Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po and new paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Ariki Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tūkino IX, have been welcomed at Rātana Pā this morning.
It’s the first visit by Te Ariki Te Rangimaheu following the death of his father, the late Te Ariki Sir Tumu Te Heuheu last year. Today, he has returned his father’s kawe mate – represented by a photo of Sir Tumu carried on by a grandchild – to the pā according to tikanga.
During the pōwhiri, speaker Herea Winitana said the Te Heuheu whānau have long been supporters of the Rātana Church. He recalled the time Te Ariki Te Rangimaheu’s grandfather, Sir Hepi Te Heuheu, was sick as a child and was seen by the māngai of the church.
“Koinei tētahi take kaha nei te…pupuri i tēnei hononga i waenganui i a tātou (this is one reason why we hold steadfast to the bond between us all),” he said.
Māori warned of election year promises
Kiingitanga speaker Tukoroirangi Morgan warned those gathered at Rātana to be wary of politicians seeking votes this election year.
“What is clear is that political parties have one thing in mind and that is to seduce our people to giving their votes so we just have to be conscious of the intent and the hypocrisy that goes where politicians who are making all sorts of promises to our people of the track record of this Government is well known.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has set the election date for November 7, which happened to fall a day before another significant date for Rātana – it’s believed that the holy spirit spoke to the founder of the church, Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana on November 8 in 1918.
A pōwhiri this afternoon will be held to welcome politicians to Rātana. Representatives from all political parties, except the Act Party, will be there.
Nicola Willis will lead the National Party in the absence of Luxon, who is visiting weather-damaged regions.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi won’t be making the visit either as his electorate of Te Waiariki also grapples with this week’s devastating storm.
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