Visit to Rātana Pā

To view images from the ceremony, click here

Rau Rangatira ma e pae nei Tumuaki Hare, Kingi Tuheitia, Ariki Tumu,  E te morehu, tenei te Mangai a Kuini Irihapeti.  Kua tae mai ki te whakanui i te rā whanau a Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, tēnā tatou katoa.

Thank you for inviting me to Rātana Pā this morning.  As Governor-General, it is an honour to follow in the footsteps of my predecessors Sir Michael Hardie Boys, Dame Silvia Cartwright and Sir Anand Satyanand and be welcomed here.

From a personal perspective, I’m especially honoured to be welcomed back to Rātana as the representative of the Queen of New Zealand.  It is a far cry from coming to the 25th celebrations as a young boy with my parents and watching the various pōwhiri from the other side!

Today, I am here to join you in celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, who was born 139 years ago, on the 25th of January 1873.

Today, and in the days leading up to this is a day, morehu return to pray in the Temple, to reinvigorate their faith and to rekindle friendships.  Many have travelled long distances to be here today.

I have fond memories of the times I came here as a boy.  Walking to the Temple behind the Bands playing familiar tunes is a clear memory.  The Manuao, where people slept and ate, and the Museum – the “bogey-house” - with its many relics and artefacts, are two other memorable locations.  I remember this marae and the talent quests held here, and the stories we boys told each other.  I also remember this marae and that wharenui as the place where my father lay during his tangi.

Overall, my strongest memories of those times, was of the strong sense of community and identity, participating in family and community events, of meeting new people and renewing friendships.  

With the Mangai’s birthday coming less than two weeks before Waitangi Day, I think it would be appropriate for me as Governor-General to speak of his contribution to Māoridom and to New Zealand.

T.W. Rātana came to prominence at a pivotal time in New Zealand history.  With the land confiscations of the 19th Century being followed by the physical and psychological devastation of the influenza pandemic, Māori were demoralised.

Ratana gave hope to many Māori of a better future.  He was a remarkable man—a prophet, healer, teacher and visionary who sought to improve the physical and spiritual lives of Māori.  He was, as New Zealand historian, the late Michael King, once wrote: “a man of ordinary appearance and manner driven by an extraordinary mission.”

But T.W. Rātana did more than establish the church that bears his name.  He defied his critics and created what many before had sought but had not achieved—an enduring national Māori church and an enduring national movement. 

He sought equality for Māori and recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi.  He articulated a vision of our country where Māori and Pākehā were equal partners, working together for a better New Zealand.

Matching his deeds with words, in 1924 he travelled to London and Geneva with a petition signed by 30,000 on the Treaty and land confiscations.  In this pilgrimage, he followed in the footsteps of others.  Ancestors and representatives of both King Tuheitia  and Sir Tumu  have also made similar journeys, both before and since.

While T.W. Rātana’s petition was ignored, its spirit has endured.  We have now come to recognise that there are wrongs to put right.  We have now come to recognise and to address the need for reconciliation and repair.

T.W. Rātana’s vision of a better Aotearoa for all New Zealanders still lies before us.  That vision will always be before us as we moving forward.  However, his vision is also a challenge that I lay before you this morning.  Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.