December 06, 2013
Ousted MP wants second chance
Former Maori Party MP Rahui Katene is hoping to book her ticket for a return spell in parliament this weekend.
She is one of six people seeking the party’s nomination for Te Tai Hauauru.
Tariana Turia, who has held the seat since 2002 for both the Labour and Maori Parties, is stepping down at next year’s election.
Mrs Katene, who lost Te Tai Tonga in 2011 to Labour’s Rino Tirakatene, says it’s frustrating as a politician to be out of parliament and not be able to influence events.
She says the strong line up of candidates and the growing number of membership renewals are signs the Maori Party has a healthy future.
"Maori are able to look at the issues and see that we do need to have our people in parliament that the mainstream parties have done nothing for us for 150 years and that the only way we have been able to get things done is through a Maori party and a Maori party that is sitting there in Government with one of the mainstream parties," Mrs Katene says.
Labour’s candidate is likely to be former Ngati Apa chair Adrian Rurawhe, a grandson of former Western Maori MP Iriaka Ratana and great grandson of Ratana movement founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.
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