Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: Political posturings at Ratana farcical

Politicians doing their best to woo Maori voters at Ratana Pa are (from left) Hekia Parata, John Key and Tau Henare. Photo/Supplied

Why do I think there is something unpalatable about the sight of politicians, including our Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, making tracks each year to Ratana Pa. Ostensibly to honour W.T. Ratana's birth date. Another reason is to court the Maori vote. My imagination pictures politicians prostrating themselves in front of their hosts imploring "Pick us, pick us. We're the party that will look after your best interests".

The politicians might not be bowed low but that's their message. And they have been doing it for years. Their assertion, even if delivered in English, is old school whaikorero. On the marae, after you have moved through protocol and pleasantries, you are free to raise and share any issues that concern you.

You are also at liberty to throw down the gauntlet if you feel the matter warrants it. Nothing wrong with that. But this annual show has taken on a farcical appearance. I find it rather unbecoming of our elected leaders. One by one they are welcomed and then do their spiel. They emphasise their party's "fit" with Maori and Maori aspirations.

I can't see how their presence at Ratana makes one bit of difference to how Maori vote. Go along by all means but why not make it a celebration of progress. Congratulate Maori for exercising wise stewardship over their assets and for the hard work undertaken to bring about positive change in the lives of whanau, hapu and iwi.

Good hosts will always listen to guests and make them welcome. But what has been achieved by these annual visits to Ratana? Does any one party monitor and evaluate what they get in return for their visit? Maori should be asking the same question. Apart from the "pick us" address, what progress has been made, in any area, from one annual visit to the next?

Labour had a clear run for decades where the Maori vote was concerned. Under MMP, National and the Maori Party have a coalition arrangement on some issues. And this deal hasn't been the disaster some would have us believe. But the field has now widened to include the Greens, New Zealand First and the Mana Party.

Maori voters can now pick and choose who they want to give their vote to. This includes both the electorate and the party vote. Not all Maori voters, and I would suggest the majority, subscribe to the teachings of Ratana. Old alliances die hard. But young voters don't know, and probably don't care that much, about historical political ties. They want to put their vote where they believe it will be most effective in delivering on their priorities. Mainstream parties will always have to consider their total membership. How their supporters view the Maori wish for a self-determining future. How their members feel about Maori seeking to co-manage in partnership with the crown, important national assets and natural resources returned through Treaty settlements.

Maori political parties on the other hand don't have this diverse membership distraction. They exist solely to advance Maori economic and social development. They believe what's good for Maori will, in the long term, be good for the rest of the country. They also know that identity, language and culture are essential ingredients for successful Maori self-determination. At every opportunity they look to promote and support policies that enable Maori to realise their own unique potential.

Whanau Ora has been very effective in ensuring whanau start to take a planned approach to their future. Whanau now know they are important to the country's future. And that their role will not merely be that of bystander. It must be obvious to any observer that Maori are past asking permission. They are writing the prescription for their own future.

Where Maori put their vote this year, and at any time in the future, is up to them. Having heard and watched the goings on at Ratana they are probably right if they think they won't see or hear from these political leaders again before the general election later this year. But I suspect an ever growing number now realise how important their vote has become. You don't get politicians tripping over themselves for nothing.

Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.