Rātana, revised: New edition of book capturing the influential priest

From Nights, 9:40 pm on 9 May 2024

Every year in January politicians from all sides of the political spectrum head to the Rātana pā near Whanganui.

Nearly 85 years since the death of its founder, the Rātana movement still carries a significant amount of mana in Aotearoa's political and social spheres.

But that is only one side to the story of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana and the movement he spearheaded.

Keith Newman has spent more than 40 years researching, studying and writing about Rātana. This week, a revised edition of his 2009 book Rātana the Prophet, has been released.

He joins Emile Donovan.

Politicians at Rātana celebrations on 24 January 2024.

Politicians at Rātana celebrations on 24 January 2024. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana founded the Ratana faith in 1918. Photograph taken by William Hall Raine. Dominion post (Newspaper) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP-NZ Obits-Ra to Rd-01. Alexander Turnbull Library

Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana founded the Ratana faith in 1918. Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library