Matiu Rātana

Not to be confused with Matiu Ratana (police officer) or Matiu Rata.

Matiu Rātana (16 December 1912 – 7 October 1949), son of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana, was a New Zealand politician and president of the Rātana Church.

Matiu Ratana
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Western Maori
In office 10 February 1945 – 7 October 1949
Preceded by	Toko Ratana
Succeeded by	Iriaka Rātana
Personal details
Born	16 December 1912 Parewanui, New Zealand
Died	7 October 1949(1949-10-07) (aged 36) Wanganui, New Zealand
Political party	Labour

Political career

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1945–1946	27th	Western Maori			Labour
1946–1949	28th	Western Maori			Labour

A son of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, the founder of the Rātana religion, Matiu Rātana was a younger brother to Haami Tokouru Rātana, whom he succeeded to the Church Presidency, and to the Western Maori electorate (from 10 February 1945, after a by-election) after his brother's death in 1944.^[1]

Matiu Rātana died on 7 October 1949 in Wanganui Hospital after a car accident. He was succeeded by his wife Iriaka Rātana as MP.^[1] She was the first female Māori MP.

Sources

• Henderson, James Mcleod (1963). Ratana The Man, The Church, The Movement (1st ed.) A.H & A.W. Reed Ltd ISBN 0-589-00619-3.