Every year, without fail, politicians of every stripe make their pilgrimage to Rātana. Cameras click. Hands are shaken. Carefully scripted words about ‘respect’, ‘partnership’ and ‘listening’ are delivered with solemn faces. Then they leave – politically cleansed, media boxes ticked and consciences untouched.
For many New Zealanders, this ritual has become a symbol, not of unity or respect, but of everything rotten in modern politics.
The issue is not the Rātana Church itself. Nor is it Māori culture, history or faith. The problem is the fraudulence of the political class that reappears year after year, not out of conviction or principle, but out of fear.
Fear of headlines.
Fear of activist outrage.
Fear of being labelled, smeared or misrepresented.
And fear, as we know, produces weak leaders.
