Ratana Attractions

23km southeast of Wanganui is the Maori village of Ratana (pop. 500), which gave its name to a religious movement. This had great influence on the revival of Maori consciousness and still has many adherents throughout the country. The handsome twin-towered church was built in 1927. Beside the church is a small museum devoted to Wiremu Ratana (1870-1939), founder of the Ratana sect, who had a great reputation as a healer. In the large meeting house are models of the seven Maori ancestral canoes, Abel Tasman's Heemskerck and Cook's Endeavor. Ratana's birthday is celebrated annually on January 25th as a popular festival.