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January 28, 2016
Tikanga out the door when politicians call
Waatea Team
Posted On January 28, 2016
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says the Ratana movement has thrown tikanga out the door when it welcomes political parties to its annual hui.
She says church founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana held the Treaty of Waitangi in one hand and the Bible in the other as he expressed his concern for the Maori people.
That means it’s fitting that politicians come to the village every year to say what they will do for Maori, but it has turned into blatant electioneering.
It’s no longer a traditional powhiri where people are welcomed on Maori terms.
"We make allowances for all sorts of things to happen so that these political leaders can speak. There is applauding during the korero now and booing during the korero and it just feels like we have lost that bastion of tikanga Maori to facilitate other tikanga and a bit of grandstanding," Ms Fox says.
She says if the powhiri is to be open slather, she wants a chance to speak.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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