Haami Tokouru Ratana
Encyclopedia
Haami Tokouru Ratana (21 July 1894 – 30 October 1944) is a former New Zealand
politician and President of the Ratana
Church. He joined Eruera Tirikatene in Parliament as the second Ratana Independent Member of Parliament (MP), elected for the Western Maori
electorate in 1935. Following the death of his father Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana
in 1939, H.T Ratana became the second Ratana movement President. He held both positions until his death in 1944.
as an independent candidate for the Western Maori seat against Maui Pomare
in 1922. As a Ratana Independent candidate and one of the 'first cut of the body of the mangai', he stood against Pomare again in 1928, and against Taite Te Tomo
in 1931. He was elected in 1935, joining fellow Ratana MP Eruera Tirikatene
. In 1936, he joined the Labour Party
as the Ratana Movement and Labour formed a political alliance. He was re-elected in 1938 and 1943.
In his maiden speech in October 1937, Toko Ratana raised the principal political issue of Ratana - land grievances and the Treaty of Waitangi. He was to speak in the House only four more times. As the designated leader of the Ratana spiritual movement, the debates were left to Tirikatene and the other Ratana members. H.T. Ratana was frequently ill, and spent long periods in hospital.
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician and President of the Ratana
Ratana
The Rātana movement is a Māori religion and pan-tribal political movement founded by Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana in early 20th century New Zealand...
Church. He joined Eruera Tirikatene in Parliament as the second Ratana Independent Member of Parliament (MP), elected for the Western Maori
Western Maori
Western Maori was one of the four former New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorates, from 1868 to 1996.-Population Centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* -Tribal Areas:...
electorate in 1935. Following the death of his father Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana
T. W. Ratana
Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana was the founder of the Rātana religion in the early 20th century in New Zealand. He rose to prominence as a faith healer.-Beginnings:...
in 1939, H.T Ratana became the second Ratana movement President. He held both positions until his death in 1944.
Early life
Eldest son of the founder of the Ratana Church, Toko Ratana was educated at Whangaehu school and was bilingual in English and Maori. After enlisting in the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion during World War I, he served in Gallipoli and later in France, where he suffered the effects of a gas attack. This caused him ill health for the rest of his life.Political career
H. T. Ratana unsuccessfully stood for ParliamentParliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
as an independent candidate for the Western Maori seat against Maui Pomare
Maui Pomare
Sir Maui Wiremu Pita Naera Pomare, KBE, CMG was a New Zealand doctor and politician, being counted among the more prominent Māori political figures...
in 1922. As a Ratana Independent candidate and one of the 'first cut of the body of the mangai', he stood against Pomare again in 1928, and against Taite Te Tomo
Taite te Tomo
Taite Te Tomo was a Māori and Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Western Maori electorate in a 1930 by-election after the death of Maui Pomare, but lost it in 1935 to the Ratana candidate Haami Tokouru Ratana....
in 1931. He was elected in 1935, joining fellow Ratana MP Eruera Tirikatene
Eruera Tirikatene
Sir Eruera Tihema Te Aika Tirikatene, KCMG was a New Zealand Māori politician of the Ngai Tahu tribe. Known in early life as Edward James Te Aika Tregerthen, he was the first Ratana Member of Parliament and was elected in a by-election for Southern Maori in June 1932 after the death of Tuiti...
. In 1936, he joined the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
as the Ratana Movement and Labour formed a political alliance. He was re-elected in 1938 and 1943.
In his maiden speech in October 1937, Toko Ratana raised the principal political issue of Ratana - land grievances and the Treaty of Waitangi. He was to speak in the House only four more times. As the designated leader of the Ratana spiritual movement, the debates were left to Tirikatene and the other Ratana members. H.T. Ratana was frequently ill, and spent long periods in hospital.
War efforts
During the Second World War, Toko Ratana was opposed to conscription but wished to have a home guard manned by Maori to defend their lands. As Kai-Arahi or leader of the Ratana Church, he made a public declaration of the church's support for the war, and supported Maori control over Maori contributions to the war.Early death
Haami Tokouru Ratana died on 30 October 1944 after months of illness. He was succeeded both as MP for Western Maori and Ratana Church President by his younger brother, Matiu RatanaMatiu Ratana
Matiu Rātana , son of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, is a former New Zealand politician and President of the Rātana Church...
.