Commemorate legacy not politics

Politicians are welcomed on to the marae at Ratana last weekend. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

Kia ora mai ano tatou katoa. Nga mihi o te tau hou. Even though we are into the second month of 2016, this is my first column for the Rotorua Daily Post this year, so I want to extend my best wishes for the New Year to you all. May 2016 be prosperous and fruitful in every way.

Celebration at RatanaThe political year began with the annual pilgrimage to Ratana last week, to commemorate the birthday of the founding father of the Ratana Church, Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.

There is always a dilemma for me in going to Ratana. On the one hand you want to acknowledge the contribution provided by Ratana in his time, to move into the political arena off the back of a religious movement, in the best interest of our people. On the other hand, I know full well that many of those followers who go there for that commemoration do not necessarily agree with political parties turning up to show their wares on the marae. This year was no different, where various leaders were either there simply to promote themselves, or to criticise the policies of others.

For us, the Maori Party, we have always gone there for the kaupapa of commemorating the legacy of Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana - maybe sitting next to the other political parties while they do their thing is not necessarily where we need to be.

Hinetapeaturangi Wharekai

I was fortunate to be invited to attend the opening of the new wharekai (dining room) which stands alongside the ancestral meeting house Kahumatamomoe. It was my honour to unveil and open the new whare, alongside the people of Ngati Parua and those of Waiatuhi Marae. Being invited to attend these types of occasions is hugely significant for me, and extremely humbling to have one's name put on a tupuna whare. I really appreciated the opportunity to be able to sit with our people to not just talk about the opening, but to spend time talking about the political environment that we face.

I was hugely impressed by the desire on the part of the older ones gathered to answer questions and give them background on some of the political topics that are currently on the agenda. I think they appreciated the chance to hear first-hand how politics works and indeed the chance to engage with their Member of Parliament in a relaxed setting.

As is usual, I find that, even with professional groups such as teachers, doctors, and so on, the understanding about the political environment is rather limited. I always ask the question as to how people can make choices about politics when they don't know the overall picture - this is a huge issue that we must address, particularly for our young ones who can be easily influenced by the media and social media campaigns on topics that affect them on a daily basis. Yet they may well be influenced in the wrong way.

I have to say that I was very envious of the new dining room Hinetapaturangi. It's a beautiful whare, a wonderful facility that is well positioned on the marae and able to cater for many people. Congratulations to the people of Ngati Paruaharanui, Ngati Pikiao and those of Mourea for a beautiful day, for the manaaki shown to those who arrived and for the work that has been done to complete the work at the marae. Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou.

Phone 0508 924274. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz.

- Te Ururoa Flavell is the Waiariki MP and Maori Party co-leader.