Prime Minister John Key (front left), with the co-leader of the Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori), Pita Sharples (front right), is welcomed onto Pūkawa marae on the south-west shore of Lake Taupō in December 2008. The event was hosted by Ngāti Tūwharetoa paramount chief Tumu Te Heuheu and provided an opportunity for the new prime minister to meet iwi leaders from around the country. While political participation through formal party membership and attendance at mass meetings has generally declined, Māori discussion of collective problems and objectives continues to be lively and important. Hui on marae, both during election campaigns and between elections, are an important feature of Māori community politics.