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Te whakatuwheratanga o Te Tumu Herenga Waka : 6 Tihema 1986, Poneke, Te Whare Wananga o Wikitoria

13b. TAHUPOTIKI WIREMU RATANA

13b. TAHUPOTIKI WIREMU RATANA

13b RATANA

13b RATANA

Te Kooti Rikirangi said in 1893 before his death;

"Ko nga Kuri a Whaarei ki Tikirau, kotahi te tamaiti, ki te puta ia i roto i te ono tau, nui te pawerawera, ki te kore, e rua tekau ma ono nga tau ka puta ki te Hauauru, mana e whakakotahi nga iwi ki te Whakapono."

"From Katikati to Whangaparaoa (ie from one limit of the Mataatua district to the other) there will be one child. If he arrives within six years there will be great tribulation. If his advent does not take place in that time, in twenty-six years he will arise from the west and will unite the people."

On the 25th of January 1873 Tahupoiiki Wiremu Ratana was born near Bulls, to Urukohai and Ihipera Koria Ratana. His whakapapa connected him to the Manawatu and South Taranaki tribes.

Worship and learning about Ihowa (God) were an everyday (event for Ratana from early childhood. Ratana married Urumanao Ngapaki, from Patea of the Ngati Hine hapu. They had eighteen children, most of whom were sent to foster parents.

On November the 8th Ratana received a vision from Ihowa and the Wairua Tapu (Holy Spirit) spoke to him about the work he was to do. His mission was to help in the betterment of the Maori tribes, through both Ture Wairua (Spiritual) and Ture Tangata (Physical) activities. Examples of the former include his attempt to denounce the tohunga makutu; and the healing of page 33 the body, soul, and mind through faith in the Father (Jehovah), Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. The physical works included political representation which would give the Maori people more autonomy in how they organised and controlled their lives.

Ratana died on the 18th of September 1939 at Ratana Pa. Part of his final covenant said;

"E Ihowa, te Matua, te Tama, te Wairua Tapu, me nga Anahera Pono, kua papawera te tinana e hipoki nei i toku wairua... He pono e ora ana te Ariki toku Kai-whakaora a Ihu Karaiti."

"Oh Jehovah, the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost, and the Faithful Angels, the flesh is worn thin where it encases my soul... of a truth the Lord my Saviour Jesus Christ lives."