Growing Our Future Together Pacific and Maori

“This evening, Thursday 20th of July 2017 is another historic occasion for Pacific people and our communities in Aotearoa,” says Dr Joe Williams, Co-Leader of One Pacific. “We are taking up the opportunity to strengthen our whanaungatanga, our kinship with Maori as tangata whenua by standing Pacific Candidates under the banner of the Māori Party”.

The President of the Māori Party, Tukoroirangi Morgan, this evening publicly announced six (6) Pacific Candidates who are standing for General Seats under the Māori Party ticket. They are:

· Tuilagi Saipele Esera (Samoan heritage) standing for Manukau East Electorate.
· John Kiria (Cook Islands heritage) standing for Mt Roskill Electorate.
· Pakilau o Aotearoa Manase Lua (Tongan heritage) standing for Maungakiekie Electorate.
· Tofilau Esther Tevaga-Tofilau (Samoan heritage) standing for Mangere Electorate.
· Karen Williams (Cook Islands heritage) standing for New Lynn Electorate.
· Maryanne Marsters (Cook Islands heritage) standing for Napier Electorate.

“Furthermore, this evening we are demonstrating the unity of Maori and Pacific people. We are united in our vision, in our direction to grow our future together, united in our resolve to progress the social, economic and political aspirations of Maori and Pacific whānau and aiga living in Aotearoa,” according to Aiiloilo Dr. Elise Puni.

“Finally, we honour and celebrate the 150 years parliamentary heritage of Māori as was established through the Maori Representation Act 1867. We affirm our support for the existence and continuation of Maori Parliamentary Seats’’ says Ikamafana Tameifuna, Co-Leader and representing Tonga.

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