Labour and its partner parties say they aim to better the lives of Māori

English told he should be advocate for language not dismiss it as "somebody else's".

Politicians arrive to woo Ratana

Rātana "was more famous than Brad Pitt".

Labour and the Ratana Church have an alliance dating back to 1936.

Beds hard to find as visitors beat a track to Whanganui

The Green Party is looking to the Maori seats to boost its vote at the election.

It's an expensive exercise for Kapa haka teams to get themselves onto the stage at Te Matatini - organisers say they want to help more with that cost as well as becoming an autonomous business. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

The hard work, uniforms and final kapa haka performance at Te Matatini is what represents Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana as an iwi. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Bill English's arrival this afternoon was uneventful compared to his first Ratana visit in 2002 - also the first by a National Party leader.

Labour leader Andrew Little says the Maori Party is "effectively the Maori branch of the National Party."

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei launched a stinging attack on John Key in his absence at Ratana today, saying his view of NZ's history was "outrageous and deeply offensive".

The Maori Party has used the annual Ratana anniversary to send a message to Labour not to rule it out as a potential coalition partner.

Labour leader David Cunliffe has been welcomed on to Ratana Pa for the first time as the party leader

Labour leader David Shearer has said he will gun for the Maori Party electorate seats next year, exploiting the uncertainty in the party - but co-leader Tariana Turia has retaliated.

Prime Minister John Key was left in little doubt that there was at least one place he wasn't the preferred Prime Minister: at Ratana Pa.

Having done his utmost to get the Maori Party into the intensive care unit, Harawira has put on his quack's white coat and offered to give it the kiss of life, writes Claire Trevett.

John Key's performance at Ratana's annual celebrations suggests he is confident National's relationship with the Maori Party is sound.

The National Government and its Maori Party partners presented a united face when Prime Minister John Key visited Ratana Pa this afternoon - a move Mr Key admitted was unexpected.

Phil Goff believes Ratana church followers are rallying behind Labour because of wider problems they see in NZ.

Maori party co-leader Tariana Turia says she is "totally unaware" of any leadership aspirations rogue MP Hone Harawira may have.

Labour has been challenged to reciprocate Ratana's decades-long loyalty by giving four Ratana candidates winnable Parliamentary list positions.