January 28, 2013
Ratana to consider affiliate status
Senior Ratana members are weighing up the merits of becoming an affiliate of the Labour Party.
Labour’s affiliates, which are now mostly unions, have a say in setting policy and under new rules can also vote on the party leadership.
Ratana spokesperson Wayne Johnson says a lot of work needs to be done on the support of church membership for such a move, the infrastructural requirements and whether there would be a financial commitment.
But he says it may be price needed to have more say in pushing policies that would be beneficial for Maori, and for ensuring that Maori MPs and candidates are treated fairly on the party list.