Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Ian McKelvie: Ratana celebrations a great day

By Ian McKelvie
Columnist·Whanganui Chronicle·
7 Feb, 2019 08:17 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

National Party leader Simon Bridges gives his speech at the Ratana celebrations.

National Party leader Simon Bridges gives his speech at the Ratana celebrations.

The new year has got off to a flying start with plenty going on in the Rangitikei and lots to celebrate.

Our region was successfully represented at this year's Wellington Cup in January, with Gorbachev taking out the $250,000 signature race.

Trained near Bulls by former international equestrian Bryce Newman, ridden by Ryan Elliott, and owned by Kevin O'Donnell, Paul Bardell, Joe Huwyler and Brian O'Dea, there's more than a hint of Rangitikei in the mix. Congratulations.

I also spent a couple of days at the Karaka sales. There were plenty of people there - along with hundreds operating behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of this iconic event - though it seemed to me New Zealand buyers weren't represented as well as in previous years.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was a consequence of nervousness among our racing fraternity as we await the Minister for Racing's response to the Messara Report.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

I was delighted to be invited to the Feilding Rotary Club where I enjoyed being part of a lively discussion about the state of the nation. It was particularly interesting to note the general consensus (regardless of political persuasions) regarding this Government's propensity to over-promise and under-deliver.

National was well represented at the annual celebrations at Ratana Pa to commemorate founder T.W. Ratana's birthday. Along with a strong contingent of MPs, I was also joined by the Rangitikei's Youth MP, William Wood, who will represent me - and us - at this year's Youth Parliament, which is held every three years and is on in Wellington in July.

William is a motivated and driven student of Palmerston North Boys High School and I'm looking forward to spending time with him over the coming months as he accompanies me to local events and constituency meetings.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After our visit to Ratana, William wrote a few words about his experience - so I'll hand over to him now to finish off ...

"My experience as the Youth MP for Rangitikei has only just begun, yet I have already been offered some incredible opportunities.

"Attending Ratana alongside the National Party contingent was my first official event as Youth MP. Ian and I have, however, discussed some quite exciting ideas for the coming year.

"I am the first to admit that getting to meet those you see on the TV and in the news is an intimidating thought. When I got the message that I would be attending alongside Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett some terrifying thoughts flashed through my mind, 'What if I embarrass myself?', 'What if they aren't actually nice people?'

Discover more

Dirty water worries tourism operator - catchment care group starting

02 Feb 08:00 PM
New Zealand

Remains of slaughtered cows dumped at riverside

04 Feb 06:10 PM

Get ready for the Mitre 10 Marton Triathlon at Rangitikei College

07 Feb 03:20 AM

The story of Marton's Tutaenui Stream

15 Feb 04:00 PM

"All this was put to rest, however, when I was met by a group of interesting and genuinely engaged MPs. Sitting down for lunch at a local cafe with Bridges on my right, Bennett on my left and a whole variety of MPs in-between was a surreal and humbling experience.

"It is unbelievable how receptive MPs are to the ideas of youth, whether it is talking with Paula Bennett about more youth employment opportunities, or to Nick Smith about the foundation of the Youth Parliament.

"The politicians I have met realise that engaging with youth is the same as engaging with our future. I look forward to representing my peers in Wellington this July, and working with Ian to make the Rangitikei an even better place for us youth."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

'Surprising' lack of property value growth in Whanganui region

Premium
OpinionKevin Page

Kevin Page: Facing fears, finding humour and relief in medical journey

Whanganui Chronicle

Council officers back deconstructing St George's buildings


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

'Surprising' lack of property value growth in Whanganui region
Whanganui Chronicle

'Surprising' lack of property value growth in Whanganui region

However, Pātea has a 4% increase in average property value in the past six months.

14 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
Premium
 Kevin Page: Facing fears, finding humour and relief in medical journey
Kevin Page
OpinionKevin Page

Kevin Page: Facing fears, finding humour and relief in medical journey

14 Jul 05:00 PM
Council officers back deconstructing St George's buildings
Whanganui Chronicle

Council officers back deconstructing St George's buildings

14 Jul 04:59 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP