Marquees will be put up this weekend ready for the hundreds arriving for the annual January 25 celebrations at Ratana Pa.
They celebrate the birthday of faith healer and religious and political leader Tahupotiki Wiremu (TW) Ratana. He was born in 1873 and died in 1939. The Ratana movement he started still has thousands of adherents.
This year, the celebrations will begin on January 21 and last until January 26, Ratana Church executive secretary William Meremere said. The biggest day is January 25, TW Ratana's birthday, when there will be a formal service in Ratana's temple.
The celebrations are traditionally a time for New Zealand politicians to connect with the Ratana movement. That will happen on January 23 this year, with the Labour and Green parties welcomed at 10am and the National, Maori, New Zealand First and United Future parties welcomed at 11am.
The celebrations are mainly focused on youth, with programmes run for them, Mr Meremere said. This year, for the first time, Hawea Meihana will be bringing youth leaders from outside the church to mix with leaders from within it.