Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Ephraim Te Paa
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EPHRAIM TE PAA
1904—1990
Ephraim Te Paa was born at midnight on 1 January 1904, as the old year passed and a new one dawned. His birthplace was the remote settlement of Rangikohu, a small Maori Village in the far north of New Zealand. Ephraim was one of many children, his family having lived in that area for many generations. He left school at the age of 12. His father died during an influenza epidemic and so, at the age of 14, Ephraim took over many of the family responsibilities.
Like other Maori children of the time, his school years were difficult, as the children were beaten for using their native tongue, even though this was the only language they knew when they first arrived at school. Nevertheless, throughout his life, Ephraim displayed a command of both English and Maori that others admired. As a young man he attended St. John’s Theological College in Auckland, a city several days journey from his home. However, due to the barriers imposed by a limited education and the need to take on the responsibilities imposed by his father’s death, he did not complete his training, but instead served for many years as a lay reader in the Church of England.
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His marriage in 1928 to Hariata Hunia, a young Maori woman who had been one of his childhood companions, was the beginning of a lifetime of commitment and service both to his ever-growing family and to the community in which he lived. After their marriage, Ephraim and Harriet, as she came to be called, moved to Ahipara, a small coastal settlement near the sparkling Ninety Mile Beach, where they ran a dairy farm until the mid-1970s. They were blessed with 15 children, 48 grandchildren, and more than 20 great—grandchildren. Several of these offspring accepted the Faith.
Ephraim and Harriet were an integral part of their community, working in many areas of development for the benefit of their people. Much of this work was carried out through their close association with Te Ohaki Marae, the Mame being a place which serves as both the physical and spiritual centre of Maori community life. A unique feature of Te Ohaki Marae was the carved figurehead on the highest and most prominent part of this sacred building which, in a bold departure from Maori tradition, symbolised the equality of men and women.
The far north had always been geographically isolated from the rest of the country by reason of its mountainous terrain. Ephraim was pait of a work gang which succeeded in building a road through the Mangamukas, a high mountain range which had previously only allowed access by horse and cart and thereby maintained the isolation of that region from the outside world. Ephraim was able, throughout his life, to foster a balance which supported the preservation of his own unique Maori culture whilst incorporating such new ideas as would benefit the growth of the community.
In his middle years, Ephraim was chosen by the elders of his tribe to be presented with a taiaha, a wooden weapon or staff that was for ceremonial purposes only, and never for the traditional use in battle. The taiaha symbolised a Vision handed down by successive generations of his ancestors, which mirrored
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the Christian belief in a time when swords would be beaten into ploughshares. It was known as the Staff of Seers, but was renamed at the time of presentation as the Staff of Hope.
At the ceremony, Ephraim was told that he was the recipient of the testimony of forebears and that he held this staff on behalf of the people. The message he was given with the staff was: “Proceed to the Mountain and let your staff be the staff of Hope, but be ye robed with the cloak of Love.”
Realising the importance of his mission, but being unsure of his direction, Ephraim began an intensive study of both Christianity and the history, myths, and legends of his own culture, seeking answers. He also travelled the perimeter of New Zealand searching for the mountain referred to in his message, but without success.
In June 1955, Ephraim heard of the Bahá’í Faith and inquiried about it. The National Teaching Committee sent two couples to give him the Message—Margo and Joseph Been and Leonie and Bertam Dewing—and they were received with great warmth. Many hours were spent in discussion that weekend, and when the Visitors left they had the impression that here was a searching soul that just could not believe that his search was nearly over.
In the late 1950’s, Ephraim met Les Simmons, a healer from Whangarei, some 100 miles distant, who was Visiting the area, and staying at nearby Pukepoto. Ephraim had been told by his sister that this man could cure his arthritis. Ephraim arrived in Pukepoto and went to the Robson house, where Les was staying. He was ushered into the room where Les practised his healing. As soon as Les laid eyes on Ephraim, he exclaimed “God has sent you to me!” Ephraim was bewildered, but felt drawn to this unusual man.
In the following weeks, the two men began what became a mystical walk, beginning with an ascent of the mountain that overlooked the community marae and then to
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other often remote and uninhabited areas of significance, the sites of ancestral homes and burial grounds.
On the mountain of Whangatauatia, Les Simmons told Ephraim that he could see a purple haze surrounding the Marae, and a spring that had been long overgrown about to gush forth with life~giving waters of spiritual regeneration for the people. He said he could see the people preparing a feast, but that the cooking stones were not yet hot enough; the food not yet ready to be given to the people. Ephraim remembered these words until the close of his earthly life. They seemed to symbolise the readiness of the Maori people to assimilate the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.
During their time in the wildemess, Les Simmons had Visions of ancestors dressed in full ceremonial costume. Ephraim was often discomforted by these experiences, but felt compelled to continue, being swept along by the escalating chain of events.
They retuined to Ephraim’s home where, only a few days later, Les Simmons suddenly announced that they must proceed many hundreds of miles south to Turangawaewae Marae at Ngaiuawahia, which was the seat of the Maori King, and the collective spiritual heart of his followers. Ephraim was loathe to do this, as approaching another tribal area Without invitation was unheard of in Maori protocol. However, upon reflection Ephraim realised that he did indeed have tribal connections With King Koroki, through two female ancestors, Reitu and Reipae. Therefore, it was appropriate for him to ask for an audience with the court of Maoridom. Ephraim then sent a telegram to Ngaiuawahia and received an immediate reply. The invitation was for a week’s time. Little did Ephraim know that his appointment was to coincide with the official welcome of Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga, who was Visiting New Zealand to proclaim the Bahá’í message, including a proclamation to the Maori Sovereign and his people.
Ephraim’s fonnal welcome took place only about two hours before the welcome
Ephralm T e Paa
prepared for Enoch Olinga. Inspired by the Book of Isaiah, Ephraim called out to the people gathered that he had come to sound the trumpet to all four comers of the court of Maoridom, and that his message was: “Open, O ye gates of old, and the King of Kings Will enter”. Presently, he was led into the King’s chamber and then, he recalled, a mystical rain swept the court and the place where, shofily afterwards, he was to make his first acquaintance with Enoch Olinga. Ephraim was often to recall his reception in honor of Enoch Olinga, Who spoke of his wish that “this table could extend to all corners of the eaith and all peoples could share in this bounty”. Ephraim was profoundly moved by this meeting, and renewed his investigation of the Bahá’í teachings.
For five years he continued to study the Writings and to observe the Bahá’ís he met. He knew he could make no mistake in his assessment of this new religion as he would be held up to public scrutiny, his actions being Viewed as an example by some, and the provocation of opposition and derision by others.
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His final acceptance of the Bahá’í Faith came in 1962 when he was visited by Dr. Rahmat’u’llah Muhájir, who stayed for several days at Ephraim’s tiny farm cottage. When Dr. Muhájir read the Tablet of Ah mad, Ephraim was deeply affected from the very first line, which refers to “the Nightingale of Paradise”. Once again, Ephraim heard echoed the voice of his ancestors, and shortly after Dr. Muhájir had departed, on 10 March 1962, sent him this “note of submission” Via Douglas Weeks, a Bahá’í pioneer who had become a close friend of Ephraim.
Dear friend, Greetings. Please convey and transmit this information to the President or the Hand of the Cause. The voice of the ‘Huia,’ the nightingale of the spirit, is heard in this court, calling the peoples to assemble in the Unity of Love, Peace and Concord, is received, accepted and recorded.
Signed Your friend, Ephraim
Ephraim was privileged to receive a number of the Hands of the Cause of God in his home, including Amatu’l—Baha Rúḥíyyih Khánum during her Visit in 1979, and Collis Featherstone. Of course, he met many other distinguished Bahá’ís as well. One of these was Richard St. Barbe Baker, who Visited Ephraim and Harriet on several occasions.
In 1963, Ephraim was invited to attend the Bahá’í World Congress in London to represent the Maori people, but was unable to go. In his place, he sent the following message in his Maori tongue: “All praise be to God. Greetings and love to all people.’
In 1984, at the request of his National Assembly, Ephraim travelled extensively around New Zealand With respected Maori Elder, Mary Fox, and a group of younger Bahá’ís. The purpose of the trip was to Visit other tribal groups, government officials, and local authorities, sharing pertinent Bahá’í teachings related to youth, race relations, women’s issues, and encouraging the people to work towards the unity of mankind. In
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1985, he met with the Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Paul Reeves, to present him with a copy of The Promise of World Peace.
In May 1985, he was to realise the fulfilment of his mission as holder of the Staff of Hope, when he proceeded to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Carmel in Haifa. Here, Ephraim was later to recount, the myths of the ancestors became a reality. His pilgrimage was a journey of awe and wonderment which words cannot capture. Strangely, the “staff” disappeared at some stage of his journey to Israel, but he was unconcerned as the Elders had intimated when giving it to him that it would reach its destination but not return to them, as would have been usual With most ceremonial treasures.
Ephraim’s services to his people were recognised in the New Year’s Honours List of 1987, When he was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal. He was also recognised as one of Maoridom’s foremost authorities on Maori folklore and oral history, language and theology, and many considered him one of the last of the great orators of his Te Rarawa tribe.
Harriet accepted the Faith on 21 April 1990, and shortly thereafter, on 19 May 1990, and following a brief illness, Ephraim’s soul took its flight. He had called family members into his bedroom to say prayers and asked his granddaughter’s husband, an Anglican minister, to say a prayer from his Bahá’í prayer book. During the prayer for unity, Ephraim departed from this life.
For three days, Ephraim’s body lay in state on his Marae, during which time a continual flow of mourners arrived to pay their respects and to mourn their loss. Many religions were represented during the three days of continual services and tributes, including Bahá’í, Ratana (a respected Maori religion), and Christian. As Ephraim’s coffin was borne into the carved meeting house where those who loved him would say their final farewells on this earth, it was preceded by a fantail bird, spiritual portent of the Maori people and a Messenger of J oy, which
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accompanied his body into the house and remained in that place for several hours.
On 22 May, the Universal House of Justice sent the following message to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New Zealand:
...we are distressed to learn of the passing of Mr Ephraim Te Paa, whose steadfast services to the Faith for several decades have made a distinctive contribution to the unity of the races in New Zealand. Prayers will be offered in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his soul. Kindly convey our condolences to the members of his family.
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