Haami Tokouru Ratana (21 July 1894 – 30 October 1944) was a New Zealand politician and president of the

Rātana Church Rātana () is a Māori Christian church and movement, headquartered at Rātana Pā near Whanganui, New Zealand. The Rātana movement began in 1918, when Tahupōtiki Wiremu (T. W.) Ratana claimed to experience visions, and began a mission of ...

. He joined Eruera Tirikatene in parliament as the second Rātana Independent Member of Parliament (MP), elected for the

Western Maori Western Maori was one of New Zealand, New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Eastern Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996 New Zealand general election, 1996, with the MMP in New Z ...

electorate in 1935. Following the death of his father Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana in 1939, Toko Ratana became the second Ratana movement president. He held both positions until his death in 1944.

Early life

Eldest son of the founder of the Ratana Church, Toko Ratana was educated at

Whangaehu School Whangaehu is a settlement in the Rangitikei District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. Whangaehu is located near the mouth of the Whangaehu River, a large river flowing from for the crater lake of Mount Ruapehu on ...

and was bilingual in English and Māori. After enlisting in the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion during World War I, he served in

Gallipoli The Gallipoli Peninsula (; ; ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles strait to the east. Gallipoli is the Italian form of the Greek name (), meaning ' ...

and later in France, where he suffered the effects of a gas attack. This caused him ill health for the rest of his life.

Political career

Toko Ratana stood unsuccessfully for

parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

multiple times. First as an independent candidate for the Western Maori seat against Maui Pomare in 1922. As a Ratana Independent candidate and one of the "first cut of the body of the mangai", he stood against Pomare again in 1928, against

Taite Te Tomo Taite Te Tomo (1871 or 1872 – 22 May 1939) was a Māori people, Māori and Reform Party (New Zealand), Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Te Tomo was probably born in 1871 or 1872 near Ōtaki, New Zealand, Ōtaki. He won t ...

in the 1930 by-election after Pomare’s death and again in the 1931 general election. He was elected in 1935, joining fellow Ratana MP

Eruera Tirikatene Sir Eruera Tihema Te Aika Tirikatene (5 January 1895 – 11 January 1967) was a New Zealand Māori politician of Ngāi Tahu descent. Known in early life as Edward James Te Aika Tregerthen, he was the first Rātana Member of Parliament and was ...

. In 1936, he joined the Labour Party as the Ratana Movement and Labour formed a political alliance. He was re-elected in 1938 and 1943. In his maiden speech in October 1937, Toko Ratana raised the principal political issue of Ratana – land grievances and the

Treaty of Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi (), sometimes referred to as ''Te Tiriti'', is a document of central importance to the history of New Zealand, Constitution of New Zealand, its constitution, and its national mythos. It has played a major role in the tr ...

. He was to speak in the house only four more times. As the designated leader of the Ratana spiritual movement, the debates were left to Tirikatene and the other Ratana members. H. T. Ratana was frequently ill, and spent long periods in hospital.

War efforts

During the Second World War, Toko Ratana was opposed to conscription but wished to have a home guard manned by Māori to defend their lands. As Kai-Arahi or leader of the Ratana Church, he made a public declaration of the church's support for the war, and supported Māori control over Māori contributions to the war.

Death

Haami Tokouru Ratana died on 30 October 1944 after months of illness. He was succeeded both as MP for Western Maori and Ratana Church President by his younger brother,

Matiu Rātana Matiu Rātana (16 December 1912 – 7 October 1949), son of T. W. Rātana, Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, was a New Zealand politician and president of the Rātana Church. Political career A younger brother to Haami Tokouru Rātana he succeede ...

Notes

References

* Henderson, James Mcleod (1963). ''Ratana The Man, The Church, The Movement'' (1st ed.) A.H & A.W. Reed Ltd . {{DEFAULTSORT:Ratana, Haami Tokouru 1894 births 1944 deaths New Zealand Army personnel New Zealand military personnel of World War I New Zealand Labour Party MPs Rātana MPs New Zealand MPs for Māori electorates Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Unsuccessful candidates in the 1922 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1928 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1931 New Zealand general election