Frankie Stevens casts his vote for Tuhono

NZ Idol judge Frankie Stevens casts his vote for Tuhono, the Maori Affiliation Service

NZ Idol judge, Frankie Stevens, is casting his vote for Tuhono, a new initiative which aims to link Maori and their iwi.

This week the Chief Registrar of Electors sent forms to 353 000 Maori voters asking them to consent to their electoral roll information and iwi affiliation being shared first with Tuhono, then with their designated iwi.

Frankie, who is affiliated to Te Atiawa, said Tuhono is a brilliant concept.

"If Tuhono had been around when I was a young man, I'd be a different person today. I'd have learnt te reo, learnt more about my iwi and had more to do with my iwi organisation. We should have had it long ago."

Frankie urged all Maori to fill out their Tuhono forms and return them as soon as possible.

“It’s an easy process: just date and sign your form, identify and tick your iwi and send it back in the pre-paid envelope.”

Tuhono is the operational arm of the Tautoko Maori Trust, which is chaired by Sir Paul Reeves.

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