Iriaka Matiu Ratana
Encyclopedia
Iriaka Matiu Rātana, OBE (25 February 1905 – 21 December 1981) was a New Zealand
politician and Rātana
morehu who won the Western Maori
electorate for Labour in 1949. She succeeded her husband Matiu Rātana
to become the first woman to represent Maori in the New Zealand parliament. She held the electorate until her retirement in 1969.
, poi
, and waiata
groups and travelled with them throughout New Zealand and overseas. In 1925, she married Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana
to become his second wife and had two children. Hamuera, the oldest died from tuberculosis in 1934, and the second, Raniera Te Aohou Ratana
later became head of the Rātana church.
Following her husband's death in 1939, Rātana married Matiu Rātana
, a son of T. W. Rātana. The couple farmed until the death in 1945 of Matiu's elder brother, Haami Tokouru Rātana
who was Member of Parliament (MP) for the Māori seat of Western Maori. Matiu Rātana was elected in the 1945 election and held the seat until his accidental death in 1949.
speaking out against her claim to 'captain the Tainui
canoe'. Only the strong backing of the Rātana church and her threat to stand as a Rātana Independent secured her the Labour Party
nomination.
She won the Western Maori
electorate for Labour in the 1949 general election
. She succeeded her husband Matiu Rātana
to become the first woman to represent Maori in the New Zealand parliament. She held the electorate until her retirement in 1969.
As an MP Iriaka Rātana was concerned with welfare issues for Maori. She worked hard to improve living standards, particularly at the church settlement of Rātana Pa
.
Iriaka Rātana was awarded an OBE in 1971. She died on 21 December 1981 in Wanganui 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 Rātana
Ratana
The Rātana movement is a Māori religion and pan-tribal political movement founded by Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana in early 20th century New Zealand...
morehu who won 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 for Labour in 1949. She succeeded her husband Matiu Rātana
Matiu Ratana
Matiu Rātana , son of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, is a former New Zealand politician and President of the Rātana Church...
to become the first woman to represent Maori in the New Zealand parliament. She held the electorate until her retirement in 1969.
Early life
An entertainer from an early age, she was a member of the Rātana hakaHaka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
, poi
Poi (juggling)
Poi refers to both a style of performance art and the equipment used for engaging in poi performance. As a performance art, poi involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. Poi artists may also sing or dance while swinging their poi...
, and waiata
Maori music
Te Pūoro Māori or Māori Music is music composed or performed by Māori, the native people of New Zealand, and includes a wide variety of folk music styles, often integrated with poetry and dance, as well as modern rock and roll, soul, reggae and hip hop....
groups and travelled with them throughout New Zealand and overseas. In 1925, she married Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana
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:...
to become his second wife and had two children. Hamuera, the oldest died from tuberculosis in 1934, and the second, Raniera Te Aohou Ratana
Raniera Te Aohou Ratana
Raniera Te Aohou Rātana was the fifth President of the Rātana Established Church of New Zealand and last surviving child of its founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana. He served the presidency from 1995-1998. He was succeeded by Harerangi Meihana in 1999. Harerangi Meihana is the current President or...
later became head of the Rātana church.
Following her husband's death in 1939, Rātana married Matiu Rātana
Matiu Ratana
Matiu Rātana , son of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, is a former New Zealand politician and President of the Rātana Church...
, a son of T. W. Rātana. The couple farmed until the death in 1945 of Matiu's elder brother, Haami Tokouru Rātana
Haami Tokouru Ratana
Haami Tokouru Ratana 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 , elected for the Western Maori electorate in 1935...
who was Member of Parliament (MP) for the Māori seat of Western Maori. Matiu Rātana was elected in the 1945 election and held the seat until his accidental death in 1949.
Political career
Iriaka Rātana's decision to stand for parliament was opposed by those supporting traditional leadership roles, with Te Puea HerangiTe Puea Herangi
Te Puea Herangi, CBE was a respected Māori leader from New Zealand's Waikato region known by the name Princess Te Puea.-Early life:...
speaking out against her claim to 'captain the Tainui
Tainui
Tainui is a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato...
canoe'. Only the strong backing of the Rātana church and her threat to stand as a Rātana Independent secured her 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....
nomination.
She won 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 for Labour in the 1949 general election
New Zealand general election, 1949
The 1949 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 29th term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the opposition National Party...
. She succeeded her husband Matiu Rātana
Matiu Ratana
Matiu Rātana , son of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, is a former New Zealand politician and President of the Rātana Church...
to become the first woman to represent Maori in the New Zealand parliament. She held the electorate until her retirement in 1969.
As an MP Iriaka Rātana was concerned with welfare issues for Maori. She worked hard to improve living standards, particularly at the church settlement of Rātana Pa
Ratana pa
Rātana pā is a town in the North Island of New Zealand, near Wanganui and Marton in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, which developed around the Ratana church there. It is a site of pilgrimage for the Maori followers of the Ratana faith...
.
Iriaka Rātana was awarded an OBE in 1971. She died on 21 December 1981 in Wanganui Hospital.