Followers of the Rātana faith - and politicians - are heading to the small Rangitikei village to celebrate the 150th birthday of the movement's founder, Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana.
Rātana is as much a political movement as a spiritual one, with particularly close ties to the Labour Party.
The three-day religious festival, often regarded as the start of the political year, will be attended by politicians including both Chris Hipkins and Jacinda Ardern.
Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere spoke to Guyon Espiner.
