The New Zealand Herald

Prime Minister praises ‘warm and hospitable’ event

- Isaac Davison

Bill English praised the Ratana commemorat­ions as one of the best parts of Maoridom after leading the Government on to Ratana Pa for the first time as Prime Minister.

English received a warm welcome yesterday at the first big Maori event of the year, where Ratana Church elders said they were eager to hear from the country’s new leader.

They extended an invitation to English to attend the event a day early after he said it clashed with the first Cabinet meeting of the year.

“We made a decision to welcome you here to Ratana,” said Ratana’s senior secretary, Piri Rurawhe.

“And I’ll tell you why — to give our people an opportunit­y to meet and greet the new Prime Minister of New Zealand and to listen to what you have planned for the next 12 months, irrespecti­ve of whether it’s an election year or not.”

While noting that “we are not always going to agree”, Rurawhe said all were welcome at the pa “irrespecti­ve of the colour of their skin”.

Led by the local brass band, English walked on to the pa near Whanganui with five ministers and 10 National MPs — a delegation he later boasted was “bigger than New Zealand First” and “almost as big as the Labour Party”.

His arrival was uneventful compared with his first visit in 2002 — the first by a National Party leader. On that occasion, he made an embarrassi­ng gaffe by arriving an hour late and keeping one of Maoridom’s most important leaders, Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu, waiting.

English said yesterday he had first attended Ratana as “the leader of a failing Opposition” and that the church had been as welcoming then as it was yesterday.

It’s good for New Zealanders to see it, it’s such a warm and positive and hospitable way of business. Bill English

The visit also marked a change from last year’s event, when the atmosphere was tense because of opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnershi­p and security levels were increased.

English began his speech at the pa by speaking in fluent Maori, without notes, for about three minutes. Speaking to reporters later, he said he picked up “bits and pieces” of Maori during his time in Government but could understand only “half of what’s said”.

Explaining his decision to attend Ratana but not Waitangi next week, he said the Ratana event was more respectful.

“As you have seen here today, the best of tikanga is good for New Zealand, it’s good for New Zealanders to see it, it’s such a warm and positive and hospitable way of business.”

Like John Key last year, English will spend Waitangi Day in Auckland. He decided against attending the official event in the Far North because he would not have been allowed to speak at the powhiri at Te Tii Marae.

English would not say whether he would return to Waitangi in future years. But he said it was not the only place to discuss issues affecting iwi, and denied that he was shying away from debate on the Treaty of Waitangi by not attending.

Labour, the Greens and NZ First will pay their respects at Ratana today.

 ?? Picture / Mark Mitchell ?? Prime Minister Bill English spoke in fluent Maori when he was welcomed on to Ratana Pa yesterday.
Picture / Mark Mitchell Prime Minister Bill English spoke in fluent Maori when he was welcomed on to Ratana Pa yesterday.

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