PM brings gifts for Ra¯tana Pa
The last time Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited Ra¯ tana Pa, she was gifted a name for her unborn baby. This time she came with presents of her own – a gift from baby Neve and pledges of kindness and compassion. She apologised for not bringing the person people wanted to see most but joked they did not want a teething baby. Ardern promised to bring Neve back to the first place a name was gifted and where the pregnancy was made public.
She pledged about $3 million towards housing infrastructure for the Ra¯ tana Pa¯ community, offered up her Bible and a Treaty of Waitangi to symbolise the promise Labour made to honour it. Before her arrival, the streets of Ra¯ tana were busy making preparations; setting up tents filled with food and beds for the celebrations to follow.
But as soon as she stepped on to the grounds, all eyes were on the prime minister, children flocking by her side.
The children said they were ‘‘excited and overwhelmed’’ with how many people had arrived in the area for the event and to see Ardern. Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe, who is the greatgrandson of T W Ra¯ tana, spoke of how her kindness and focus on youth was a way forward.
She was well respected at Ra¯ tana, he said.
‘‘I think the kind of messages she expresses around kindness very much resonates with our people.’’
As Ardern made her way around the settlement – led by more young people – the reggae music made way for the brass bands, marching her to a po¯ whiri. She was joined by Labour and Opposition MPs, National Party leader Simon Bridges, Greens co-leader Marama Davidson and NZ First MP Shane Jones.
Ra¯ tana has strong, historic ties to the Labour Party but it was Ardern’s persona that ensured such a warm reception.
The last time she was at
Ra¯ tana she was gifted the name waru for Neve and as it was not used as thought, she and Neve gifted eight harakeke plants as a small gesture of thanks.
They would serve as a reminder of her commitment that would continue to grow with the partnership, she said.
She thanked the Ratana Church for welcoming and supporting the Labour Party and the Government.
‘‘I know that in another 100 years our bond will remain.’’
She gifted a Bible that was given to her by her mother, which contained her handwritten notes throughout.
‘‘You will see I was a very diligent student.’’
The gifts were a symbol of her promise to be a government that is kind and compassionate – a government that put the wellbeing of its people at the centre of all its policies, she said.
She told the large gathering it was only fitting whenua, all the churches, the political parties and the people celebrated the kaupapa that united them all.
She had heard stories of how a humble man travelled up and down the country – in one hand he held the Bible. In the other the Treaty of Waitangi.
‘‘Today, I stand before you holding the same promises. ‘‘To honour the Treaty. ‘‘And to be a Government that shares the same values spoken of so often in the Bible. Kindness and compassion.’’
As the leader of the Labour Party she wanted to uphold the promises of the past but she also did not want to just rely on the relationship forged many years ago. The relationships had strong foundations but must also remain in the present, she said.