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August 30, 2016
Former Labour hopeful follows King to Maori Party
Waatea Team
Posted On August 30, 2016
There’s been a significant defection from Labour in the wake of King Tuheitia coming out against the party.
Its candidate for Waiariki in the last election, Rawiri Waititi, has joined the Maori Party.
The self-declared kingite from Te Whanau a Apanui says moving from Auckland to live among his iwi has changed his views, and the king’s speech crystalised his thoughts.
He told Radio Waatea host Willie Jackson, that whatever the brand, the aim is Maori unity.
"The Labour Party is like a mainstream school with a Maori class attached to it, that's called in to do the powhiri now and then. We've actually got to be the governors of our own destiny and I believe the Maori Party is able to do that for us. The King has actually opened the door for the rest of us to start looking at how we look at a united approach to our political desires, keeping our mana motuhake intact ," says Rawiri Waititi.
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