January 24, 2014
Politicans gather at Ratana
It’s a big day at Ratana Pa, as politicians from most of the main political parties are welcomed on to join the the annual celebration of the birth of movement founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says it’s an important hui for him.
"There are few voices at this level that are what I call pan-Maori. Everything is iwi these days, like we are all breaking up into our local relationships. Yet I recall the days at university, I didn't give a darn where people came from, what iwi they came from, If they had talent and they were good, they were our friends. Now we have receded into feudal-type behaviour, and one of the reasons I have been a supporter of Ratana for a long time was that it speaks with a voice across the country and although it may not be as powerful as it once was, the truth is it still has the capacity to be very powerful," Mr Peters says.
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