Matiu Rātana son of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana

T. W. Ratana

Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana was the founder of the Rātana religion in the early 20th century in New Zealand. He rose to prominence as a faith healer.-Beginnings:...

, is a former New Zealand politician and President of the Rātana

Ratana

The Rātana movement is a Māori religion and pan-tribal political movement founded by Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana in early 20th century New Zealand...

 Church. A younger brother to Haami Tokouru Rātana

Haami Tokouru Ratana

Haami Tokouru Ratana is a former New Zealand politician and President of the Ratana Church. He joined Eruera Tirikatene in Parliament as the second Ratana Independent Member of Parliament , elected for the Western Maori electorate in 1935...

 he succeeded to the Church Presidency, and to the Western Maori

Western Maori

Western Maori was one of the four former New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorates, from 1868 to 1996.-Population Centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* -Tribal Areas:...

 electorate (from 10 February 1945, after a by-election) after his brother's death in 1944.

Matiu Rātana died on 7 October 1949 in Wanganui

Wanganui

Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....

 Hospital after a car accident. He was succeeded by his wife Iriaka Rātana as MP. She was the first female Māori MP.