Political Career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1949–1951 | 29th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1951–1954 | 30th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1954–1957 | 31st | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1957–1960 | 32nd | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1960–1963 | 33rd | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1963–1966 | 34th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1966–1969 | 35th | Western Maori | Labour | |
Iriaka Rātana's decision to stand for parliament was opposed by those supporting traditional leadership roles, with Te Puea Herangi speaking out against her claim to "captain the Tainui canoe". Only the strong backing of the Rātana church and her threat to stand as a Rātana Independent secured her the Labour Party nomination.
She won the Western Maori electorate for Labour in the 1949 general election. She succeeded her husband Matiu Ratana to become the first woman to represent Maori in the New Zealand parliament. She held the electorate until her retirement in 1969.
As an MP Iriaka Rātana was concerned with welfare issues for Maori. She worked hard to improve living standards, particularly at the church settlement of Rātana pā.
Iriaka Rātana was awarded an OBE in 1971. She died on 21 December 1981 in Wanganui Hospital.
Read more about this topic: Iriaka Matiu Ratana
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