Analysis: Rātana Pā is the birthplace of the Rātana Church, and a longtime political stronghold for the Labour Party. But is that still the case? Te Karere investigates.
Rātana Pā, located just outside of Whanganui and within the boundaries of the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate, is the headquarters of the Rātana Church whose followers number in the tens of thousands.
Historically the community has sided with Labour, only breaking the decades-old ties in 2004 when Tariana Turia crossed the floor and formed the Māori Party, now officially known as Te Pāti Māori. The collective might of the church’s vote has since returned to Labour, but will it remain this election?
The pā is home to less than 400 people. A NewZeal hoarding has been stood under a palm tree, a Te Pāti Māori sign propped up in one window and Labour boards are scattered around the block.
The lone dairy-slash-mail centre features three boards on its site – a giant Soraya Peke-Mason with Labour leader Chris Hipkins on the fence greets you, while on the right, a Harete Hipango with National leader Christopher Luxon tries to catch your eye through a window. An “Our Whānau Supports Te Pāti Māori” sign takes up space in the other window on the left.
Shop owner and mōrehu (Rātana Church follower) Josephine Hotu says she wants people to know they have options. “It's about choices and being able to make the right choice for yourself.”
This from a tūturu Labour Party supporter who’s on a solo campaign to get rangatahi in the pā to vote “because our future relies totally on our rangatahi today”.
“And it's important that our rangatahi realise that it's not about government making decisions for you, it's about you making it yourself. So get out there and learn.”
When asked about the rise in minor parties taking a prominent role this election and whether the Rātana vote is divided, Hotu believes it’s a question of clarity – voters need to learn the party’s policies to clearly see who they should vote for.
Fellow mōrehu Sonata Karena-Saavedra is more straightforward with her belief. She said that while the decision lies with every individual, what she’s seeing on the ground is that the Rātana masses will stay true.
“Ko te nuinga e noho nei ki te hapori o Rātana e tautoko tonu ana ki te rōpū Reipa, ā, nō reira ko wai tērā i tēnei tau? Ko Soraya Peke-Mason (Most of those living in the Rātana community still support the Labour Party, and who is the candidate for this election? Soraya Peke-Mason).”
A Whakaata Māori poll for the wider Te Tai Hauāuru reflects this belief too, with Peke-Mason attracting 34% of votes to Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer’s 29%.
And the trend continues with the party vote – Labour on 34%, followed by Te Pāti Māori on 22%. National, NZ First and the Greens on 13%, 7%, and 6% respectively.
But at the end of the day, Karena-Saavedra hopes people will think beyond themselves and of the greater good of their whānau, community, and country, and vote accordingly.
“Rapuhia te oranga mōu, rapuhia hoki te oranga mō te tinana me te wairua, ki tōu nei whare, ki tōu nei whānau (Seek that which will sustain you, seek that which will sustain your body and spirit, within your household, within your whānau).”
Glossary
pā – village
mōrehu – survivor, Rātana Church follower
tūturu – true, authentic, original
rangatahi – young adult, youth
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