Congregation
Ra¯tana church and community members have used the annual political visit to their marae as a warm-up for an even bigger celebration.
Ra¯tana church and community members have used the annual political visit to their marae as a warm-up for an even bigger celebration.
Politicians from almost every party in Parliament converged on Ra¯tana Pa¯, between Whanganui and Palmerston North, on Wednesday to speak to church and Ma¯ ori leaders.
The visit, often seen as the start of the political year, coincides with the birth of the church’s founder, Tahupo¯ tiki Wiremu (TW) Ra¯ tana.
The Ra¯tana church and movement has been involved in politics for many years, including contributing the country’s first Ma¯ ori female MP, Iriaka Ra¯ tana.
That legacy has continued throughout the years, with Te Tai Haua¯ uru MP Adrian Rurawhe one of the latest.
Rurawhe, a great-grandson of TW Ra¯ tana, said the day had been better than other years.
‘‘In an election year [in 2017] it got very political.’’
‘‘[Today] it was a positive and focused meeting.’’
The church had let younger people organise many parts of the day, which was usually the biggest on the church calendar, he said.
But 2018 would see an even bigger celebration in November, when the church marks a significant milestone.
TW Ra¯tana had a vision on November 8, 1918, which he believed was the Holy Spirit telling him to preach the gospel to Ma¯ ori. That sparked him into action, leading him on a journey of preaching and healing.
Rurawhe said the January celebrations were a testing ground for how things may run in November. ‘‘We’re always excited to celebrate every year, but are also looking forward to an even bigger celebration coming up on November 8.’’
The church has seven parishes in Australia, some of which had been planning their November trips for as long as five years, he said. ‘‘We really don’t know how many people will come.’’
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who spoke from the mahau – the place on the porch of the marae – said she would be happy to return on November 8 to mark the centenary.
Her pregnancy was referenced throughout proceedings, with one of the church representatives who walked her to the mahau giving her belly a rub.
The church also gave her a gift in the form of a middle name for her child, Waru, which is short for Te Waru o Noema, which means November 8.
Ra¯ tana chairman Andre Mason said it did not need to be the first name – ‘‘we will take the second name’’ – and noted the church and Labour had done political deals in the past. ‘‘We will remember it from this year afterwards.’’
Ardern responded, saying she already had a long list of name suggestions for the baby, including Trevor, James, Grant and Winston – possibly suggestions by Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard, Green Party leader James Shaw, Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
‘‘We wish her health and wellbeing for both her and her baby,’’ church secretary Piri Rurawhe said later.