Thousands arrive for Rātana celebrations following hui-ā-motu
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Its been 100 years since the prophet Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana travelled to London to present a petition protesting breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.
A century later, the Treaty remains at the forefront of discussions as thousands of people, including politicians from across Parliament, travel to Rātana Pā, a small settlement between Whanganui and Bulls.
The celebrations mark the birthday of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, who founded the Rātana church and religious movement in the early 20th century.
He was born on January 25, 1873. Although politicians tend to stay at Rātana for just one day, the celebration lasts an entire week.
The annual gathering is typically seen as the start of the political year, with this year’s event occurring amid contention over the Government's approach to race relations and the Treaty of Waitangi.
Rātana apostle Te Taepa Kameta, says the kōrero from the hui-ā-motu hosted by Te Kiingitanga at Tūrangawaewae over the weekend will continue at Rātana.
“Two of the main kaupapa at the forefront of te iwi Māori is Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te reo. I think this is what unifies our people, no matter who you are or what tribe you come from,” Kameta said.
“We're going to be raising some issues around how the Government sees Te Tiriti. When you probe the taniwha, eventually the taniwha is going to react.”
The ACT Party has proposed passing a bill redefining the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, which would then be confirmed through a referendum.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his party backs an “aeration of the issues” around the Treaty of Waitangi principles through the six-month select committee process – but has given no “political support” to ACT’s proposed bill.
Kameta said concerns around the proposed bill, as well as other policy statements which may be detrimental to Māori, had started a movement to regain independence.
“When I say independence, I mean mana motuhake and what that looks like for us, as Māori, moving forward as one iwi.”
About 7000 people arrived at Rātana Pā on Tuesday, including Kiingi Tuheitia, Kameta said, with thousands more expected on Thursday, the birthday of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters arrived on Wednesday, alongside leaders from Labour, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori.
“We've got thousands of people here at the moment and the feeling is great, the unification of the people is great,” Kameta said.
“We're looking forward to welcoming our politicians on to the marae again. Every year we sit down and have discussions as freely and as openly as possible.
“A lot of them come specifically to support the kaupapa, which is important.”
Who was Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana?
Born in 1873, Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, was the founder of the Rātana religion in the early 20th century.
He rose to prominence as a faith healer during the 1918 flu epidemic after his son Ōmeka recovered from serious illness.
His farm, between Whanganui and Bulls, became a small town as people flocked to hear his teachings and seek healing. It became known as Rātana Pā.
Rātana himself became known as te māngai, or the mouthpiece of God.
He visited marae around the country, working as a healer, and spreading the gospel. He affirmed individual responsibility and a healthy spiritual and economic destiny for Māori.
At first he encouraged people to continue attending their own Christian churches, but as he became increasingly vocal about political issues and breaches of Māori rights, Rātana found himself in disagreements with the churches.
Rātana eventually established his own church in 1925.
Te Haahi Rātana/The Rātana Church
The Rātana Church is the largest Māori denomination of Christianity in the country.
Based on the teachings and principles of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, the church has more than 40,000 members across New Zealand and Australia.
They are called ngā mōrehu (the scattered remnant) and come from many different iwi.
As well as the Bible, the Blue Book was used in church services. It contained prayers and hymns written in te reo Māori with many composed by Rātana.
Every January, thousands of people gather at Rātana Pā to celebrate Rātana’s birthday. Politicians also attend the event.
Rātana's influence in politics
By the 1930s, Rātana had shifted his focus to politics, with one of the key aims being recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi.
He harnessed the power of his church to influence Parliament, setting out to have Rātana members win the Māori electorates.
When they succeeded, he instructed the Rātana MPs to support Labour and, at the time, leader of the Opposition Michael Joseph Savage.
Labour had won the support of Rātana back in the 1930s, because some of its policy focused on Māori had been co-designed with followers of Rātana.
Although the political relationship started with Labour, Rātana members now share diverse views across the political spectrum.
This is why politicians from several parties usually attend the church’s celebrations in late January and speak on the marae at Rātana.