He Aituā Harerangi Meihana

Ko te whakahoki i ngā mahara ki a rātou mā te tuatahi māku. 

Rātou ko ngā tīpuna kua wehe, rātou ko ngā pou o te whakapono Māori. 

Mā Te Matua, Te Tamaiti me Te Wairua Tapu tātou e arahi, mā Ngā Anahera Pono me Te Māngai tātou e tautoko. 

E te rangatira, Harerangi, kua pōhara tātou te hunga whakapono i tō ngarohanga atu, ēngari, ka whakanuia tō tae tanga atu e Te Wāhi Ngaro.

Haere, haere, ōku atu rā. 

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of te Tumuaki o te Hāhi Rātana, Harerangi Meihana. President Meihana was the seventh tumuaki of the Rātana church, and grandson of the church’s founder, Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana.

Dr Charlotte Severne acknowledges the influence of the faith and leadership of President Meihana on Te Ao Māori and Aotearoa. President Meihana served tirelessly in his position to advocate for God’s love, the love of whānau, and the unity of Māori.

Dr Severne has also paid tribute to the personal influence of the Rātana faith through her mother and Korohe whānau, who are deeply committed Mōrehu.

President Meihana was a brave, loving leader who will be honoured and remembered by not only his followers, but all of Aotearoa.

(Photo: Te Ao Māori News)