24 Jan 2012

Shearer takes step to repair Ratana alliance

11:34 pm on 24 January 2012

Labour leader David Shearer says he is taking the first step in repairing the party's relationship with the Ratana Church.

Mr Shearer extended an invitation to church members on Tuesday to come to Parliament to work through issues.

Politicians from across the political spectrum made their annual appearance at Ratana Pa near Whanganui for the celebration of the birth of the church's prophet, Tahu Potiki Wiremu Ratana, born on 25 January 1873.

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A spokesperson for Harerangi Meihana, the head of Ratana Church, has said he feels that former Labour leader Phil Goff did not deliver on his promises.

David Shearer has acknowledged that the party needs to work on its relationship with the Ratana Church, which dates back to the 1930s.

Mr Shearer told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme on Tuesday one of the issues the church has indicated it wants to discuss is poverty.

"We'd like to talk with them about that and other issues that they think are important, and also to look at how we can form more regular links and construct a dialogue between the two of us.

"In the past, Ratana MPs and Labour MPs were more or less joined at the hip - that's no longer the case."

The chair of the church's executive, Waka Paama, says it is timely to review the Labour-Ratana alliance, as much has changed within the movement.

However, Mr Paama said the church commended Labour's moves to renew and reinvigorate itself. Discussions have begun to review the alliance, but there was still much to do, he said.

Waka Paama said there are many challenges ahead for Maori, including the growing gap between rich and poor.

Earlier, Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta said the party values the relationship, because it knows its Maori vote is significant. Ms Mahuta said the expectations of people who follow the Ratana movement and belong to the church have changed in the past decade.

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Labour link long gone - PM

Prime Minister John Key says the Labour Party's traditional links with the Ratana Church are well and truly gone and the National-led Government is happy to engage with the church.

"Maori are no different from other New Zealanders - they're going to vote for what they think is going to deliver the best outcomes for them.

"The Labour Party has actually proven in government that they don't deliver the best outcomes for Maori in New Zealand - it's actually National that has that history."

Mr Key told Ratana Church members that National has done more for them than Labour, in setting up kura kaupapa and building state housing at Ratana.

Green MPs and Mana Party leader Hone Harawira also attended the celebrations on Tuesday.