About us
“Kia rangatira te tū a Te Pāti Māori hei rōpū whakatinana i ngā rau wawata
o te iwi Māori, o te motu hoki” - Māori Party Constitution
The Māori Party, is a political party, born of the dreams and aspirations of tangata whenua to achieve mana motuhake (self-determination) for whānau, hapū and iwi within their own land; to speak with a strong, independent and united voice; and to live according to kaupapa handed down by our ancestors.
The Māori Party believes that indigenous solutions can help unlock the wellbeing of our whānau, and our nation. Our policies and practices are derived from kaupapa tuku iho, and aim to provide for the wellbeing of all, recognising that we must improve the outcomes of whānau Māori if we are to be a truly diverse, happy and well nation.
- We stand for Whānau Ora
- We stand for Mana Motuhake
- We stand for the protection of our taonga tuku iho
- We stand for to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- We stand for tangata whenua.
Our Founders
|
Dame Tariana Turia |
Sir Pita Sharples |
Te Paati Māori - Our Kaupapa
We are a values based Party, and as such our kaupapa - which express the values handed down to us by our ancestors guide us in all that we do. They are:
- Manaakitanga - the expression of aroha, hospitality, generosity and mutual respect
- Rangatiratanga - the expression of our rangatira - weaving people together with integrity, through leading by example, humility, generosity, altruism, and diplomacy
- Whanaungatanga - recognising the interconnectedness of all people and all things, affirming the value of the collective.
- Kotahitanga - having a unity of purpose, and unity of direction.
- Wairuatanga - recognition of the spiritual existance of all things, alongside the physical. The connection we have to our maunga, our wai, our atua are an essential part of the wellbeing of our people.
- Mana Whenua - recognising whānau, hapū and iwi ancestral rights and connection to land.
- Kaitiakitanga - recognises the responsibility of guardianship (spiritual, cultural and physical) over all things, including our taonga tuku iho and resources.
- Mana Tupuna/Whakapapa - defines who Māori are as people. It is the bridge that links us to our ancestors, that defines our heritage and gives us the stories which define our place in the world.
- Te Reo Rangatira - recognising that our Māori language is the cornerstone of all that is Māori. Ki te kore tātou e kōrero Māori, ka ngaro te reo, Ka ngaro te reo, ka ngaro ngā tikanga. Ka ngaro ngā tikanga, ka ngaro tātou ki te Ao. Ko te reo te kaipupuri i te Māoritanga.
Our Kaupapa are outlined in further detail in our Constitution.
Te Paati Māori - Our History
Founded in 2004, our Party was born out of bravery, love and a 40,000 strong hikoi (protest march) over the Foreshore and Seabed Act, a piece of legislation passed by the then Labour-led government, which undermined Māori rights.
Our founding Co-Leader, Tariana Turia, was a Labour MP at the time. So opposed to the legislation and blatant disregard for Māori rights, she chose to cross the floor and stand with her people in opposition to the legislation. Her people called on her to leave the Labour Party, and contest her seat (Te Tai Hauāuru) in a by-election, under the banner of a new political party - the Māori Party.
Dame Tariana Turia sought the support of a range of people, including Sir Dr Pita Sharples (founding Co-Leader) Whatarangi Winiata (founding Party President) and others who then called a series of hui, which eventually led to the establishment of the Māori Party.
In July 2004, Dame Tariana Turia was successfully elected in a by-election in Te Tai Hauauru, making her the very first Māori Party Member of Parliament. She was later joined by Sir Pita Sharples (Tamaki Makaurau), Te Ururoa Flavell (Waiariki) and Hone Harawira (Te Tai Tokerau). In 2008, these founding MP’s were joined by Rahui Katene (Te Tai Tonga), giving the Party a 5-member strong presence in Parliament.
It was also in 2008, that the Māori Party entered a supply and confidence agreement with the National Party. This relationship saw the Māori Party become part of the Government, with Ministerial positions. Upon Tariana and Pita’s retirement, Te Ururoa Flavell (Waiariki), and Marama Fox (List MP) took up the mantle of Co-Leadership and continued the Party’s work in Parliament.
In our time in Government the Māori Party has been proud to have been at the forefront of embedding Whānau Ora, leading a constitutional review, signing the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous people and gaining billions of dollars worth of investment into supporting whānau, Māori organisations, te reo Māori, education, broadcasting, sport and more.
We are proud of the legacy that our Party has left, and will continue to strive for transformational change that empowers our whānau, hapū and iwi.
| Founding leaders of the Māori Party were (left to right) president Whatarangi Winiata, and co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples, shown here gathered together in July 2004. |