KEY POINTS:
The population of Ratana Pa will swell from 450 to around 30,000, as it prepares for the annual Ratana festival.
This year the festival will run from Tuesday, January 22, to Friday, January 25. Politicians from across the spectrum will attend, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, Opposition leader John Key, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
The Maori King, Kingi Tuheitia, will also attend the celebrations.
