January 23, 2017
Maori Party lines up with Kingitanga at Ratana
The Maori Party is using this year's visit to Ratana as a way to emphasise its links with the Kingitanga.
Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell has in the past criticised parties using the annual celebration of the birthday of church founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana for political branding.
He says it's significant the Maori Party was welcomed today with the Kingitanga, a day before politicians usually turn up to the hui and just after Prime Minister Bill English was welcomed on.
"You can't escape the fact Ratana and indeed the Kingitanga had a political edge to them and as highlighted by I suppose the unwritten assocaiton we now have in terms of the Kingitanga, a lot of the kaupapa we talk about are now lining up in terms of what Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana wanted such as the ratification of the Treaty of Waitangi, looking after the pane, the rawakore and the tauaru," Mr Flavell says.
He says as a support party the Maori Party tries to get National to move on issues like poverty.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL
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