Thousands at Ratana for birthday
PA Wanganui More than 18,000 people were at Ratana during the week-end to celebrate the 118th birth date of Ratana Church’s founder, Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.
Most of the celebrants arrived on Friday, but several thousand more people were expected for today’s celebrations. Daily services, talent quests, cultural events and concerts in the evenings, and sports events in the day, were among events organised for visitors.
Sports events included rugby league, touch rugby, netball and athletics. The games started on Saturday, when between 600 and 700 runners and cyclists arrived in Ratana after having completed a run-a-thon around the North Island and a bike-a-thon around the South Island. Other Ratana Church followers took advantage of fine, hot weather and listened to outdoor concerts.
The main celebration will begin today with a brass band parade through the main streets of Ratana, leading followers to the temple for a thanksgiving service. Special guests for the day will be the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atai-I-Rangikaahu and the Ratana Church president, Te Reo T. W. R. Hura. They will give speeches on the marae after the service.
Other special guests include the four members of Parliament for Maori seats. Celebrations for the anniversary have been held at Ratana for almost 50 years. They began as a small gathering among family members, but have grown to include Ratana followers from all over New Zealand. The Ratana Church founder died in 1939, ending a 21-year service trying to unite the Maori people and preach the Gospel.
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Press, 25 January 1988, Page 4
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254Thousands at Ratana for birthday Press, 25 January 1988, Page 4
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