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Māori Religious Movements

Pre-European Māori recognised a hierarchy of gods and spiritual influences that connected the community with the environment. While colonialism led to many Māori converting to Christianity it also gave rise to new Māori-centric religions like Ringatu, Pai Mārire and later Ratana. These were led by charismatic leaders including Te Ua Haumēne, Te Whiti, and Rua Kenana. SCIS no: 1895584

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Kīngitanga flags: Dame Te Atairangikaahu's flag

Kiingitanga flags

This is the flag of the sixth Māori monarch and first Māori queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, flying at Waahi pā, Huntly. Dame Te Ata, as she was often known, died in 2006. The flag of the Kīngitanga ...

One of New Zealand’s most enduring political institutions, the Kīngitanga (Māori King movement) was founded in 1858.

Māori King movement origins

In April 1857, at Rangiriri, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero agreed to become king. He was crowned and anointed at Ngāruawāhia in June 1858.

Ringatū flags: Te Wepu

Ringatū flags: Te Wepu

This is a drawing of the battle flag of prophet and military leader Te Kooti. It is known as Te Wepu (the whip) and was 15.8 metres wide and 1.2 metres high. It was made by nuns from Greenmeadows, ...

Ringatu Church Celebrations

Ringatu Church Celebrations

Issue No 169 July 17, 1968 - The highlighting of the recent Ringatu -Rau-Tau celebrations was the ceremonial visit of the Governor General, Sir Arthur Porritt, and Lady Porritt. The church centenar...

Ringatu/Te Wepu

Ringatu/Te Wepu

plate steel, industrial paint 2370 mm - 2008 This sculpture by Para Matchitt portrays Rongowhakaata leader, military leader, prophet, religious founder Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki sitting on a wh...

Ringatu flag captured from Te Kooti

Ringatu flag captured from Te Kooti

Mr Hemi Te Poono of Te Teko with a Ringatu flag captured from Te Kooti by Government troops during the Battle of Te Porere. Photographed by an Evening Post staff photographer on the 18th of May 19...

The seal of the Ringatū Church

The seal of the Ringatū Church

This is the seal of the Ringatū Church founded by Te Kooti

Māori prophetic movements – ngā poropiti: Te Kooti – Ringatū

Te Kooti founds Ringatū A different faith challenging Pai Mārire emerged in the mid-1860s. It became known as Ringatū (the upraised hand) and was founded by Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Tūruki on Chatham...

A Ringatu Meeting At Ruatoki; Traditional Customs - (Te Ao Hou - No. 42 March 1963)

A Ringatu Meeting At Ruatoki; Traditional Customs - (Te Ao Hou - No. 42 March 1963)

But since a people's customs and attitudes always influence the manner and nature of their worship, Ringatu meetings naturally have much in common with traditional Maori meetings. For the monthly m...

The Rongopai meeting house provides vivid evidence of Māoritanga in a vibrant period of transition.

Te Kooti on Chatham Island

Te Kooti on Chatham Island

This article about Te Kooti's experiences on Chatham Island appeared in the Nelson newspaper, The Colonist, on 1 October 1869

'It's something to revive, the tikanga of Pai Mārire'

'It's something to revive, the tikanga of Pai Mārire'

Kōhanga Reo teacher Jesse Huriwai has a leadership role in Pai Mārire, the Māori Christian faith also known as Hauhau. He shares his story with Te Ahi Kaa.

PAI MARIRE. (Timaru Herald, 29 April 1865)

Rātana Church and Mita Ririnui: The colours of service

Puawai Cairns, talks about the robes of an āpotoro rēhita from the Ratana church – a uniform with which she have a personal affinity.

PAI MARIRE. (Timaru Herald, 10 June 1865)

PAI MARIRE MOVEMENT IN WAIKATO. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Ngaruawahia, March 18. (Daily Southern Cross, 22 March 1865)

Pai Mārire - Pai Marire

Pai Marire (goodness and peace) was one of several Maori Christian faiths to emerge in the 19th century. Like many others, it was closely tied to issues of land and politics.

Pai Mārire karakia, Tataroa

Pai Mārire karakia, Tataroa

Pai Mārire adherents circle round a flag pole carrying sticks during karakia. The red flag represents the war god of Pai Mārire, Riki. The Hauhau are deciding the fate of their two prisoners, Herbe...

Pai Mārire Prisoners, 1865

Pai Mārire Prisoners, 1865

Group of Māori Pai Mārire prisoners seated on a sloping hill. Standing behind them holding bayoneted rifles are colonial militia. Written on the reverse is November 1865, Hauhau Māori Prisoners. Na...

Turbulent times at Te Hāroto - roadside stories

Video about the settlement of Te Hāroto and its connection to the Pai Mārire faith

Captured followers of the Pai Marire Church, on board a prison hulk in Wellington Harbour in 1866. They had been taken from Wereroa Pa, 20 miles north of Wanganui.

Photographer unknown :Portrait of Te Ua

Photographer unknown :Portrait of Te Ua

Same image at 1/2-005495 Other - Same image at 1/2-005495 Inscriptions: Verso - Te Ua Hau Hau Prophet Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

Portrait of Rua Kenana. Taken by James Mcdonald in 1908. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

The New Zealand Wars 5 - The East Coast Wars (Episode Five)

The New Zealand Wars 5 - The East Coast Wars (Episode Five)

This excerpt from the final part of James Belich's award-winning history series focuses on Tūhoe prophet Rua Kēnana — the target of the last action of the New Zealand Wars in 1916, 73 years after h...

Mark Derby - The Prophet and the Policeman

Mark Derby - The Prophet and the Policeman

Historian Mark Derby is the author of a dual biography of John Cullen and Rua Kenana, 'The Prophet and the Policeman'.

A MAORI KAISER. (Ashburton Guardian, 31 January 1916)

Showing Rua Kenana and followers being...

Showing Rua Kenana and followers being...

Showing Rua Kenana and followers being lead out of Maungapohatu by police.

Wiremu Rātana in Taupō

Wiremu Rātana in Taupō

New Zealand’s Māori population began to increase after hitting a low point at the end of the 19th century. Until after the Second World War, many Māori remained in rural areas, cut off from mainstr...

Ringatu Centenary Celebrations - (Te Ao Hou - No. 64 September 1968)

Ringatu Centenary Celebrations - (Te Ao Hou - No. 64 September 1968)

The Governor-General, Sir Arthur Porritt, enters the marae . As the Governor-General, Sir Arthur Porritt said in his speech at Muriwai on 2 July, ‘A hundred years of life, be it of an individual, a...

Ratana Church, Te Kao.

Ratana Church, Te Kao.

Tahupōtiki Rātana

Tahupōtiki Rātana

Head and shoulders portrait of Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, founder of the Ratana Church, as an older man. He is wearing an overcoat, hat and scarf.

Rangiātea church

Rangiātea church

The beautiful church of Rangiātea at Ōtaki, on the Kāpiti Coast, was built between 1844 and 1851. Ōtaki was the site of a Church Missionary Society mission headed by Octavius Hadfield. He had a clo...

Religion and society: Māori and religion

Māori Christianity Until the mid-20th century, few Māori were secular. Traditionally Māori recognised a pantheon of gods and spiritual influences. From the late 1820s Māori transformed their moral ...

Traditional Māori religion – ngā karakia a te Māori

The Māori natural world teemed with gods and unseen beings and required thoughtful navigation. Tohunga (priests) assisted people with special incantations and rites to appease the gods.

Tohunga Suppression Act

Tohunga Suppression Act

The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 was intended to stop people using traditional Māori healing practices which had a supernatural or spiritual element. It was not very effective – only nine convictio...

View looking through a green coloured memorial archway, to a castle-shaped wooden building.

Rātana brass band, Rātana Pā, January 2007

Rātana brass band, Rātana Pā, January 2007

One of the seven Rātana brass bands is seen at Rātana Pā, in the Whanganui district, in January 2007. In the 1930s the prophet Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana established seven brass bands, taking his lea...

This pencil sketch of Te Kooti, founder of the Ringatū Church, is regarded as one of the most authentic and life-like images of the prophet. It is dated 1887 and indicates that Te Kooti was then vi...

IN THE CITY OF THE PROPHET: RUA, THE MAORI PROPHET, AND HIS STRANGE SETTLEMENT IN THE FASTNESSES OF THE UREWERA COUNTRY, EAST COAST, NORTH ISLAND, N.Z.

IN THE CITY OF THE PROPHET: RUA, THE MAORI PROPHET, AND HIS STRANGE SETTLEMENT IN THE FASTNESSES OF THE UREWERA COUNTRY, EAST COAST, NORTH ISLAND, N.Z.

IN THE CITY OF THE PROPHET: RUA, THE MAORI PROPHET, AND HIS STRANGE SETTLEMENT IN THE FASTNESSES OF THE UREWERA COUNTRY, EAST COAST, NORTH ISLAND, N.Z.

TE WHITI. THE MAORI PROPHET, Of Parihaka, addressing the meeting, 17th (his 18th) January, 1880. The picture of Td Whiti—the only one in existence—is from a sketch by Mr W. Gordon, of Warganui, whosa portrait appears below. See article by Mr Malcolm Ross in this issue. (Otago Witness, 25 April 1906)

TE WHITI. THE MAORI PROPHET, Of Parihaka, addressing the meeting, 17th (his 18th) January, 1880. The picture of Td Whiti—the only one in existence—is from a sketch by Mr W. Gordon, of Warganui, whosa portrait appears below. See article by Mr Malcolm Ross in this issue. (Otago Witness, 25 April 1906)

Ngā haki – Māori and flags: Māori religious movements and flags

Te Ua Haumēne Te Ua Haumēne was the leader of the Pai Mārire faith, followers of which were sometimes known as Hauhau. He had a flag called Kēnana (Canaan), demonstrating his belief that Māori were...

Te Ua Haumēne’s flag

Te Ua Haumēne’s flag

Symbols on the personal flag of Te Ua Haumēne depict the central ideas of the Hauhau faith. Te Ua, who had studied the Bible, likened the Māori people to the Israelites, who would be restored to th...

Ratana marks beginning of political year

Ratana marks beginning of political year

Politicians will arrive at Ratana Pa near Whanganui tomorrow to celebrate the birthday of T W Ratana, the faith leader and prophet. Mihingarangi Forbes talks to John Campbell from Ratana.

Te Ua Haumene Horopapera Tuwhakararo

Te Ua Haumene Horopapera Tuwhakararo

oil on canvas 769 x 666 x 50 mm - G. Lindauer (l.r.) (reverse) Te Ua, Hau Hau Prophet Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr H E Partridge, 1915

Auckland historian Judith Binney wrote or co-wrote a number of books focusing on Māori individuals and communities, including Mihaia: the prophet Rua Kenana and his community of Maungapohatu (1979)...

A SCOTCH VIEW OF THE MAORI REBELLION. (Timaru Herald, 18 August 1869)

Tūhoe timeline

A timeline of Tūhoe struggles.

A historic wrong against Rua Kēnana

The Crown has corrected a historic wrong dating to 1916 by pardoning Rua Kēnana.

Captured by Hauhau

Herbert Meade recounts the capture of himself and his Māori guide Hemipo by Hauhau.

Wirangi Pera is the new leader of the Ringatū faith.

One of the guardians of the Ringatū faith in Ōpōtiki

Hohipera Williams (Te Whakatōhea) is a Guardian of the Ringatū faith in Ōpōtiki.

The Pai Mārire faith

A Waka Huia programme on the Pai Mārire

Descendants of Te Kooti followers visit the Chathams

Descendants of some of the hundreds of Māori exiled with the prophet Te Kooti to the Chatham Islands will visit the island.

Ringatū commemorates 150 years of Ringatū faith

Followers of Ringatū are gathering in Gisborne this week for commemorations.

The founder of the Ringatū faith was Te Kooti, one of the most significant Māori leaders of the 19th century.

Ringatū commemorates 150 years

A-hundred-and-fifty years ago (10/7/18), Māori prophet Te Kooti founded the Ringatū religion.

Wairua attempts to shed light on some of the many questions we have about spirits and the spiritual world.

Spiritual and mental concepts of the Maori

Elsdon Best’s Pakeha book about spiritual and mental concepts of the Maori.

The Unseen world

Maori spirituality.

EPIC provides access to the Bridget Williams ebook collection, which has substantial information relating to Māori history since the arrival of Pakeha.

Rediscovering Ratana

How a Pakeha journalist came to write a new history of the Ratana Church.

Research papers

Māori prophetic movements as sites of political resistance

Māori prophetic movements were sites of political resistance where Māori prophets resisted colonisation and gave their followers a sense of hope.

Te Arikinui, Te Atairangikaahu 1931-2006

Pays tribute to the late Māori Queen. Recalls her gracious demeanour and discusses events and public reaction on the day of her funeral. Presents a timeline of the Kiingitanga of the rohe of Mataa...

Modern religions of the Māori

A chapter in James Cowan’s 1930 book The Māori: Yesterday and today

Māori creation traditions

The presence or absence of a supreme being, known as Io, is one of the distinguishing features of different versions of Māori creation traditions.

Māori religion and mythology

Elsdon Best’s Pakeha book about traditional Māori religion and cosmology.

Have media been fair to Destiny Church?

Māori and Christian denominations

From 1814, when the first Anglican missionaries came to New Zealand, there have been many Māori converts to various Christian denominations.

Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church

An indigenous-led church that’s helping Māori families turn their lives around.

Ringatū and Rātana

The founding and spread of the Ringatū and Rātana faiths.

Rain of the children

Focuses on Puhi who married the son of Māori prophet Rua Kēnana, had 14 children, and after a run of tragedies, believed herself to be cursed.

Dr Haare Williams on the life of Te Kooti

Dr Haare Williams looks at why the 19th-century Māori prophet Te Kooti (founder of the Ringatū faith) was both revered and reviled.

The New Zealand Wars

The New Zealand Wars and the Taranaki prophets.

Unveiling Maori Battalion National War Memorial Community Hall, Palmerston North - Ratana band

Rātana band member

Music represents a major part of the Rātana church, and one of the most striking associations with the church are the Rātana Brass bands (Nga Reo). People may think there is only one Rātana brass b...

TE KOOTI MEMORIES. (Clutha Leader 13-7-1909)

Te Kooti Memories

In this 1909 article Sergeant-Major Walter Christie, of Wellington gives his impressions of Te Kooti who he met on the Chatham Islands, where Te Kooti was a prisoner. He credited Te Kooti with cons...

[New Zealand Tourist Department?] :The Tohunga under tapu. July, 1933.

The Tohunga under tapu

This photograph is by the New Zealand Tourist Department and the text has been extracted from James Cowan's book The Maori. What is going on here? Well, it’s all related to the concept of tapu. The...

Page one from the Church of England Catechism in Maori, Kerikeri, 1830

Page one from Ko te Katekihama III

This is page one from Ko te Katekihama III or, Church [of England] Catechism in Maori, Kerikeri, 1830. The Lord's prayer was first published in Māori in 1820, and the first Māori edition of the New...

Arrest and charges in 1881

After his arrest in 1881 at Parihaka Te Whiti and Tohu’s first trial took place in New Plymouth at the police court. According to a local newspaper at the time Te Whiti was charged with, “wickedly,...

A biography of the Tuhoe prophet and leader Rua Kēnana.

Maori rebel flag: Flag taken by the colonial forces in a fight with Hau-Haus near Opotiki, East Coast.

Maori rebel flag: Flag taken by the colonial forces in a fight with Hau-Haus near Opotiki, East Coast.

[Meade, Herbert (Lieutenant)], 1842-1868 :Pai Marire karakia, held by the Te Hau fanatics at Tataroa, New Zealand, to determine the fate of their prisoners. Jan[uar]y 27th, 1865.

[Meade, Herbert (Lieutenant)], 1842-1868 :Pai Marire karakia, held by the Te Hau fanatics at Tataroa, New Zealand, to determine the fate of their prisoners. Jan[uar]y 27th, 1865.

Shows a group of Maori circling around a flagpole which flies three native flags (including a red flag representing the war god Riki). At the right two guards stand beside the seated and bound figu...

A set of images, articles and video on Maungapōhatu, the community established by Rua Kēnana in 1907.

Birthday celebrations for Ratana’s founder

Rātana Pā gears up for the January 25 celebration of the birthday of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, the founder of the Rātana Church and movement.

The Māori creation story

The Māori foundational story that tells how darkness and the long night, became light.

Centennial celebrations of Te Hāhi Ringatū

Listen to excerpts from the 100th Centennial Celebration Hui, held at Muriwai, Gisborne, from 28 June to 2 July 1968.

The rise of Pai Mārire and Ringatū

Religious movements such as Pai Mārire & Ringatū arose to oppose settler expansion.

Spiritual concepts of the Māori

The Māori concept of the tripartite nature of man—body, soul, and spirit being his tinana, mauri.

Māori and Christianity

Māori religion and the growth of Christianity in Aotearoa.

Karakia live-streamed

Thousands of New Zealanders find comfort and connection through live-streamed karakia during lockdown.

Te Hahi Ringatu

Te Hāhi Ringatū — a smart phone app that brings traditional customs of karakia, hīmene, pānui and waiata into the modern world of technology and everyday life.

The religious writings of Te Kooti unearthed from history

The Ringatū church's founding documents feature in an exhibition of photographer Joyce Campbell’s artistic career.

Ratana apostle Kereama Pene prepares for 100th Centennial

100-year centenary of the day the Holy Spirit descended upon Tahu Pōtiki Wiremu Ratana.

Poukai still going strong after 132 years

Te Ahi Kaa presents an insight into the Poukai - an annual gathering hosted at 29 Kiingitanga marae. It was started in 1885 by Kiingi Tāwhiao for te pouaru, te rawakore and te whanau pani (the wid...

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