The Maori Party's newest candidate says the Government isn't taking major Maori issues at all seriously

Rawiri Waititi is standing in Waiariki in September's General Election - one of the seven Maori seats.

He says he is motivated by what he calls the mishandling of issues like Whanau Ora, Ihumatao and Oranga Tamariki.

Mr Waititi stood for Labour at the 2014 election, but he says the Maori party plays a crucial role in raising indigenous issues.

He says the essence of the Maori party is to affirm the constitutional and treaty rights of Maori to engage in the political process.