Power players in Māori politics
From royalty to the Beehive, marae and charity sector, there are multiple sites holding power in Māori politics. Glenn McConnell looks at the players.
Allegiances are being tested, as the race for the Māori seats heats up. In the world of Māori politics, whakapapa, politics, and policy ambitions are overlaid – often leading to a blur of party political colours.
Yesterday, National MP Harete Hipango exemplified how complex these relationships can be. She revealed that Dame Tariana Turia, the founder of Te Pāti Māori, was backing her in the race for Te Tai Hauāuru – rather than current Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
It followed a big month for the Māori Party, which convinced a Labour minister, Meka Whaitiri, to cross the floor. Whaitiri cited a more intrinsic calling to the Māori Party, saying it felt like ‘‘home’’.
Both of these examples of changing political colours show the collision of influences and motivations which come with Māori politics.
In mainstream politics, you have local government and national elections. For Māori, you get to add in iwi politics as well.
The sites of power in te ao Māori are varied. There’s influence to be found in royalty, in charities, in Parliament and in boardrooms.
Come October 14, Māori politics could play a significant role in deciding the next Government. Labour will seek to hold its seats, and Māori campaign chairman Willie Jackson says they’ll even try and win back the seat of Waiariki from Te Pāti Māori coleader Rawiri Waititi.
Kaumātua such as Turia hold significant sway across the motu. Turia and other retired activists, leaders and political actors are still heard when they do choose to speak up. The likes of former Labour MP Mahara Okeroa, Ngāi Tahu leader Tā Mark Solomon, and Te Aroha Alec Hawke, of Ngāti Whātua rākei, hold major respect and political power. If they choose to speak out, you can be sure their message will be considered at marae, boardrooms or newsrooms across the country.
Dame Rangimārie Naida Glavish is another leader of this generation with huge mana. But unlike the others, she’s far from retired from politics. Glavish is active in Te Pāti Māori and will often travel to rallies and speak on behalf of the party.
While there are just two Māori Party MPs in Parliament, Ngarewa-Packer and Waititi, John Tamihere acts as a sort of third leader for the party. He is its president and comes to the job with significant experience in politics and campaigning.
He’s been all over the place, from running to be mayor of Auckland as well as serving as a Labour MP.
But his power does not rest in Te Pāti Māori alone. Tamihere is the chief executive of no less than three organisations, the highly influential Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, as well as charities Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust and the National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA).
Throughout the pandemic, Tamihere became one of the most prominent social sector leaders in Tāmaki Makaurau. His charities were instrumental in vaccinating and testing thousands of Aucklanders, Māori and non-Māori.
But he was not a great supporter of the Government. He rallied against ministers and the then director-general of health, Sir Ashley Bloomfield, taking the Ministry of Health to court and accusing it of not doing enough to ensure high vaccination rates for Māori.
His criticism was often brutal and personalised attacks against Bloomfield in particular did concern some other prominent Māori leaders. His varied roles, from the charity sector, to Whānau Ora, and political campaigning as well, have also raised some questions about which Tamihere you’re speaking to. Is it the campaigner, the social worker, or the NGO leader? He wears many hats.
In the world of iwi politics, there are high-powered leaders across the country who have earned the support of their iwi and have close links to councils, Government, and sometimes media.
In Te Waipounamu, Lisa Tumahai is one of the most influential actors in Māori politics, but also in business and mainstream politics. She is the kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and is involved in the national Iwi Chairs Forum as well. Ngāi Tahu is a powerful entity, having grown its assets and connected with its people across the country. Its rohe is large. Tumahai is highly engaged in politics and current events, and will surface in discussions about a range of pressing issues.
In Tāmaki Makaurau, Ngarimu Blair plays a similar role as deputy chairperson of Ngāti Whātua rākei. He’s a fairly young leader in iwi politics, who’s engaged in a variety of kaupapa. He’s happy to talk about most things, from tech breakthroughs to urban planning. He’s well liked in academia and at Auckland Council.
On the East Coast, Selwyn Parata is also leading the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery. He is the chairperson of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, director of Te Ohu Kaimoana, and is also involved with Te Matatini – the national kapa haka festival.
Waikato is more complex. There are many leaders with prominent profiles across the region and it is home to the Kı¯ngitanga as well.
The Kı¯ngitanga, led by Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero, is not averse to politics. Thanks to spokespeople and formalities, Tūheitia himself rarely makes public comment. But in previous elections, the Kı¯ngitanga has indicated support for Te Pāti Māori candidates. Despite this, Nanaia Mahuta has remained the MP for Hauraki Waikato.
As well as facing challenges from the Kı¯ngitanga, Mahuta has faced off wellrespected leaders such as Tukoroirangi Morgan and Rahui Papa. Both Morgan and Papa are eloquent, well-connected and have expertise in policy and mātauranga Māori.
But Mahuta isn’t ill-equipped either. Sources from the Iwi Chairs Forum, which convenes iwi leaders from across the country to collaborate on policy change and iwi governance issues, have said they’ve been impressed by Mahuta’s work as a minister.
She also comes from an impressive whānau with strong political ambitions. Her older sister, Tipa Mahuta, is an accomplished director and public servant. She co-chairs the Waikato River Authority and chairs Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority.