Te Tawharau
Encyclopedia
Te Tawharau was a Māori political party
in New Zealand
.
Te Tawharau briefly had representation in Parliament when Tuariki Delamere
, a former New Zealand First
MP, transferred his loyalty to it. In the 1999 elections
, Te Tawharau contested electorates under its own banner, but contested the party vote as part of the Mana Māori Movement
. It did not, however, win any seats, with Delamere losing his position to Mita Ririnui
of the Labour Party
. Te Tawharau was founded by Delamere, the late Wharekaihua (Willie) Coates and Rangitukehu David Paul. Te Tawharau was founded on the principles espoused by Te Haahi Ringatu (the Ringatu Church) and sought to persuade the Māori people to recognise that under the new MMP
voting system it was possible for Māori to hold the balance of power if Māori was able to unite under a common umbrella. In the 1999 general election the Māori parties of Te Tawharau, Mana Māori and Piri Wiri Tua
formed a political alliance for that very purpose. Although that 1999 alliance did not win any seats the next step in that journey of Māori political awakening was reached in 2005 with the Māori Party winning 4 of the Māori seats
.
While Te Tawharau has not formally been absorbed into the new Māori Party
, as Te Tawharau has lapsed as a political organisation, the elements and people behind Te Tawharau are now supporting the Māori Party. In 2007, Te Tawharau requested and received deregistration.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Te Tawharau briefly had representation in Parliament when Tuariki Delamere
Tuariki Delamere
Tuariki John Delamere is a former New Zealand politician. He served as an MP from 1996 to 1999, and was a member of Cabinet for the duration of his term.-Before politics:...
, a former New Zealand First
New Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
MP, transferred his loyalty to it. In the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, Te Tawharau contested electorates under its own banner, but contested the party vote as part of the Mana Māori Movement
Mana Maori Movement
The Mana Māori Movement was a New Zealand political party. It advocated on behalf of the Māori people. It was founded by Eva Rickard, a prominent Māori activist. Rickard was originally a member of Mana Motuhake, another Māori party, but quit when Mana Motuhake joined the Alliance...
. It did not, however, win any seats, with Delamere losing his position to Mita Ririnui
Mita Ririnui
Mita Michael Ririnui is a New Zealand politician and a member of the Labour Party. He has been a member of parliament since 1999.-Early years:...
of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. Te Tawharau was founded by Delamere, the late Wharekaihua (Willie) Coates and Rangitukehu David Paul. Te Tawharau was founded on the principles espoused by Te Haahi Ringatu (the Ringatu Church) and sought to persuade the Māori people to recognise that under the new MMP
MMP
MMP is a three letter acronym that may refer to:*International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots , a maritime labor union*Manitoba Marijuana Party, now Freedom Party of Manitoba, a Canadian political party* Mathematics-Mechanization Platform...
voting system it was possible for Māori to hold the balance of power if Māori was able to unite under a common umbrella. In the 1999 general election the Māori parties of Te Tawharau, Mana Māori and Piri Wiri Tua
Piri Wiri Tua
Piri Wiri Tua can be:*A pseudonym used by Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, founder of the Ratana religion*The Piri Wiri Tua Movement, a political party based on the Ratana religion...
formed a political alliance for that very purpose. Although that 1999 alliance did not win any seats the next step in that journey of Māori political awakening was reached in 2005 with the Māori Party winning 4 of the Māori seats
Maori seats
In New Zealand politics, Māori electorates, colloquially also called Māori seats, are a special category of electorate that gives reserved positions to representatives of Māori in the New Zealand Parliament...
.
While Te Tawharau has not formally been absorbed into the new Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
, as Te Tawharau has lapsed as a political organisation, the elements and people behind Te Tawharau are now supporting the Māori Party. In 2007, Te Tawharau requested and received deregistration.