Long-standing ties between the New Zealand Methodist Church and the Ratana Movement and Church were reaffirmed when a delegation from Te Taha Maori and Methodist Mission Northern attended the annual celebrations of the birth of TW Ratana in January.

Along with leaders of Te Taha Maori, the Methodist contingent included Sister Heeni Wharemaru. Sister Heeni is New Zealand's longest serving Methodist deaconess and someone who has historical ties with the Ratana family.

Image courtesy of Touchstone Newspapers

The main Ratana celebrations take place in the township and marae of Ratana, east of Wanganui. They last a week and feature religious services, sporting and cultural events, and visits by politicians.

The highlight is the service on January 25th to mark the day of TW Ratana's birth. About 20,000 people are in the small settlement on that day.

The service takes place in Temepara Tapu O Ihoa, the Holy Temple of Jehovah where TW Ratana and his wife are burided. Marching bands from throughout the country lead the procession to the temple before the service.

Executive secretary of Ratana Church Waka Paama said the focus of the celebrations are youth and celebrating the life of TW Ratana.

"The purpose of the event is to celebrate a birthday so it is a happy occasion. The celebrations are not about politics but about youth, it is a gathering of youth. We have sports, music and cultural events.

"The focus on youth is what TW Ratana wanted. Every evening at 7pm during the celebrations we also have a half hour religious service. We tell the youth we want their attention for half an hour and the other 23 and a half hours are theirs".

Image courtesy of Touchstone Newspapers

The Methodist delegation arrived on the afternoon of January 24th, the day on which Prime Minister Helen Clark and representatives of political parties attended. The Methodist delegation entered the marae grounds at 3pm as part of a contingent led by the Maori queen Te Arikinui Te Atairangi Kaahu.

Head of Te Taha Maori, Rev Diana Tana, led the Methodist contingent. She said the annual celebrations of TW Ratana's birth are not only open to Ratana people, but to anyone who cares to attend.

"People gather from throughout the country in Ratana for a number of reasons. They come to join others to celebrate TW Ratana, not only the man himself but what the Ratana Movement and Church mean for them. It is a very spiritual occasion for many people.

"The celebrations also have a political dimension. Opportunities are made during the week for religious and political discussion and debate. A number of MPs were present to vie for the Maori vote. Every year politicians use the occasion as a platform to encourage people to vote in a particular way."

Another reason Diana makes it a point to attend the Ratana celebrations is the historical links between the Ratana Movement and the Methodist Church. Some key Methodist people were instrumental in giving the Ratana Movement the shape it has today, she said.

"Superintendent of the Methodist Maori Mission Rev Arthur J Seamer had a long association with the Ratana Movement. He worked closely with the early leadership in the 1920s and with TW Ratana himself. Methodist deaconesses and ministers also provided education and health care to the members of the Ratana movement at that time.

Image courtesy of Touchstone Newspapers

"That history needs to be widely known. Te Taha Maori continues to acknowledge these links by attending and being part of that gathering and that community," Diana said.

Aotea minister for Methodist Mission Northern Charlie Fenwick also attended this year's Ratana celebration. Charlie accompanied Sister Heeni Wharemaru, who he called the "doyen of Methodist deaconesses having been ordained about 62 years ago."

Through her Taranaki family Sister Heeni has links with the Ratana family and movement. When she was the matron of the Methodist hostels in Hamilton she was entrusted with the education of the Ratana children who are now the grandmothers and grandfathers of those in and around the Church's current leadership, according to Charlie.

"Rev AJ Seamer's support enabled the Ratana Movement to be registered as Christian denomination. My interest in attending the annual Ratana celebrations is to retain the links between the Methodist Church and the Ratana Movement. Those links are deeply appreciated more within Ratana than the Methodist Church at this stage," he said.