Kids exposed to scenes of death, abortion A haunting at the museum? ‘Terrifying’ scenes in church show horrify locals them about the hope in the gospel of Jesus.’’ The audience members were HORRIFIC scenes in a Rotorua informed about other church serchurch play have alarmed locals, vices and Pastor Abrahams said he who say graphic depictions of hoped they ‘‘would make a decision suicide, abortion and mutilation to become a Christian and live for are being seen by children. Jesus Christ’’. Amber, who did not wish to Although the Victory have her last name pubChurch put on many prolished, said she went to see ductions throughout the Welcome to Hell at the Vicyear, this was the first such tory Church in Malfroy Rd play that had been peron Thursday night with a formed there, he said. friend ‘‘out of curiosity’’. Flyers advertising the Amber said she was play were originally shocked that children in printed with a warning the audience were being that children under 13 exposed to such terrifying should be accompanied by scenes with no prior warnan adult. ing of the graphic content. Pastor Abrahams said a However, Victory decision was made on Church makes no apoloThursday night to bar chilgies for the play which it 281005bf3 dren aged under 13. says is meant to be shockWarnings at the ing, to convey what Hell VICTORY Church on Malfroy Rd, where the entrance to the church also may be like. production Welcome to Hell is being staged. advised people with mediAmber said she thought PICTURE: BEN FRASER cal conditions and preg‘‘the show would be some The final scene showed people nant women not to enter. kind of cool haunted house for the ‘‘I don’t know how anyone could kids. We thought that there would being redeemed by accepting God. ‘‘They said that even one little not have seen the warning signs. be some kind of scary scenes, but nothing as graphic and realistic as sin, like telling a lie, would see you There were people on the door going to Hell . . . It had nothing at advising those coming in to look at what it was’’. One scene in the play showed a all to do with Halloween. It was just them.’’ The show was staged on baby on a screen pleading not to be a disgusting way of recruiting for Thursday night and last night and aborted, then a graphic birth simu- the church,’’ Amber said. Victory Church pastor David was to finish tonight. There is a $2 lation which ended with an actor dressed as a doctor throwing a Abrahams said people going to the charge. Many churches and church play would have been warned of piece of meat in a bin. Another scene was set in Hell the graphic nature of the pro- groups stage alternative productions and shows to coincide and had a woman adorned with duction. ‘‘There are scenes that are with Halloween, October 31. piercings chained to a wall pleadThe Taupo Elim Community ing to be released. Other scenes shocking and that is the whole idea Church is holding a Superheroes include a suicide, a car crash and of it,’’ he said. ‘‘We tried to graphically portray Party tomorrow night, billed as a domestic violence, in which a man cuts off his wife’s arm with a what Hell might be like and what is ‘‘positive alternative to Hallowgoing on around us every day. At een’’. The church has asked that chainsaw. People entering a church were the end of the production we tell children not wear scary costumes. told to hold on to a chain, which pulled them from scene to scene, Amber said. ‘‘It was mostly pitch black. The whole thing lasted for 12 minutes but it was a pretty horrible 12 minutes and once you were in you couldn’t get out.’’ By MIKE MATHER in Rotorua 281005AW 5 ARE there really ghosts lurking in nooks and crannies at the Rotorua Museum of Art and History? Museum staff member Wallace Te Ahuru gets ready to be frightened. PICTURE: ANDREW WARNER By DONNA KERR in Rotorua DAVE Kiel knows what he saw. He wrote it in his diary. ‘‘Saw wispy image of two people on viewing platform. A man and a woman. Young. Standing by corner. They said nothing. Just looked at me and disappeared.’’ Mr Kiel, 51, is a construction foreman and was overseeing a renovation in the afternoon at the Rotorua Museum of Art and History when the ghosts appeared. He was alone on the roof exposing the original timber work and had paused to pick up his level. ‘‘I turned around and there ‘ I blinked just to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. Then they faded away in front of me. ’ DAVE KIEL were these two people standing right beside the hole I had just opened. They just sort of looked at me as if to say ‘what are you doing?’. I blinked just to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. Then they faded away in front of me.’’ Mr Kiel said it lasted about four seconds. The couple were dressed in Edwardian costumes with high lace collars. ‘‘They were aged in their mid20s. He was baby faced. She was very pretty, that’s for sure.’’ Mr Kiel, who was a radio broadcaster for 10 years, said he was used to dealing with facts, not fiction. ‘‘I know people are going to say this guy isn’t the full quid but I’m not someone who hallucinates. I wasn’t looking for it. I didn’t anticipate it. ‘‘Call me anything you like mate but I know what I saw.’’ The museum’s manager of collections and programmes, Cherie Meecham, said she was not surprised and did not doubt Mr Kiel’s account. ‘‘In the past we’ve had visitors who have said they have seen friendly ghosts or spirits down in that wing.’’ She said the latest sighting would no doubt attract interest from both believers in ghosts and skeptics. ■ Have you been visited by a ghost? If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you. Email us at news@dailypost.co.nz or telephone (07) 348 6199 ext 870. ■ Rotorua’s haunted suburb, B1 Te Arawa to stage own kapa haka festival By MEGAN LACEY in Rotorua TE Arawa kapa haka groups performed together for the Lions tour group. A decision was made for Te Arawa to boycott this year’s national festival and hold its own festival, on Saturday, November 26. Mr Maxwell said there were many good reasons for holding the invitational festival, including Rotorua’s own historical ■ TOMORROW’S WEATHER celebrations. The competition’s theme is The Birth of Rotorua — 125 Years Celebration. ‘‘Culture is always alive in Te Arawa. By nature, many of our performers are very competitive and we have held successful events in Rotorua many times in the past.’’ PICTURE: SUPPLIED Mr Maxwell said the committee, under the chairmanship of Anaru Grant, decided to stage the event and invite Te Arawa’s ‘‘friends’’ from neighbouring regions. Six Te Arawa teams will take to the stage, including Te Mataarae I Orehu, Ngati ROTORUA TOYOTA Mainly fine, 17° You have our word on it. Full weather details — p12 Rangiwewehi, Tuhourangi/ Ngati Wahiao, Mai I Maketu ki Tongaririo, Ngati Whakaue and Ngati Pikiao. Invited top teams include Waihirere, Opotiki Mai Tawhiti, Taniwharau and Whangara Mai Tawhiti. The leader of Whangara, Derek Lardelli, composed the ■ PRIMARY COLOURS 3809554aa © Daily Post 05 THE inaugural Te Arawa Kapa Invitational Festival is less than a month away and organisers are preparing for an explosion of kapa haka talent. The controversial festival is being held after Te Arawa boycotted the national festival, Te Matatini, this year amid concerns about the future direction of the competition. Event organiser and deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell said Te Arawa kapa haka committee wanted to provide something for the iwi’s groups who did not take part at this year’s national festival. ‘‘Groups are very active in Rotorua. Not taking part in the national competition has brought us closer together. We performed together at Lakeside, Jambalaya and, of course, the major British Lions tour.’’ Mr Maxwell, who was a delegate on the Te Matatini board, said he had repeatedly taken Te Arawa’s concerns to the board without any change. The concerns included the future direction of the event moving away from kapa haka, concerns over ownership issues regarding material used in the festival, selection of judges and the draw. new All Blacks haka. The draw will be held on the eve of the competition. The invitational competition’s format has slight variations to the Te Matatini festival. The groups have 21 members each, instead of 40, and the performances are for 20 minutes, instead of 25. ‘‘In the evening there will be an awards ceremony and a dressed up banquet where you can enjoy each other’s comfort in a wonderful setting. Often at a major festival, performers don’t get the opportunity to mix and mingle.’’ Leader of Te Mataarae I Orehu, Taini Morrison, said the festival was about unity. ‘‘All our hapu is after the same vision to develop and really provide a solid basis to nurture those coming through and acknowledge those who have come before. It’s about time we strengthened ourselves. To put the strength back into our own.’’ The festival’s powhiri will be held at Tamatekapua on Friday, November 25. The competition will be hosted by MC’s Scotty and Temuera Morrison at the Rotorua Arena at Rotorua Girls’ High School the following day. Cameron Robertson, Kawaha Pt School everyday www.rotorua.toyota.co.nz ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK ■■ ■■ ■■