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Summarised by Centrist
As the political year opened at Rātana Pā, leaders from across Parliament were welcomed and began outlining what they could offer Māori voters ahead of the November election.
The most concrete political signal of the day came from New Zealand First. Senior minister Shane Jones used his time on the pa to announce a $10 million allocation for infrastructure to support Ringatū marae in Wainui, Mātaatua. Jones rejected suggestions that the announcement was designed to win votes, pointing to previous funding decisions and framing the moment in cultural and faith-based terms.
Kīngitanga spokesperson Tukoroirangi Morgan, who warned Māori not to be swayed by election-year tactics or what he described as politicians “scattering lollies” to entice support.
His message was reinforced by Rātana representative Kamaka Manuel, who questioned whether financial commitments alone could meet Māori aspirations, asking where the balance lay between pūtea and meaningful outcomes.
NZ First leader Winston Peters later said the practice of bringing funding announcements to Rātana reflected long-standing tikanga rather than political inducement. “When we come here, we’ve always left a gift,” Peters said, saying the approach had been followed by successive governments.
National minister Tama Potaka said the government’s focus remained on delivery, public services, and law and order, without announcing new funding.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has skipped the annual Rātana celebrations to visit storm-ravaged East Coast communities as states of emergency remain in place and search efforts continue after deadly landslides.
Image: Phillip Capper
