National leader Bill English has been given a tongue lashing at Ratana for his comments that te reo Maori was "somebody else's language."

English led a slender 20-strong delegation onto Ratana - the place he has returned to almost every time since 2001.

Speaking during the powhiri, Kingitanga spokesman Rahui Papa was quick to observe the change in English's status from Prime Minister to the Opposition.

He said after nine years of attending as a Government minister, he applauded English for returning as Leader of Opposition.

"Some people with lesser mettle might have hidden away but you have returned to face the music."

However, English got a tongue lashing for his recent comments on te reo Maori.

Papa said English should be an advocate for the language rather than dismiss it as "somebody else's."

"We still need your support for the aspirations and goals of Maoridom even though you sit in Opposition.

We say to you, Bill, some people are saying 'Bill English is going to be bloody well talking about Te Reo Maori. I say te reo Maori is ingrained in the very earth of this nation. And I say it belongs to all New Zealanders.

It doesn't just belong to Maori, it belongs to everybody. And everybody should recognise it and share in the bounty of te reo Maori."

"It's not good enough to just get up and say Kia Ora and tena koutou, tena koutou and tena koutou. Actually there has been a commitment over the years and we implore you to support the aspirations of te reo Maori, te Ao Maori [the Maori world]."

READ MORE: 
The Soap Box: Te Reo isn't someone else's language
Bill English stands by Te Reo comments

English - a semi-fluent Te Reo Maori speaker - began with an extended mihi, drily observing he was Bill English "leader of the Opposition" to some laughter.

He pointed out he had been going to Ratana since 2001 and acknowledged that when he was invited back last year, the church probably had not anticipated his drop in position or Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's rise.

In the lead up to the anniversary, English said he believed Labour did not support any great degree of Maori independence or rangatiratanga.

English told the followers that National believed Maori should have independence to help themselves rather than rely on the government and had worked to ensure that.

He said Maori were self-confident and did not need grants or handouts.

"You have a government that many Maori voted for, obviously. But be careful that it's not a step back. That you don't become believers again in government and its cash and the lure of its influence when what we have seen flourishing is rangatiratanga."

He said in a way it could be harder to deal with the new government because "they are family."

"The politics, there are a lot of relatives, it's all intertwined."

"From the distant benches of Opposition, we'll be watching. Because having been on that hokoi on the Crown side there is no doubt the best thing for New Zealand is that momentum of confidence and self-determination is maintained."

He acknowledged the 100th anniversary of the divine revelation Ratana had in 1918 that led to the founding of the Church in 1925.