Te Haahi Ratana - The Ratana Church - is the largest Maori religious movement in New Zealand
Source: Wikipedia: Ratana. (May 2024). In Wikipedia. Retrieved August 10, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratana
"Te Haahi Ratana is a Maori Christian church and movement, headquartered at Ratana Pa near Whanganui, New Zealand.
The Ratana movement began in 1918, when Tahupotiki Wiremu (T. W.) Ratana experienced visions, and began a mission of faith healing.
In 1925 the Ratana Church was formed, and on 25 January 1928 — T. W.'s 55th birthday, and "Ratana Day" — the church's iconic temple, Te Temepara Tapu o Ihoa ('the holy temple of Jehovah') was opened.
From its beginning and through to the 20th century, the church has also pursued political goals, and still welcomes political leaders to the Ratana Pa annually on Ratana Day."
"In the 2018 New Zealand census, 43,821 people identified with the religion."
The entrance gateway has an inscription on each side - in Maori on the left and the English translation on the right. It reads...
GLORY - ALLELUIA
--- TO ---
JEHOVAH, FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT
AND THEIR FAITHFUL ANGELS
To commemorate the 8th of Nov. 1918
when T.W.Ratana became a Divine Healer,
and Mouth-piece to God and man.
This arch-way was unveiled to the Memory of
T.W.Ratana's three sons, Alpha, Omega,
and their Brother Samuel,
who died in the Great Work endowed to their Father.
ALPHA and OMEGA. the beginning and the end
of T W Ratana's work, the RATANA
Church and the Temple, and the
Rights and Privileges of the Maori people
as embodied in The Treaty of Waitangi
40,000 Members.
SAMUEL'S work is the Annihilation of
Tohunga-ism †
This Memorial was consecrated by T.W.RATANA
and 40,000 Morehu on the 5th day of July 1935.
† Tohunga-ism is the Maori belief in tohunga, or native priests.
Above the gateway is a Japanese Rising Sun symbol flanked on each side by "Te whetu marama tohu (symbol of the star and moon) representing enlightenment through the Christian trinity te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), nga Anahera Pono (the faithful angels) and the revelations of te Mangai (mouthpiece or prophet) – Ratana, inspired by the Holy Spirit."
Source: Keith Newman, Ratana Church – Te Haahi Ratana - Church growth, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved August 10, 2024, from http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/26302/whetu-marama
Through the gateway - you can enter, but be respectful - one can see the graves of Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana and Te Urumanaao (first wife of TW Ratana) in front of the main entrance with its stain glass windows. Either side of the entrance is a massive bell tower; that on the left is embossed AREPA (Alpha), "one of Ratana's sons, who represented the beginning of the ture wairua (spiritual work). The bell tower on the right is embossed OMEKA (Omega), another son of Ratana, who represented the end of te ture tangata (physical works)."
Keith Newman, Ratana Church – Te Haahi Ratana - Founding the Ratana Church, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved August 10, 2024, from http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26296/te-arepa-and-te-omeka-banner-1930s
IMPORTANT! No technology is permitted inside the Temple Grounds which is capable of recording images or sounds. These include: cellphones, cameras, computers or drones.
Also no food or drink is to be consumed inside the Temple or on the Temple Grounds.
Therefore visiting photos can only be taken from outside the Temple Grounds