The new co-leader of the Māori Party says the approach Māori are taking to the COVID-19 crisis is an example of everything the party stands for.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is the party’s Te Tai Hauāuru candidate and shares the leadership with its Tāmaki Makaurau flag bearer, John Tamihere.

She says Māori organisations like her Ngāti Ruanui Rūnanga from south Taranaki and Mr Tamihere’s Waipareira Trust in west Auckland got out in front of the pandemic response, mobilising their communities and falling back on the principles of manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga.

She says every candidate is a leader in their own community, and that work can’t be set aside for the campaign.

"I don’t see us doing the old-style politicking and campaigning, certainly not myself that you've seen done in the past. I think the most important task for us as co-leaders for Te Paati Māori is to continue to walk our talk, continue to lead by example and continue to be relevant and connecting our whānau," she says.

Debbie Ngarewa Packer

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