Winston Peters notes absence of 'cat man' at Ratana Pa

Winston Peters is among the politicians gathering at Ratana Pa. Photo / Stuart Munro

NZ First leader Winston Peters took a pot shot at Gareth Morgan, the former leader of The Opportunities Party who criticised Peters at Ratana last year.

Peters observed "the cat man" had not made it into Parliament or back to Ratana.

"What's changed is the Government."

He said the new Government was aiming at education, health, employment and wages to deliver for Maori.

NZ First MP Shane Jones was given the comedy slot but also had a bit of a serious message.

He took aim at National leader Bill English for his comments that it was not for the Government to ensure the survival of the Maori language, saying it belonged to everybody.

Jones needs land to plant his billion trees on and noted many morehu had suggested a name for Ardern's baby.

"When they offer the name make sure you get the land as well."

A drone above the marae at the start of the powhiri also bothered Jones. He told media if they took a drone to Waitangi "I have no doubt it will be mistaken for a kereru, shot and consumed."

Green Party leader James Shaw spoke during the powhiri, acknowledging the manaakitanga (hospitality) of the Ratana people.

He said his former colleague Metiria Turei was a morehu and pledged to continue with the work on child poverty Turei had championed.

He also referred to Pirimia (Prime Minister) Ardern as "baby mumma" and Peters as the rangatiratanga (chief).

He said it was a great honour to be in government, but also a great responsibility.

"We take our responsibility as ministers to be to hold Te Tiriti o Waitangi central to our work. I wanted to maintain that commitment."

He said the Greens would also pursue the other promises they had made over successive years at Ratana to improve homelessness, poverty and the environment.