Labour leader Chris Hipkins acknowledges Rātana founder W.T Rātana as politicians visit site for annual commemorations. Video / Mark Mitchell
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has praised the Māori Queen’s vision for the Māori economy after the launch of a multimillion-dollar business investment fund.
Politicians followed tradition and gathered at Rātana today, a small settlement near Whanganui, for what is widely considered the first political event of the year.
“I think the vision the Queen has of further accelerating that growth in Māori economy is a really positive one and we welcome it,” Willis said, speaking to media after the pōwhiri.
The Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Ngā wai hono i te po, at Rātana 2026. Photo / Mark Mitchell
“She comes across to me as someone who is measured, who has strong sense she is there to deliver on for her people and she seems be carrying that mantle very comfortably.”
Yet, Waikato-Tainui leader Tuku Morgan said that very fund, for Māori entrepreneurs and global partnerships, was set up in direct response to the Government “marginalisation” of Māori. He said Māori had been forced into a corner where they had to become more self-sufficient and innovative in how they sustained themselves.
At Rātana, the relationship between Māori and the Government can be tested in public before Waitangi Day. With an election looming, the future of that relationship was centre-stage as politicians and Māori leaders addressed each other.
Politicians are welcomed on the grounds at Rātana with a pōwhiri. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Kiingitanga spokesperson Rahui Papa said there had been good and challenging times under the coalition Government.
Late last year, in a unique move, Papa held a joint press conference with Education Minister Erica Stanford where he inferred the parties agreed on the same goal of improving education outcomes but not necessarily how to get there.
“There are some real solutions there,” he told parliamentarians at Rātana today, “but the idea is to work with you no matter the colour of your party, to work with you for the betterment of the whānau unit.”
NZ First leader Winston Peters implored people to vote, telling the audience to “pay attention” to politics and “be a part of the change that we need”.
NZ First leader Winston Peters speaks at Rātana 2026. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Peters said he was confident of the election outcome, saying it was “written in the stars”.
He said “there were more Māori in Parliament that ever before but my question to you is, what do you think about the quality?”
“Do these people know what they are doing? Could they run the school tuck shop properly – let alone run your life?"
Politicians attend Rātana 2026 ahead of a November election. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Speaking in heavy rain, NZ First Minister Shane Jones revealed a new $10 million fund to upgrade a marae complex in Bay of Plenty. The funding would come from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF).
The weather, and the devastation it had caused further up the North Island, hung over the event. Most speakers spent much of the speeches acknowledging the communities and families affected.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not attend the event, diverting instead to the flood-affected East Coast. Political rival and leader of the Labour party, Chris Hipkins said Luxon’s decision was the right one.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins speaks at Rātana. Photo / Mark Mitchell
“We have been testing papatūānuku, the limits of this place we all call home and, in turn, papatūānuku is testing us as well,” he said.
“What were previously once in a life time or once in a 100 year events seem to be coming along a lot more lately and that is because we have been pushing this planet too hard.”
