MAORI GATHERING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 25 January 1936, Page 2

MAORI GATHERING

RATANA S BIRTHDAY

WEDDING OF. INTEREST

WANGANUI CELEBRATIONS

Xearlv 4COO Maoris are expected to be in attendance at Ratana to-day lor the dual celebrations of Tahupotiki \\ irenui Kaiana'a birthdav and the marriage of Miss Raifiiapaba T. Tianara, of Hawera, and Mr. Whareupoko Akonga Mom. The natives will come from all parts of the North Island and 1000 visitors were already at Ratana on Thursday night. This is one of the biggest events in the vear, so-far as the pa is concerned, and,'although there will not be such a large attendance as that of 1924, when 7000 Maoris were present for Batons s bn-thdav celebrations, it Will nevertheless be promoted on a large, scale. Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, familiarly known as T. W. Ratana. has a following which extends the full length of the North. Island. Ho was born on January- 25, 1873. and to-day celebrated his sixty-third birthday. The Railway department introduced concession lares, and extra cars were, necessary to cope with the traffic .offering. The Waikato and .North Auckland Maoris arrived yestci'dav. Ample arrangements bad been made" to cater for the visitors. The Kaikohe Band, a new combination from North Auckland, visited Ratana for the first time, and provided the music in conjunction with the Ratana Morebu Silver Band. The wedding ceremony was to lake place at 2.30 p.m. to-day, and to be lotlowed by exhibitions of war dances, poi dances, hakas, and songs. The wedding itself is ol outstanding importance to the Maori The bridejrittoni, Mr. Whareupoko Akonga Moln, Fs a son of Te Akonga Mold, and a wandson'of the late Mold te Ataihikoia, paramount ehief of the Ngatikahungunu tribe. Hawke's Bay. The bride is a srreat.granddaughter of Te Awepam, who claimed descent in a direct line from the navigator Turi of the Aotea canoe. Miss Tianara was educated at the lura : jcina Maori Girls' College. Te Awepam was a Taranaki cliieftainess, and her sister, Hinepounamu, also a cliieftainess, was an ancestress of T. \V. Ratana. In this way the bride is closely connected with the Ratana house.