Coffey airs concern at being denied stall at kapa haka event

Labour Waiariki candidate Tamati Coffey says it is a "missed opportunity" after he was denied a political stall at tomorrow's Te Arawa Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition.

But the event's committee is standing by its decision, saying the competition is about kapa haka, and nothing else.

Mr Coffey took to Facebook last night to air his concerns about not being allowed to set up a stall at the event.

"Come on whanau! It's election year!! With 1 million of our people not voting in the last election, we have to seize every opportunity to talk to our whanau and rangatahi to educate them about politics and how we can use our voice [and our vote] to make change," the post read.

"You better believe that the wealthy elite of this country are teaching their kids how to make life better for themselves. And yet, stupid committee decisions like this take away the opportunity for us to inspire our whanau to get involved and ask questions."

The post received mixed reactions.

"Oh man, let the tamariki do their thing without the politics - this post is the very reason organising committee has 'banned' political parties. You've lost sight of the kaupapa already. Our kids especially those that hit that stage are already inspired, by their whanau/hapu/iwi, their kura and aspirational kaiako," one person wrote.

Another said they agreed with Mr Coffey's comments.

"We should take every opportunity to get our people informed. And enrolled. I mean, a lot of performances have political messages anyway. You'll not only get the rangatahi on board (hopefully), but their parents and wider whanau too, not to mention people from the smaller communities who we typically struggle to get to the nearest enrolment centre and who don't have internet access."

Speaking with the Rotorua Daily Post, Mr Coffey said he stood by his words.

"I acknowledge the hard work that goes into this event from the students to the committee and the volunteers. It was never our intention to steal the show, we just wanted to have a few flags and pamphlets.

"Our job is to get out to where the people are. We are at markets every week but not many people are going ... This would have been a great opportunity for us to engage with whanau.

"I still stick to what I said ... It's a missed opportunity."

Aramoana Mohi, chairwoman of Nga Pouako o Te Arawa, the organising committee of the event, said their focus was purely on kapa haka.

"Tamati has aired his views on Facebook and if we wanted to talk about it he should contact us directly.

"We are about promoting kapa haka and the expression of our art. This event is about celebrating who we are as Maori in a positive and uplifting way."

Ms Mohi said the Electoral Commission and Te Puni Kokiri - Te Arawa would have stalls at the event.

"We are making sure there is election information there, but just through organisations that have no party affiliation."

She would not say whether any other political parties or candidates had approached the committee to set up a stall.