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Iriaka Ratana was born on 25 February 1925 at Jerusalem on the Wanganui River. Her mother was Te Uru Taiaha Merenia Te Karaute of Te Atihaunui a Paparangi and her father was Te Hihiri Te Rio of Ngati Tuwharetoa and Wanganui descent. Her parents were su pporters of the Ratana movement and when she was 19, she traveled with T W Ratana and his delegation overseas. In 1931, she was a member of a group which presented a petition to government calling for the Treaty of Waitangi to be made law.
Iriaka Ratana 1925 l981
In 1940 she married Matiu Ratana who became the Member for Western Maori in 1945. In her husband’s absence, lriaka continued farming with the assistance of her six children, however when he died suddenly in May l 949, she decided to pursue a career in politics. In her maiden speech to the House, Iriaka addressed criticism of her supposed abandonment of her children as a result of taking on a political role, by citing the example of Dame Enid Lyons, who was a widow, mother of a large family and member of the Australian Commonwealth Government.
In 1957 Iriaka was appointed adviser to Walter Nash who was Prime Minister and Minister for Maori Affairs. She served on both the Maori Affairs and lands select committees under the Labour Government. During the 1960s when an increasing number of Maori were moving into the cities, Iriaka focused her attention on the housing needs of both rural and urban based Maori. She also emphasised education as the key to solving many Maori problems. She was enthusiastic about the establishment of the Maori Education foundation in 1962, but by the end of the 1960s was dissatisfied with the slow progress made in raising the level of education of Maori children. She criticized the amount of money being spent on defense in Tonga and urged the government to spend money on the education of Maori preschoolers. Failing health and the need for a younger person to fulfil her duties motivated lriaka to resign in 1969. After a lengthy illness, she died in 1981.
Te Reo Hura Hapai Te Himene E Ihu Te Kingi Nui (nee Ratana) and Piki Te Ora Tamou (nee Ratana).
Te Reo Hura 1967-1991
TW Ratana's Daughters
Te Reo became Tumuaki(leader) of Ratana Church in 1967 and died in 1991. Photo taken at Omeka Marae
Raniera Ratana 1995 - 1998
Son of TW Ratana. Became Tumuaki 1995. Died 1998
Became Tumuaki of Ratana Church 1999
Haare Meihana