Rātana focus on internal issues with no politicians around

Ratana's annual celebrations were quieter than usual this year. Photo / File

Rātana's annual celebrations looked quite different this year without politicians from around New Zealand gathering.

Instead, the township took it as a time to focus on the families from the region to celebrate in a more close-knit affair with church followers.

Te Tai Hauāuru MP Adrian Rurawhe - who is the great-grandson of the founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana - said it was quite a different, with less than half the people in than usual.

"It has been pretty quiet," he said. It has been nice in a way, just being able to give them some time to themselves."

The celebrations - which mark Rātana's birthday - were downsized this year as locals gathered to discuss issues facing the church and the town, Rurawhe said.

Politicians from around the country usually make the trip for what is the first big political event of the year.

"It's nowhere near the numbers we would usually have around here," Rurawhe said.

"Covid-19 has played a part as well. People who are feeling unwell have been asked to stay isolated and we have just added a few extra precautions."

A number of workshops were being run by the church to discuss what the future holds, Rurawhe said.

He said less distraction allowed locals to enjoy each other's company a bit more.

"Definitely more focused on the families that have come by. It gave them more time to occupy the marae, usually all the politicians are set up in there.

"We have had iwi radio out here the whole time, just broadcasting our celebrations to those who couldn't make it."

Staying on the cautious side, Rurawhe said a number of parishes celebrated remotely, Zooming and Skyping in from around the country and even Australia.

"We had an online TV set up with participants all around New Zealand Zooming in."

Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told RNZ it was important to respect the kaupapa of Rātana.

Ngarewa-Packer said there is a lot of pressure on Rātana to host politicians, so it's important they take time to restore from the inside.