his uncle's place. He was able to show his cousy-bros how to grow wheat, and make flour and bread. Ka pai – very good bread! In 1814 he returned to Sydney to bring Samuel Marsden to the Bay of Islands. On Christmas Eve Ruatara cleared a site at Rangihoua Bay, and turned up some waka for seats. He made a pulpit for Marsden to speak from. On Christmas morning he put on the red jacket the Governor had given him. Then he gathered all the people around the pulpit. Marsden and all sing: All people that on earth do dwell. (verses 1 and 4) Mardsen: (Reading from the Bible.) Luke 2:10 I have come with Good News of great joy for all the people. ***************************************** (Scene 4: Optional, either with puppets or live drama) Shepherds out in field. Narrator: Shepherds were out in the fields of Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (Angel appears, and shepherds fall on knees in fright) Angel: Do not be afraid. I have come with good news of great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born who is Christ the Lord. You will know this is true if you go and find a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger, an animal's feeding trough.(Many angels fly in) All angels: Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth for all those pleasing Him. (Angels disappear.) Shepherds: (excitedly) Let's go to Bethlehem and see if this thing the Lord has told us about is true! (They kneel before Mary, Joseph and the manger) *************************************** Marsden: Jesus left Heaven and came to earth as a baby. When He grew up He took the punishment for all the wrong things we have done, on the Cross, so that we could be free. This, my friends is the Christians' “Good News.” God loves us – and asks us to love others. Through Jesus God is willing to forgive us and give us eternal life – and he now asks us to forgive others rather than to get revenge. All sing: “Good News, Good News” (see note below). Marsden: (Writing in diary) Today the Gospel has been introduced in New Zealand, and I really pray that the glory of it may never depart from all its people until time shall be no more. Narrator: That all happened exactly 200 years ago this Christmas, and there will be special celebrations this Christmas to mark the occasion. Sadly, Ruatara died of his illness soon after these events, but today he is remembered as Te Ara Mo Te Rongopai – The Gateway for the Gospel – the man who opened the way for a message that helped many turn from a path of war to the path of Peace. All sing: “Not On A Snowy Night / Te Harinui” The NZ National Anthem in English and 1 verse in Maori THE SONG: Good news, good news (A song put out by Child Evangelism Fellowship) Good news, Good news, Christ died for me, Good News, Good News, If I believe, Good News, Good News, I’m saved eternally, That’s wonderful EXTRA (shouted) Good News!.