Today is the anniversary of the birth of the prophet T.W. Ratana. 25th of January every year and the whole of Ratana as well as well wishers from all over the country converge upon Ratana Pa in Whanganui.
I attended the celebrations once with Sister Heeni, a well known and highly respected Maori Methodist deaconess and Charlie Fenwick, a Pakeha man and also highly respected in the Maori community and within the church. Charlie had been a bridge builder and overseeing road-gangs had built bridges all over the north island. Most of them are still around today. He's well known and highly respected at Ratana Pa.
Walking up onto the marae atea at Ratana Pa on the 25th of January is an incredible experience. The air trembles and vibrates with the punch of haka powhiri while the brass bands march on ahead splitting the air into matchwood. It feels like a first contact between worlds, an eerie and profound experience where the crossing of cultures is as literal and present as it ever could be.
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