PRESS RELEASE
Te Roopu Whakamana o Ngati Ranginui
April 2, 2012

Campaign to capture Ngati Ranginui gets underway

A campaign to reach more than 5000 people from the Tauranga-based iwi Ngati Ranginui gets underway today.

Singing sensations Betty-Anne Monga (Ardijah) and Ria Hall as well as aerosol artist, Maori carver and DJ on the Code television sports programme, Hone Ngata, and former presenter of the award-winning Pukana youth television programme, Marama Gardiner, are fronting the television, online and radio ad campaign for their iwi.

“We estimate there are 10,000 Ngati Ranginui out there and we want all of them to register so they can tell us what they think about one of the biggest issues to face our tribe – the Crown’s offer to settle our long-standing Treaty claims,” said Antoine Coffin, the chairman for Te Roopu Whakamana o Ngati Ranginui, which has been heading the negotiations with the Crown.

“We’re extremely serious about connecting with all of our people and we’ll be using a number of ways to do that – advertising on television, radio, online as well as mass text alerts, Facebook, sending out a team to capture our people on the ground as well as holding hui throughout the country and in Australia,” Mr Coffin said.

“We want all our people to not only register but also vote. This is Ngati Ranginui’s time.”

The ads will run on Maori Television, the Maori Radio Network and online until May 9.

Of Ngati Ranginui people living in New Zealand at the 2006 census, 4071 or 53.3% were living within the Bay of Plenty region. Another 3081 or 37.9% were living elsewhere in the North Island, specifically 11.3% in Waikato, 15.9% in Auckland and 5.4% in Wellington. A further 6.4% of Ngati Ranginui people reside in the South Island.

Iwi members must register before April 30 in order to vote on the offer. They can register online at www.ranginuiraupatu.maori.nz or call 0800 4 RANGINUI to be posted the registration form.

To check out the television and radio ads go online to www.youtube.com/ngatiranginui1

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