Te Maori: Power to people in close election

A speaker on the marae and former pharmacist, Hiwinui Heke, has passed away. Photo/File

Tena tatou katoa.

As I write this article, I have just been made aware of the passing of Hiwinui Heke, one of our speakers on our marae. I salute him today. Farewell, Matua. To those of us left behind, I greet you all again.

We had a great break recently. My wife and I had time to reflect on the things important to us. I can announce I will finally be a koro - yes, I have a mokopuna on the way. It has caused me to reconfirm that belief that we must keep our families at the heart of what we do. Look after them, do not abuse them, and cover them with endless love.

Despite the election date still some way from being announced, some parties have already started the "big spend" to win your vote. Some Members of Parliament are leaving, some are standing again, and some parties are being linked while others are distancing themselves from each other. Some polls and political punters suggest the race between National and the Labour/Greens is too close to call. And because of that it will be the smaller parties like the Maori Party who will determine the Government. That is what we want as that is where the power is. That's the lesson for this week.

Maori translation:

Ena tatou katoa. Katahi ano au ka rongo mo te matenga o te koroua nei mo Hiwinui Heke, kaikorero mo te iwi, ka tangi ake. E Koro haere, whakangaro atu ra. Ki a tatou te hunga ora tena tatou katoa.

He pai tonu te wa whakataa kua hipa. I whai wahi maua ko taku hoa rangatira ki te hararei, ki te ata whakaaro ake mo nga mea nui o tenei ao. E hoa ma, kua tino koroua au! Ko te tumanako ka puta etahi mokopuna ki te whai ao ki aku ringa! Kua hoki au ki tera korero, me noho to whanau ki te putake o to Ao. Tiakina, kaua e tukinotia, manaakitia, korowaitia i a ratou ki te aroha mutunga kore.

I tenei tau pooti, ahakoa he roa te wa ki te mutunga o te tau, kua ara ake ke etahi paati ki te whakapuaki i o ratou whainga ki te hokohoko i a koutou na pooti. Ka puta etahi Mema Paremata, ka noho atu etahi, ka moe tahi etahi roopu, e kore rawa etahi e pera. Ae e hoa ma ko te tau o te kowhiringa pooti tenei, a, kaore e kore ka pania nga nupepa i
nga korero mo nga take torangapu i te roanga o te tau hou.

E ai ki etahi tatauranga kei te noho tata nga ihu o nga waka a Nahinara ratou ko Reipa, ko nga Kakariki i roto i te rehi pooti, no reira ka riro ma nga roopu paku e tohu ko te Kawanatanga o te ra. No reira koia ra ta te Paati Maori e pirangi nei. Kei reira ko te mana! Kaati koia nei te korero mo tenei wiki.

I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz phone (07) 350 3261.

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