English quiet on date for election

Prime Minister Bill English has declined to say if the date for this year’s general election will be announced today, after the year’s first Cabinet meeting.

“We’re still considering that,” he said in answer to questions from journalists at Ratana Pa, where he led a delegation of government ministers to the annual celebrations of the religious movement founded by Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.

An early announcement of the election date would maintain a practice established by English’s predecessor, John Key.

Key believed the public favoured certainty over the election date rather than the tradition of the ruling party keeping the date close to its chest to keep Opposition parties guessing.

English appeared to deflect rather than deny the suggestion.

“The decisions haven’t been made yet. We’ll let you know.”

Speculation about election dates centres on September 23 or, if held early, a date in late July after the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of New Zealand has finished.

The decisions haven’t been made yet. We’ll let you know. Bill English replies to questions about the election date

English appealed to members of the Ratana Church gathered at the movement’s spiritual home, Ratana Pa, south of Whanganui, to “reawaken the spirit of enterprise among Maori” because “we have reached the limits of what government can do — government grants, programmes, more public servants”.

“What I see around the country, and it’s obvious to every New Zealander, is the burgeoning spirit of enterprise [ among Maori businesspeople].”

This was not traditional “development”, which implied government action to create wealth, but “enterprise owned by iwi, whanau, and hapu”.

On Maori social issues, English said the public sector had now entrenched the concept of Whanau Ora.

“It’s you who know the whanau, you who they know they can trust. The Government can’t and doesn’t know it.

“That’s tino rangatiratanga [selfdetermination] and we believe in that,” he said.

Occasional downpours held off during the powhiri and English’s response on a blustery day at Ratana Pa.

Also due at Ratana Pa is the Maori Party leadership, who are choosing to go on to the marae with the Maori King, Tuheitia, rather than with other political parties today.

The Maori Party has been urging Ratana to break its tradition of support for the Labour Party, as the Kingitanga did last year.