Travelling to the Eparaima Makapi House in New Zealand
Kirk Magleby
Curt and any other family members who may want to visit John Ephraim Magleby (JEM) sites in New Zealand,
A Maori Marae is a compound. A Wharenui is a carved building dedicated to ancestors. A Wharekai is a dining hall. A typical Marae consists of a Wharenui, a Wharekai, and some outbuildings. You will hear family members refer to the “Eparaima Makapi Marae” which is not technically correct. The Marae is Kaikou, the Wharenui is Eparaima Makapi, and the Wharekai is Te Kauta. This is the semi-official web page: https://maorimaps.com/marae/kaikou It is true that Eparaima Makapi is the only Wharenui in NZ named after a Pakeha (non-Maori).
Most visitors stay in Whangarei which has many lodging options. Interesting places in the immediate vicinity include Cape Reinga which is the extreme northern tip of NZ. It is where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet, and you can often see the two distinct bodies of water very clearly due to their differences in temperature and coloration. The Maori believe that when you die your spirit travels through Cape Reinga. Just south of the cape is Ninety Mile Beach which is a popular drive. At the base of Ninety Mile Beach is Awanui where JEM prophesied that a “house of God” (Wharenui) would be built. The Mahimaru Marae is in Awanui today.
Temple View SW of Hamilton is where the original NZ Temple is today. It is in the district known as the Waikato. JEM on his third mission gave a famous prophecy that the headquarters of the Church in NZ would be in the Waikato.
Hastings is where the two Maori children came from who JEM took to Monroe. David Kamau is buried in Monroe, and a photo of him is in a Wharenui in Hastings. Hawkes Bay is a suburb of Hastings. That is where the Maori Agricultural College (MAC) was located (in Bridge Pa) that took up much of JEM’s time, particularly on his third mission.
Ruatoria is where the hill JEM called “Mount Eparaima” is located. This is where JEM received his miraculous gift of tongues.
Te Araroa is where JEM was tied to a fence for 2 days on his first mission. On his second mission, he set up 2 trust funds for the 2 women who bravely attended to his needs during the ordeal.
JEM traveled the circuit from Gisborne to Hicks Bay to Opotiki and back to Gisborne many times over the years. This is spectacular country to drive through today.
Those are suggestions for key JEM related sites. Other than that, NZ is a tourist paradise, and you can hardly go wrong in any direction. Lake Taupo, Rotorua, the glowworm caves at Waitomo, Fjordland National Park, The Hobbit movie sets at Hinuera, Waitangi Treaty Grounds – all are world class.
Best to you, Kirk Magleby (John Ephraim line)