Rātana has kicked off the year in New Zealand politics, as the country eyes up the November 7 election.

MPs spoke at the central North Island pā site, with Labour's Chris Hipkins speaking about the importance of using Te Reo Māori.

The Greens launched a Members' Bill at the event to entrench Māori seats, and it was announced the Government would invest 10 million dollars into a new Ringatū Marae complex in the Bay of Plenty.

Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says Prime Minister Chris Luxon was unable to attend the event and spent the day speaking with those who'd been impacted by the extreme weather in the upper North Island.

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