Tributes flow in maiden speech

Ikaroa Rāwhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel told “our resident Coastie” and National MP Dana Kirkpatrick that “I trust we will see beyond politics and prioritise our people” in her maiden speech in Parliament ln Thursday night. Hawke’s Bay Today file picture

Ikaraoa Rāwhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel honoured the late Parekura Horomia in her maiden speech in Parliament last night.

The former Māori affairs minister “was truly an MP of the people and became synonymous with the seat of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti,” she told a gathering that included whānau, fellow MPs and New Zealand Rugby and provincial rugby union representatives.

“So to the Horomia whānau and all you Ho-hesians, you are a force of nature.”

Ms Tangaere-Manuel, proud of her Rangitukia roots, honoured her parents, “affectionately known as Sina and Nunu” and her wider whānau including father-in-law “Big John” Manuel — “the guy who rode the blue horse” at Ngāti Porou East Coast matches.

She attributed her decision to stand for Parliament to the legacy of her parents, whānau, community, Mr Horomia and Tā Apirana Nohopari Turupa Ngata.

The new MP fondly recalled growing up on the East Coast where “Mum and Dad gave me everything I needed to prepare for this journey” and where she benefited from “the nurturing of a whole community”.

Ms Tangaere-Manuel, in defeating Te Pāti Māori MP and former Labour Cabinet minister Meka Whaitiri in last year’s election, is the only Labour MP to hold one of the seven Maori seats.

Ms Tangaere-Manuel was previously best known as the chief executive of Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby Union.

She emphasised in her speech last night that the role and the union was “never merely about the oval ball”.

“It was about pride. It’s still about pride — value, identity, setting pathways and daring to dream.

“Again, lifelong friendships were established and I thank my provincial union, New Zealand Rugby and New Zealand Māori Rugby Board colleagues present tonight.

“By the way, rugby and politics — not so far removed.”

Ms Tangaere-Manuel acknowledged general seat MPs — Labour and National — across her vast Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate including “our resident Coastie Dana Kirkpatrick”, the newly elected National MP for East Coast.

“I trust we will see beyond politics and prioritise our people.

“I’m pretty awesome to work with, too, even in Opposition. That’s why there’s some Opposition heartland unions here today.”

Ms Tangaere-Manuel also thanked the people of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti “who brought me to this House, the whānau who created unprecedented queues in Ruatōria to vote and those of you who deemed me worthy of your first-ever vote”.

“Tēnei te mihi ki a koutou. You did this. You brought me here — the mana of your voice.”