August 18, 2014
Kingitanga opens doors to trade
The ambassadors from 28 countries will be at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia tomorrow as guests of the Maori king.
Today it’s the turn of the New Zealand political parties to make a show at the annual Koroneihana hui, with Prime Minister John Key expected in the early afternoon.
But Kingitanga spokesperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says the focus this year is the diplomatic corps, and the opportunity their presence will give to open trade doors.
"The problem we have in this country is more and more there is a reliance on government to open the international trade doors to our people. This is our opportunity on Wednesday to go direct to their leaders, to say to them, Maori around this country have assets worth $40 billion, we are in a position to work directly with you, we don't need the crown's consent or the government's agreement, we want to come straight to you," he says.
Tukoroirangi Morgan says the Koroneihana usually attracts between 30 and 40,000 people over the week, showing the continuing vitality of the kingitanga.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TUKOROIRANGI MORGAN CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjEyMDg=
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