Te Pāti Māori is holding its first whānau open day in Christchurch today, Sunday 25 May, at Te Kura Whakapūmau in Waltham.
The event, which starts at 1PM at 45 Hassals Lane, invites local whānau to connect with the party, ask questions, and learn more about the political process in an open, welcoming environment.
Christchurch candidate and party spokeswoman Teresa Butler said the kaupapa is relaxed and inclusive.
“It’s really relaxed whānau, really informal. We just want to see your faces,” she said.
Butler said a key focus of the day is encouraging voter enrolment, especially for those who have recently turned 18 or will turn 18 before the October local election.
“Enrol to vote. Get onto the Māori roll. Go across to our Te Pāti Māori website, become a member so you receive national updates from our team,” she said.
“If there’s some kaumātua that just want to come along to our hui and support our movement as we go through different kaupapa, that will be awesome too.”
Christchurch candidate and party spokeswoman Teresa Butler
Butler said political education is a major part of the party’s mission, particularly for those unfamiliar with how government decisions impact daily life.
“Daily living looks like tax, what we get taxed on, what our community receives money for like roads and education.”
She shared a personal example of her daughter losing a specialised Māori teacher at kura, which left her in tears.
“That’s what we’re talking about when we talk about the effects of politics on our tamariki and our future.”
Butler said Te Pāti Māori’s kaupapa is inclusive.
“What we also know is it not only affects Māori, right? It affects everybody. So Te Pāti Māori is for everybody.”
