Latest news with #RawiriWaititi
RNZ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Son of late Takutai Tarsh Kemp calls for Māori to register for voting
Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira The son of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp who died suddenly last week has called on Māori to sign up to the Māori Roll. The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau was buried at Opaea Marae near Taihape on Monday at a service attended by over 300 people. Kemp is a long way from her Tamaki Makaurau electorate, where she spent much of her life and raised a family - but for Kemp and her whanau, Opaea Marae is home. Her son, Te Manea Kauika-Quinlan said it took the death of his mum for him to realise how much her work resonated with Maori and hoped it did not go to waste. "Now's the time, whānau. Why is it when something like this happens it's the kick up the bum we needed. "I know you're probably sick of hearing it, 'get off the general role, get on the Māori role!'. E whānau, get on the Māori role! Don't let this go to waste," Kauika-Quinlan said. Like his mother, he said Māori had the voting power to tip the scales. "If each and every one of us voted - just us here - that's enough, that's heaps already. I'm no political ideology or anything like that, ko enei ngā kōrero o aku whaea," he said. Among the mourners were Takutai Kemp's colleagues from Te Pati Maori. Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira Among the mourners were Takutai Kemp's colleagues from Te Pati Maori. Co-leader Rawiri Waititi lamented the loss of a good friend and a staunch fighter for Maori . "It's not until people pass away, then you actually know the impact that one has on many lives. "The many stones that are thrown up on the shore of te Takutai Moana," Waititi said. Speaking to the crowd, Waititi said the "power" was "in our hands". "We are not outnumbered. We are out organised. Organise yourselves," he said. A table near the wharekai was set up offering Te Pati Maori merchandise and guidance on how to sign up to the Maori roll. A number of politicans paid their respects at the marae since Kemp arrived on Saturday, including members of National Party and the Greens. "We acknowledge Chloe walking on here with her Māori party beanie on, Peeni Henare sitting on the pae with his Māori party beanie on," Waititi said. "Chris, we look forward to seeing you walk off this marae with your Māori Party beanie on," he said, speaking to Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Chris Hipkins at the service. Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira When it was time for them to meet, Rawiri Waititi told Chris Hipkins he should not turn his head. "She died, and she lived, serving her people, and that mahi must continue. So when this tīwaiwaka, Chris, when have our kōrero, kaua e tahuri atu to kanohi, tahuri mai. "When my face turns to yours, don't turn yours somewhere else," Waititi said. "I am very pleased that the sun has come out, and therefore I can decline your offer of an umbrella. The heat has arrived, and therefore I don't need the beanie - but we always need friends," Hipkins said Hipkins said Labour extended all of its aroha to Kemp's whanau and colleagues. "To Te Pāti Māori, thank you for your manaakitanga today, and genuinely, I say thank you to you, and of course, we extend our aroha to you in Parliament as well. "We look forward Debbie and Rawiri to seeing you back when Parliament resumes," he said. MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was buried at Opaea Marae near Taihape. Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp was buried behind the marae, in front of a small church surrounded by her tūpuna. Before she was put to rest, Te Pati Maori sent her off with a song - "Proud to be Māori" by illumiNGĀTI. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp laid to rest
Watch the livestream from Opaea Marae above This story was updated to clarify that the nēhu was on Tuesday Hundreds of people are at the nēhu, or burial service, for Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp. Kemp, 50, died last Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief from fellow MPs and the public who lamented the loss of a staunch adovacate for rangatahi and South Auckland. The Tāmaki Makaurau MP was taken to lie at Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland until Saturday morning, before travelling to Opaea Marae just north of Taihape. Takutai Tarsh Kemp has been laid rest on the grounds behind Opaea Marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told the service at Opaea Marae Kemp was a "peaceful, soft, but strong leader for her people". Opaea Marae trustee Cyril Mako said preparing to host the masses in such a short time was tough but many whānau pitched in to prepare today's nēhu (burial). Opaea Marae spokesperson Cyril Mako. Photo: RNZ / Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira Mako told RNZ he was expecting between 800 and 1200 people to attend - a tall order for a small marae like Opaea. "If you'd been here five years ago we weren't actually functioning," he said. "It's an old marae, our toilet block had been pulled down and we were basically closed for a period of time." Mako said they had to rely on the help of nearby marae - their whānau - to help with kai preparation and housing people who travelled for the burial service. Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was laid to rest on Tuesday. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ "They jumped at it, and we really appreciate it because we couldn't have done it ourselves." Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins and other party members were welcomed onto the marae just after 9am. Speaking at a post-cabinet media conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he would not be attending the tangi, but the National Party would be well represented. Luxon also ruled out announcing a date for the Tāmaki Makarau by-election, triggered by Kemp's death, saying he wanted the week to be focussed on her. Kemp's MP car at the marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Speaking to media, Hipkins said he would not criticise the prime minister for not attending but the death of a sitting member of Parliament was rare. The nēhu, or burial service, began at 11am and the day is being streamed live online. The burial was at Opaea Marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Ngātiwai iwi urges Māori pride after Winston Peters' moko comments
RNZ Northland iwi Ngātiwai is encouraging te iwi Māori to take pride in their identity and wear their moko proudly, following Winston Peters' comments calling Rawiri Waititi's mataora 'scribbles'. Peters, who is of Ngātiwai descent, made the remark during a Parliamentary debate
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp dies age 50
life and society te ao Maori 40 minutes ago Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died at the age of 50 in the early hours of Thursday morning. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi spoke to Charlotte Cook.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Government Cuts Off Public Voice On Controversial Bill
Te Pāti Māori condemns the Government's decision to restrict oral submissions on the Regulatory Standards Bill to just 30 hours, calling it a deliberate move to shut down dissent. 'This is not a process. It's a purge. The Government is pushing a dangerous law and silencing those who would challenge it' said Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Rawiri Waititi. Despite repeated system failures and hundreds still waiting to be heard, Ministers have refused to extend the deadline. Māori voices, tangata tiriti, constitutional experts, legal academics, unions, and community advocates are being locked out. 'The Crown never intended to listen. They've built a submission process designed to collapse under pressure and it did. Now they're cutting the cord' said Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. 'The Regulatory Standards Bill hands sweeping power to unelected officials and opens the door for corporate veto over worker protections, environmental safeguards, and Te Tiriti rights.' 'This is the machinery of suppression dressed as reform. Thirty hours isn't public consultation it's an alibi' said Waititi. Te Pāti Māori is demanding an immediate extension to the submission timeframe and guarantees that every voice has the right to be heard. 'We will fight this Bill in Parliament, in the courts, and in our communities' said Waititi. 'A government that shuts its ears is not fit to govern.'
