The great-granddaughter of Ratana Church founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana says she wants be the flag-bearer for his kaupapa at this election.
Wikitoria Waitai-Rapana is standing as an independent in the Maori electorate of Te Tai Hauauru.
She said one of her great-grandfather's goals - that the Treaty of Waitangi be ratified - has never been realised.
"Some would say that it has as there's been Treaty settlements made," Mrs Waitai-Rapana said.
"But the reality is that we've not really even started when it comes to our people. It hasn't even tipped the tip of the iceberg."
Mrs Waitai-Rapana ran in the same seat in 2011 under the Nga Iwi Morehu Movement banner, winning 178 votes.
She is a cousin of incumbent MP and Labour candidate Adrian Rurawhe.
Mrs Waitai-Rapana believes in the independence of the Maori nation and in Maori being a true partner in the running of the country.
She said social statistics bore out the fact that the current structure was not working for Maori.
"If the Treaty were to be truly ratified, we would then have a voice, and that would be that equality I'm talking about.
"Our people say 'well we're tangata whenua of the land'. But I beg to differ, because we really don't have a voice."
Mrs Waitai-Rapana said Maori were trying to operate in a Pakeha system.
"We are still asking for permission. I'm about addressing the focus of where we are going as a people.
"Rather than trying to become somebody they're not. I think some of them have been caught up in stuff that's not who they are.
"It's all about the goodness and well-being of everyone, not just Maori. But we've got to get it right first. We've been deprived for so many years."