March 20, 2024
Marae access only for MP
Tāmaki Makaurau MP Takutai-Moana Natasha Kemp wants to establish constituency offices on Auckland marae.
There was controversy at having a polling booth at Manurewa Marae, where the then-Te Pati Māori canbdidate was the manager, but she says that was an Electoral Commission decision.
She says the new plan is different, and she plans to ask Parliamentary Services to fund space at Manurewa Marae, Ruapōtaka in Glen Innes and Hoani Waititi Marae in west Auckland.
“How I see it is, being on the ground whanau get to access me during the week when I am in Tamaki in a safe place, in a place that they feel comfortable. In a place that they know will support them,” Ms Kemp says..
She says marae are the ideal location to help link whanau to programmes, services and resources they might need – and she’s missed that grassroots connection with whanau since entering parliament.