Politicians returned to the house today after a month-long recess with one veteran politician coming back with a little extra.
Another working day but the compliments keep coming for Nanaia Mahuta.
Fellow Labour MP Louisa Wall told Te Kāea, “I think she's had her moko her whole life and now we all get to see it.”
She is the first sitting MP to get a moko kauae, which she received with 14 other women in Tainui over the weekend. It is something that she has done to acknowledge the past and also with an eye to the future.
“I look at the grandchildren and I know, this is for them, this is for you,” says Mahuta.
She is no regular MP. Mahuta is in her 20th year in Parliament, she is also a former cabinet minister and the most experienced MP in a Māori seat.
“I am just so immensely proud,” says Labour MP Meka Whaitiri.
“When I look at her it just makes me want to well up,” says Wall.
So will this bold example be followed by her colleagues?
“Haha well I won't be getting mine anytime soon,” says Wall.
So it looks like for now, it will be Mahuta alone, leading the way.