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Māori Queen Welcomed To Rātana
Russell Palmer, Political Reporter
Pokere Paewai, Māori issues reporter
The Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po has been welcomed to Rātana with a powhiri this morning, ahead of political parties arriving in the afternoon.
Sitting beside her was Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu, the new Ariki of Ngati Tuwharetoa, making his first visit to Ratana since the passing of his father Sir Tumu te Heuheu in September, aged 84.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi are both absent, surveying damage and helping local communities after the recent storms.
Tama Potaka and Nicola Willis will represent National.
They, along with Labour leader Chris Hipkins and members of the Greens, New Zealand First and Te Pāti Māori, are to be welcomed with a pōwhiri at 3pm.
Te Pāti Māori endorsed the prime minister's call to skip the commemorations to instead visit weather-hit communities.
Speaking at Rātana, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told RNZ her own Te Pāti Māori colleagues had also stayed in their electorates to support those affected.
"My message to them was: you're not to leave your people."
Ngarewa-Packer says the leader of the nation needed to be where the biggest hurt was - and in fact should have visited sooner.
"The prime minister's advice was probably a bit slow... he probably should have been there yesterday... we know previous leaders would have done.
"Looking after those that are hurting at the moment is the priority."
Ngarewa-Packer said the flooding drove home the seriousness of the climate crisis and the need to future-proof vulnerable communities.
"Why does it always take a tragedy for us to be able to sit there and say well, maybe, we do need to listen to the experts?"
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
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