Both a religion and a pan-tribal political force, the Ratana movement was founded by Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana (1873 - 1939) in early 20th century New Zealand.

T.W. Ratana rose to fame as a faith healer and spiritual leader in the years after World War I. In 1925 his followers formed the Ratana Church and formally split from the established churches.

In the 1930s Ratana aligned with the New Zealand Labour Party for the mutual benefit of both sides. Ratana/Labour candidates dominated the Māori seats in parliament until the 1990s when New Zealand First won the seats. Labour regained them to lose four of the seven in 2005; albeit, the Ratana remains a political force to be reckoned with.

In the 1960s there was a rapprochement with the conventional Christian churches.

The Ratana Church has its headquarters at the settlement of Ratana, near Wanganui.

External links

Māori | Religion in New Zealand | Politics of New Zealand