T. W. Ratana
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Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana (1873 - 1939) was the founder in the early 20th Century of the Ratana religion in New Zealand. He rose to prominence as a Faith healer.
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[edit] Beginnings
Ratana began his spiritual mission in 1918 during the Influenza Epidemic. Ratana claimed that while sitting at home one day looking out to sea, a small cloud rose up from the sea and hovered above his house. From it came the voice of God telling Ratana that the Māori were God's new Chosen people replacing the Jews. Ratana was told to unite the Māori and turn them to God. Ratana began to study the Bible and preach unity for the Māori people. The "Mangai" (Mouthpiece of God) gained a large following among Māori who at this point in New Zealand history were hugely disadvantaged compared to their Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent) counterparts.
[edit] Politics
From 1922 onwards the Ratana movement became increasingly occupied with politics. The movement campaigned for ratification of the Treaty of Waitangi as a "cure-all" for Māori problems and collected 30,000 signatures on a petition calling for this. In 1928 Ratana proclaimed that Ratana Candidates would win the four Māori seats in the New Zealand Parliament, likening them to the four parts of his body, or the Four Quarters as the seats became known. By 1943 this had been achieved despite Ratana's death in 1939. This was helped by the 1936 alliance with the Labour Party which lasted over 40 years; agreed at a meeting in Parliament on 4 February 1936 with Michael J. Savage, which had been arranged by Eruera Tirikatene. Savage's predecessor Harry Holland had been reluctant, because of the animosity between Ratana and the Māori King Movement, especially Princess Te Puea.
[edit] Legacy
The Ratana Church remains one of the largest churches in Māoridom, and the political alliance between Ratana and the Labour Party continues as a strong tie between the Māori people and the Labour party to this day.
