Listen Now: 
January 19, 2015
Better engagements with politicians for national hui
Waatea Team
Posted On January 19, 2015
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell would like to see changes to the major national hui so there are more opportunities to engage with politicians on the issues of the day.
The political year kicks off this week with the various parties making a showing at Ratana Pa, followed in early Februrary with the annual pilgrimage to Waitangi.
Mr Flavell says his year started with a Kingitanga poukai yesterday at Te Teko, where there was considerable give and take on issues.
That type of engagement is lacking at the major hui, where there seems an avoidance of politics despite powhiri time being set aside for politicians.
" When you go on to the powhiri one side has a shot and the other side responds, you have a cup of tea and thats the end of it. And I would like to think that as we head up to Ratana and Te Tii, lets have the formalities out of the road and do what we have to do. And why not take the opportunity while we have got a huge number of MP's and ministers together, to sit down and have some serious dialogue about the issues that face your communities. Have some backwards and forwards as opposed to just the one way dialogue and just the one person talking " he says.
Te Ururoa Flavell says under their partnership agreement, the Prime Minister has agreed to attend three hui with the Maori Party amongst iwi.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
