Each year, many people converge on Ratana Pa, 20km south of Wanganui for an annual Hui to celebrate and pay homage to Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, the founder of the Ratana faith.
T W Ratana, born 25 January 1873, began experiencing visions during the 1918 influenza epidemic. These visions told him that he was “Te Mangai”, the Mouthpiece of God and that he would unite the Maori people by bringing them to God. Following Ratana’s visions, he widely became known as a healer and prophet. The Ratana Church was established in 1925 and the temple was opened in 1927, on his birthday.
Following on from religion, Ratana recognised the need for Maori to have input into the governing of New Zealand and by 1943 the four Maori seats were held by Ratana members who earlier had created a partnership with the Labour Party. Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana died at Ratana Pa on 18 September 1939 and was buried before the temple on 24 September.
Resources at North Shore Libraries
Websites/Articles about Ratana