Rātana pā
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Ratana Community Rātana pā |
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| Town | |
The temple at Rātana Pā
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 Ratana Community
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| Coordinates: 40°02′24″S 175°10′40″E / 40.04000°S 175.17778°ECoordinates: 40°02′24″S 175°10′40″E / 40.04000°S 175.17778°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatu-Wanganui |
| Territorial authority | Rangitikei District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andy Watson |
| • MP | Ian McKelvie |
| Population (2013 census) | |
| • Total | 327 |
Rātana pā, or Ratana Community, is a town in the North Island of New Zealand, near Whanganui and Marton in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region, which developed around the Rātana church there. It is a site of pilgrimage for the Maori followers of the Rātana faith. Due to the importance of the Rātana movement in New Zealand politics, leading New Zealand politicians often attend annual gatherings at Rātana pā.
Each year on 25 January, members of the Rātana Church converge to Rātana Pā to celebrate the birth of its founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana. This annual gathering lasts for a week. The highlight of the week is the Temple Service on 25 January. Usually, Members of Parliament (MPs) converge to the Pa on 24 January to talk and gain Māori votes for election time.
Whanganui is located 20 km to the northwest and Marton is located 19 km to the east.
As part of the Rangitikei District, the current Mayor of Rangitikei since 2013 is Andy Watson.
Rātana pā forms part of the Turakina ward of the Rangitikei District Council, which elects one of the eleven district councillors. The one representative of the ward is Soraya Peke-Mason. The mayor and councillors are all due for re-election in October 2016.
Rātana pā, like the rest of the Rangitikei District, is located in the general electorate of Rangitīkei and in the Māori electorate of Te Tai Hauāuru. Rangitīkei is a safe National Party seat since the 1938 election with the exception of 1978–1984 when it was held by Bruce Beetham of the Social Credit Party. Since 2011 it is held by Ian McKelvie.
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