September 25, 2017
Papa rejects call to quit regal roles
Maori Party candidate Rahui Papa is rejecting a call for advisors to King Tuheitia to step down over the king's involvement in the election.
Despite the king's endorsement, Mr Papa lost to Labour's Nanaia Mahuta by 4619 votes to 12,070.
Ms Mahuta says the Kingitanga is a movement, not a political party, and the advice given to the king was delusional, confused and wrong.
Mr Papa says King Tuheitia was playing a long game to entrench the aspirations not only of Kingitanga but Maori in general in the national debate.
"I know Nanaia is saying the advisors should step down, but that means the kaumatua should vacate their roles, that means the rangatahi who were supportive should vacate their roles, that means Tainui and the motu leaders that were very supportive of the king's stance should vacate their roles, and I don't agree that the mana of the people rests on a three yearly election cycle," he says.
Mr Papa says the Maori Party will continue to be the conscience for Maori in politics.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com