 The King also frequently attends the annual 25 January celebrations of the Ratana Church expressing his continued support for all denominations and his deep desire to unify the people.The Poukai is an annual series of visits by the Māori King to Marae around and beyond the Tainui region, a tradition that dates back to the 19th century.Poukai were established by the second Māori King, Tāwhiao, who said “Kua whakatūria e ahau tēnei kaupapa hei whāngai i te pouaru, te pani me te rawakore, he kuaha whānui kua puare ki te puna tangata me te puna kai.” (I have instituted this gathering to feed the widowed, the bereaved and the destitute, it is a doorway that has been opened to the multitudes of people and the bounty of food.)