Hone Harawira is getting the band back together

54 comments on “Hone Harawira is getting the band back together ”

• Comments are now closed

1. weka 1

   20 June 2016 at 10:13 am

   I wanted to let Harawira’s words have their own space in the post because NZ has a bad habit of misrepresenting people from outside the mainstream, especially Māori. So I didn’t put my own thoughts in the post. Fwiw, here’s what I heard from the interview.

   Harawira was blunt at the start about the other MPs in parliament, and came across as thoughtless and offensive in the way he put it. That’s a shame because what he really appears to be saying is that Māori need a voice in parliament that is unconstrained by other politics and policies within political parties. One of the MSM outlets had him later clarifying that yesterday, but I couldn’t find them again last night.

   Mana is Mana on its own again, and is going to be more focussed on Māori.

   Mana can work with the Māori Party quite easily, probably in a similar way to the MoU that Labour and the Greens have i.e. an agreement to work together and not undermine each other.

   Harawira thinks Little is a decent person. He thinks that Labour should be a party that overtly represents the working classes in a political sense but doesn’t. When asked if he can work with Little he points to the differences in their policies and approaches to class, and that Mana want to champion the poor.

   He sees regaining the TTT seat as being about bringing something that Te Tai Tokerau people want.

   Mana will base it policies in its work with flax roots issues like child poverty and homelessness, and that the solutions to those things need to be more real.
   • Colonial Viper 1.1

     20 June 2016 at 10:51 am

     Is there evidence that Hone understands why he lost his seat, and why MANA never got the traction that it deserved.

     I don’t understand how MANA reorienting itself to “be more focussed on Māori” is going to get MANA on the road to being a mass movement.
     • weka 1.1.1

       20 June 2016 at 11:00 am

       He talked about his perspective on what happened with KDC, and with polling pre-election.

       “I don’t understand how MANA reorienting itself to “be more focussed on Māori” is going to get MANA on the road to being a mass movement.”

       Maybe they’re thinking they can help their people more by doing it this way? I don’t know, and my interpretation was on the basis of a single interview and where he was saying that Bradford and Minto would be in a more supporting role. He didn’t talk about it a lot. It’s probably a bit early to be speculating on what their long term plan is. I’m guessing they will take time to rebuild the party and given their grass-roots focus, I’d guess we won’t see a lot of that from this distance.
       • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1

         20 June 2016 at 11:12 am

         Its obvious why Internet MANA failed and that’s because he spent too much time, energy and money all over the country, instead of creating an effective turn out strategy in his own electorate. It’s nothing more than that. 700-800 more votes and both Hone and Laila would have been kicking arse in Parliament all term making National look like the crap they are and making Labour look even more small target middle class focussed.

         As for re-invigorating MANA as a grass roots movement, at a local level I’ll be able to tell that from on the ground in Dunedin over the next few months as to what the local activists down here are doing/not doing.
         • save nz 1.1.1.1.1

           20 June 2016 at 5:21 pm

           @CV – Hone failed because the left and right and MSM kicked up a massive smear campaign against him and KDC.

           InternetMana doubled their votes, if this had been a fair election (without smearing and dirty politics, and stupidity over Te Tai Tokerau, they would all be in parliament and very likely Labour would have got more votes and everything would have been different.

           I was shocked that after dirty politics revelations that Labour and Greens did not seem to want to know. I don’t know if this was because their advisors told them to stay on topic or what went down, but minimising and dismissing the revelations was crazy. Maybe they thought they addressed them, but MSM was always putting on sound bytes with the Labour and Greens being dismissive of Mana, KDC and dirty politics. Key was missing in action on the issue.

           BTW a herald poll showed that most people agreed with KDC rather than Key.

           Labour and Greens should have stayed neutral and pointed it all back to National on the issue and left Key to fight KDC by himself.
     • Richardrawshark 1.1.2

       20 June 2016 at 11:01 am

       Pie in the sky dream, Hope for a bit of tax payer cash for the Harawira cause.

       Hone see’s a gapping gap in Maori representation since they all got the hump with Labour and Maori party, he’s making a grab for power sad fella.

       Hone, Bradford, Minto scary stuff.
   • Aaron 1.2

     20 June 2016 at 11:29 am

     What are you talking about Hone coming across as thoughtless and offensive?
     You must have sent me to an interview from a parallel universe because in the video I watched he said it in a very calm matter of fact way.
     It amazes me how even at a website like this people still can’t get their heads free of the MSM smearing of Hone Harawira. Really Disappointing.
     • weka 1.2.1

       20 June 2016 at 11:54 am

       Go back and reread my comment. The whole reason I wrote the post was because of the smearing that was going on and I wanted people to be able to respond to Harawira’s actual words. Which is what I did.

       I was referring specifically to the part where he basically said that all the Māori MPs in parliament currently are cowed by party politics and are hardly noticeable. I also explained that it was unfortunate that he phrased it that way because the point he was trying to make was interesting.

       I don’t think the current Māori MPs are hardly noticeable, and I don’t think all of them are cowed by party politics. Harawira did talk about this more elsewhere where he expressed it less offensively, but I can’t find it now (I assume it’s been removed).
       • Pasupial 1.2.1.1

         20 June 2016 at 12:43 pm

         I haven’t watched the interview (haven’t registered with TV3 so it won’t play). But I certainly hope that; in reference to Māori MPs, he was a bit complimentary towards Turei for championing his Feed the Kids bill after last election. Also, whatever you might think of him; Peters is certainly noticeable in the house!

         This piece on TDB shows that the band metaphor is a theme that they are likely going to go with. At least he didn’t say that they were on; “a mission from god”, even if the reception has been akin to an R&B group playing Rawhide in a country bar:

         “Everyone’s been missing the MANA sound so we’re getting the band back together.
         “Annette will be lead singer, we’ll have Jordan on bass, I’ll play lead guitar, and I’ll get Kereama and the Ratana Boys on percussion. John Minto’s a little ‘rhythmically challenged’ so we might get him to head up the roadie crew!”
         “I got a bell from Metz, and she’s keen on doing a guest appearance or two.
         And I’ve jammed with Te Ururoa before and that went real well so … you never know. And if he wants to play lead that’s fine with me” said Harawira with a chuckle “It’s the music that matters”

         http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/19/were-puttin-the-band-back-together-mana-movement-returns-for-2017-election/
         • weka 1.2.1.1.1

           20 June 2016 at 1:33 pm

           I enjoyed the BB reference!

           He didn’t say much about Turei other than that they get on well.
       • Aaron 1.2.1.2

         20 June 2016 at 4:44 pm

         Hone is talking about them being hardly noticeable from the point of view of his constituency. Arguably the most visible Maori MP has been Kelvin Davis but the people he’s being trying to help don’t even live in New Zealand!

         To be clear, I think his attempts to help the people in Aussie detention centers should be applauded but it’s a sign of how wedded to the mainstream he is that he had to go out of NZ before rocking the boat.

         You’re right, incidentally, that you prefaced your post with reference to smearing – in hindsight I’m guessing you were more aware than I am that some of TS’ audience is hostile to Hone. It kind of feels like you had to throw them some meat so they would keep reading.
         • weka 1.2.1.2.1

           20 June 2016 at 5:32 pm

           Hone is talking about them being hardly noticeable from the point of view of his constituency. Arguably the most visible Maori MP has been Kelvin Davis but the people he’s being trying to help don’t even live in New Zealand!

           I missed that, but given he was on national television I think lots of people would. I took him to be referring to the Māori MPs being not noticeable in parliament and NZ. Plus the whole cowed thing. He did mess up the message there and it’s something he does that I think he needs to work on to get better at what he is doing. I can see past it, lots of people won’t (and I’m not talking about the MPs necessarily).

           You’re right, incidentally, that you prefaced your post with reference to smearing – in hindsight I’m guessing you were more aware than I am that some of TS’ audience is hostile to Hone. It kind of feels like you had to throw them some meat so they would keep reading.

           I prefaced it because there was a smear post up on ts yesterday that was fairly typical of the general smears that go on all over the place about Harawira and Mana. I wanted people on ts to have the chance to hear his words directly. There’s a broad range of responses to Harawira here, from full support to full antipathy. So no, I didn’t need to throw them some meat, that was done yesterday.

           IMO that bit about Māori MPs was a bum note in an otherwise good interview. I led with it in my comment because I addressed the points chronologically.
           • te reo putake 1.2.1.2.1.1

             20 June 2016 at 6:02 pm

             Where was the smear post, weka? I must have missed it. Still, at least there’s an arselicking one up now for balance 😉
             • marty mars …

               20 June 2016 at 6:26 pm

               classic lol ta
             • weka …

               20 June 2016 at 6:35 pm

               I see you still can’t put up an argument trp.
2. marty mars 2

   20 June 2016 at 10:30 am

   Hone is far from perfect and I think he needs to be more humble publically which he is in person. Hone is not Mana but he can be the sharp bit at the tip of the spear.
   • Richardrawshark 2.1

     20 June 2016 at 10:47 am

     “Hone is far from perfect and I think he needs to be more humble publically which he is in person. Hone is not Mana but he can be the sharp bit at the tip of the spear.”

     Are you calling Hone a [edited]

     remember twisting everything I said yesterday kid.

     [no he wasn’t calling Hone that. Your comment was likely cause a derailment. Please take any personal arguments to Open Mike. Or better yet, let them drop and focus on the politics – weka]

     [lprent: I’d add a warning. Your comments on Hone in the last few days appear to me to be more motivated by your various forms of bigotry than anything else. Continue making comments that don’t carry any argument and I will simply ban you.

     I really can’t be bothered dealing with commenter’s mental issues over and over again and having them disrupting a reasonably rational debate. I suspect you don’t understand yourself well enough to understand your own issues and therefore are unlikely to be able to control yourself. So any ban that I am forced to issue will be for some time.

     This is your warning, and I’d suggest that you read the policy before attempting a response.

     I’m putting you on auto-moderation so your comments can be checked before publication. ]
     • marty mars 2.1.1

       20 June 2016 at 10:52 am

       [that was unnecessary too. Please stick to the politics – weka]
     • Richardrawshark 2.1.2

       20 June 2016 at 12:48 pm

       Fair enough and that’s twice in 2 days you have rounded on me when I had already been warned and ceased, it had infact already been taken care of.

       You come along later on and added several lines. The other day you accused me of something I didn’t do, if you had read further down you would have seen that.

       I was wrong to have replied as I did To Marty, condisdering he abused the fuck out of me yesterday in a total rant..maybe I held a grudge. I had kept it hush and quiet so long.

       [Richard, can you please keep to the topic of the post. If you want to talk about other things, please take them to Open Mike, that’s what Open Mike is for. – weka]
     • Richardrawshark 2.1.3

       20 June 2016 at 12:53 pm

       [off topic and personal grudge comment removed – weka]

       
       [Mate, read LP’s note to you above and let this stuff go. TRP]
   • Aaron 2.2

     20 June 2016 at 11:39 am

     Really bizarre that you think Hone needs to be more humble. I could go on about the racial implications of your comments but just want to say tht I watched that video (as I said above) and thought he was calm, even handed and humourous.
     • marty mars 2.2.1

       20 June 2016 at 11:47 am

       Yes and dissing other tangata whenua is unnecessary imo. Marama and others are giving it a good go and we also need Home back asap
       • marty mars 2.2.1.1

         20 June 2016 at 12:00 pm

         Sorry Hone bloody phone but home is Hone for me anyway
3. save nz 3

   20 June 2016 at 11:07 am

   Good post. I feel sorry for Hone, he just wants to do what is right for his people. I like he is no 1 on that. He is a fighter and that is what Maori need – not someone representing them to ‘be at the table’ with National when they are just enabling them.

   He has been f*&ked over by the MSM even more than Labour and some in the left are putting the boot in too.

   I don’t hear Hone closing the door to Labour either. Calling Little ‘a nice guy’ is not putting the boot in. Labour/Mana can have unofficial co operation – they don’t need a MoU.

   Also the MSM have hijacked the discourse on Mana and Labour. In my view 1 million didn’t vote for Labour BECAUSE they appeared very hostile to left of centre parties Mana and Greens last election which confused voters and meant labour did not seem to stand for anything – more taxes but did not support Greens on environment and Mana on poverty. Basically had nothing for anyone. I do NOT blame Cunliffe for that. There were a huge range of things that went wrong last election and I think Labour and Greens have learnt from it.

   No one expects Labour and Mana to be joined at the hip and best buddies, but they can have a cordial and strategic relationship to get a change of government.
   • Jenny 3.1

     20 June 2016 at 11:31 pm

     The Right have become experts at working MMP to their advantage.

     The Left need to catch up.

     If Labour want to send a message to the country that they are serious about removing the current government, then nothing would make this message louder and clearer than an accomodation with Hone Harawira and the Mana Party.

     And there can be very little doubt that that message would be heard loudest and clearest in the Maori electorates.

     The Mana Party may even agree to stand down in Waiariki to give Labour the margin to reclaim this seat from Tuaroa Flavell.

     This would remove not one, but two supporting MPs for the National government. Without a seat, the Maori Party List vote would not be counted. Tuaroa Flavell and Marama Fox would both be out.

     Unlikely?

     In his speech to the Green Party AGM Andrew Little said that a government he led would “Feed the Kids”.

     This is a clear reference to Hone Harawira’s Feed The Kids campaign and private members bill, that very nearly succeeded, but was voted down by the government.

     http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10480843/Mana-calls-for-Feed-the-Kids-support

     Little knows that like Cunliffe before him, lose this election and your out.

     If Andrew Little feels that he is the man to head a Labour led government then he must give it all he has got.

     Postscript:

     It has been reported that on leaving the stage at the Green Party AGM, back stage thinking that he was not being witnessed Andrew Little raised both arms in the air in triumph.

     And he had every right to. His speech was the best one delivered at that conference.

     In my opinion it was a speech for our time.

     The way forward to electoral success is clear.

     Following the Green Party AGM a poll was released showing a bump in support for the Labour led opposition parties. Most commentators put this bump in support as a sign that the Labour/Green Party MoU was greeted favourably by the electorate.

     While a Labour/Mana accomodation (going from radio talkback comments and comments here) would not be greeted with the same approval from the general (majority Pakeha), electorate, that doesn’t matter, because how it would be perceived in the Maori world that counts.

     And Maori perceive Hone Harawira in a completely different light to that of the Richardrawsharks and the Pakeha radio talkback callers.

     It may be harder and not as well received but at some level this is what must be done, if we are to get the Nats out.
4. AmaKiwi 4

   20 June 2016 at 11:08 am

   We need clear, uncompromising voices on the Left. Welcome back, Hone.
   • Chooky 4.1

     20 June 2016 at 12:29 pm

     +100…
5. Greg 5

   20 June 2016 at 11:23 am

   To much deadwood in Mana party to float a Waka.
   Hone needs to go it alone as a independent, it only needs one seat.
   And Key had to stitch one up for Act to be a far right bouncy ball.
   • whispering kate 5.1

     20 June 2016 at 11:54 am

     I see Hone as an activist politician and that’s not a bad thing, he may be coming in right at the perfect time with so many homeless, and kids going without food or shoes etc, young people renting all their lives because of high cost housing. He has a sincere way of putting across his views and last time he was electioneering he was dignified and concerned and surprised a few sceptic people, he had mellowed out and matured. He will always be a crusader and activist for the under-class of this country and maybe its time we had a “saviour” of sorts like Bernie Sanders, who has the will and the charisma to galvanise those in the electorate who have forever given up on voting because of their mantra “what have they ever done to help me”.

     I like the guy and I think he has learned a lot about his merging with Dot Kom – he just needs to get exposure and go to halls and walk the streets and talk with the people up North – the MSM won’t help him at all but he has more depth in spades than the present lot who are in Government with their smarmy insincerity and lies. I personally knew sceptics at the time of the last election and they were impressed how he conducted himself in debates and interviews. The underclass need a miracle and we are short on the ground of people who genuinely want well for them, Hone does, so who knows, he may attract a groundswell of support and I welcome that for it will bring about a point of difference for voters next year.
     • Tiger Moutain 5.1.1

       20 June 2016 at 12:14 pm

       well said

       what you see is what you get with Hone–Mana, Movement of the People (rhymes nicely with “movement of jah people” B. Marley “Exodus”; the alienated and exploited will not get an unequivocal voice via the mainstream parties so all power to Mana’s efforts
6. BM 6

   20 June 2016 at 11:55 am

   Andrew Little has to rule out going into coalition with Mana, if he doesn’t the lefts slim chances of victory in 2017 will become nonexistent.
   • save nz 6.1

     20 June 2016 at 12:26 pm

     Nice to know you are so concerned, BM.
     • BM 6.1.1

       20 June 2016 at 12:32 pm

       Just trying to be helpful because that’s the sort of guy I am 😀
       • Richardrawshark 6.1.1.1

         20 June 2016 at 12:42 pm

         One day you’ll succeed BM, keep trying mate.
   • Lanthanide 6.2

     20 June 2016 at 4:35 pm

     Hard to say whether he could do that, or not, because L + G made a bit of a deal about being willing to work with any other party that wants to change the government.

     Mana obviously does, so this suggests the L + G are willing to work with them.

     Exactly on what grounds of course has to be considered, but it would suggest they can’t just rule Mana out entirely?
7. Ad 7

   20 June 2016 at 12:13 pm

   Hone would do better for people just setting up his own NGO to help Maori.

   There’s an interesting trajectory comparison between Hone and John Tamihere. Both passionate, irascible, easy to offend and to be offensive, similar age, and highly charismatic. Tamihere was an MP for a while, but was terrible at it, was effectively fired, and went back to being his own man.

   Now, granted, I don’t like John Tamihere as a person. But he’s chief of a major NGO now, with property holdings, large contracts, and does spectacular volumes of good and effective work in his community. And has done over several decades.

   Hone should have never tried to get back into politics. He was terrible at it. Achieved nothing and pissed people off and left in a huff. Hell, if you’re going to fall out with the hard left Greens for being too compromised, you’re going to fall out with everyone. Like Tamihere, apart from a few within a narrow constituency, he is loathed.
   If helping the poor was his motivation, he would have chosen the path that would have done that. He didn’t.

   Hone is all about Hone, Hone in the Game of Politics, as we see above: most of it is about who is in, who is out, who he can settle scores with, who he will align with.

   Figure it out Hone and go and do some actual good in the world.
   • weka 7.1

     20 June 2016 at 1:37 pm

     Tamihere seems suited to the corporate world, Harawira not so much. I think the point is that he’s flax roots, so that’s the mahi he’s going to do. That alone is a good enough reason to have him in parliament, because who else is there representing that aspect of NZ?
8. Chooky 8

   20 June 2016 at 12:39 pm

   There is a lot of covert racism and dirty politics as regards Hone Harawira and Mana

   …and Dotcom was made a scapegoat

   …Laila Harre and the Internet Party was also smeared ( Dotcom was argued to be her “sugar daddy”…as if she was an unprincipled opportunistic woman without talent except sexual…this was a sexist attack on a highly educated, competent and experienced REAL Left politician)

   ….clearly the Mana /internet Party was a big threat to the purported ‘Left’ as well as jonkey nact Right

   …and what was the role of Simon Lusk?… and who paid him?

   This makes a lot of sense

   http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/20/andrew-little-john-key-declare-war-on-hone-harawira-and-mana-movement/

   Go Hone Harawira and Mana Party
   • Pasupial 8.1

     20 June 2016 at 1:12 pm

     The RNZ article referenced in that TDB piece is fascinating (and not authored by Bradbury for those averse to him), dating from November last year:

     Simon Lusk also claimed on Story he had been instrumental in unseating Mana Party co-leader Hone Harawira in the last election. Unnamed “businessmen” had paid thousands for that, he said. And in conversation with his co-host last Monday, Duncan Garner said money had been paid to get Maori electors to vote in Te Tai Tokerau… The following day, Duncan Garner posted a statement from Simon Lusk…

     Iwi now have extensive databases of members who they can easily mobilise. Assembling a team of 50 or 100 iwi members to get out the vote is straightforward, legal and effective if it is possible to raise some koha.

     He added that “if you’re not paying for votes or offering anything in exchange for a vote, or treating,” it is not against the law. But that statement didn’t answer key questions: How much was paid? By whom? And for what purpose?

     http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/201779410/dirty-politics-players-back-in-the-frame
     • save nz 8.1.1

       20 June 2016 at 1:20 pm

       Pasupial – +1

       Was last election fair?

       Not just this, but also all blacks tweeting to vote National, other voices being suppressed etc etc.
     • weka 8.1.2

       20 June 2016 at 1:47 pm

       Problem is that the piece authored by Bradbury kind of infers that Lusk was helping Davis and that Davis knew. Whereas the RNZ link just demonstrates that Lusk was kneecapping Mana. If Labour knew what was going on, is there evidence for that?
       • Chooky 8.1.2.1

         20 June 2016 at 8:41 pm

         Has Davis been asked ?…Has Davis denied it? …Obviously some in the Labour Party do have dealings with Lusk eg. supporters of Stewart Nash… and how close is Davis to Stewart Nash?

         https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/is-stuart-nash-set-to-launch-a-labour-leadership-bid-6097730

         http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/201779410/dirty-politics-players-back-in-the-frame

         …”Duncan Garner also revealed supporters of Labour’s Napier MP Stewart Nash paid Simon Lusk to canvas the option of a new political party, and that Simon Lusk had told him Labour MP Phil Twyford would be his next target…

         (I would think it most unwise for any Labour supporters and Labour MPs to have any dealings with Lusk…and his dirty politics…at very least there is the potential for blackmail)
   • save nz 8.2

     20 June 2016 at 1:18 pm

     +1 Chooky

     Parliament and MMP is about representation. Have the Maori party done a good enough job for Maori – that is the question, or have they made things worse for Maori over the past 8 years?

     Would Hone Hawawira do a better job?

     I personally think so.
     • Chooky 8.2.1

       20 June 2016 at 3:01 pm

       yes and not just Hone Harawira…Annette Sykes is an amazing woman , as is Laila Harre …and John Minto is great too….I would love to see them ALL in Parliament….even just for raising hugely the quality of debate

       …they would make mince- meat of jonkey nact who is churlish, boarish and childish

       …they would cut a swathe for the Left in policy and principle

       New Zealand really would be for New Zealanders and the poorest would be looked after
   • Puckish Rogue 8.3

     20 June 2016 at 2:50 pm

     I don’t think anyone was seriously suggesting that Laila Harre was sleeping with KDC (he has a type and she isn’t close to that type) but rather suggesting that as he was holding the purse strings she’d be dancing to his tune

     And when you consider what KDC is about and what Laila Harre is about then yes it was a very strange pairing made up by one person hating John Key and desperately trying to stay in NZ and the other wanting to be a politician and not worrying too much where the money was coming from

     I do find it interesting though that sue Bradford is being shunted aside, while I may not agree with much of what she says no one can deny that she probably has one of the highest levels of integrity (if not most) of any current NZ politician
     • save nz 8.3.1

       20 June 2016 at 5:30 pm

       +1 (Sue Bradford) no one can deny that she probably has one of the highest levels of integrity (if not most) of any current NZ politician
9. b waghorn 9

   20 June 2016 at 2:43 pm

   Sounds like he wants to take mana down a more separatist path than the inclusive style prior to the last election ,if that’s the case I hope he gets no momentum.
   • weka 9.1

     20 June 2016 at 7:08 pm

     What makes you think separatist b?
     • b waghorn 9.1.1

       20 June 2016 at 7:34 pm

       “. But John and Sue and them, they really don’t have the rhythm eh”

       Sounds like the honkies are allowed to hang round in the back round ,but their not Maori eh
       • weka 9.1.1.1

         20 June 2016 at 7:51 pm

         And if he is right and they’re not a good fit for his constituency? What then? Should he include them anyway because they’re non-Māori?
         • b waghorn 9.1.1.1.1

           20 June 2016 at 8:05 pm

           Why were they ok for his constituency last time and not this time? Could it be hes blaming them for manas death?
10. Andrew 10

    20 June 2016 at 6:58 pm

    Hone Harawira is one of those people that exist simply to fuck the Left. Greens and Labour should pledge loud and clear that they will not deal with those incoherent crazies.
11. whispering kate 11

    20 June 2016 at 8:21 pm

    Labour isn’t so different to National, they just tweak about the edges of legislation and don’t make the big changes this country needs for the underclass and underprivileged.. Both National and Labour, for their own expediency sake’s have crept to the middle and the extreme right don’t like it and the extreme left don’t either. Once upon a time there was a party which represented the working people and there was a party which represented the business side of the country. Now there is no point of difference. It used to be much simpler for the population to know emphatically what side they were on and voted accordingly. Winston doesn’t make it any easier as well as he is a loose cannon and can go any way which way he chooses. I can see why so many people just don’t bother to vote as its always the same old same old.

    Labour lost its mojo with Roger the pig farmer and they have never been a party for the working side of the country since, the voter needs a brain transplant to work out what the parties are going to do once they are in power. This country used to have guts and stood up for important issues, now the politicians are too scared stiff and too PC to make a decision, any decision, which will impact and make, and I mean make a difference for this country.

    By the way the Herald rang after my month’s marketeering free trial after I had given it up 3 years ago and they got an ear’s full of what a load of tripe it was and how it had made a good litter tray liner for our moggie and not to bother us again.
12. Chooky 12

    20 June 2016 at 8:46 pm

    This is interesting…clearly Andrew Little doesnt like Hone Harawira much

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11659421

    …”Mr Little told the Herald that today’s comments were “typical trash-talk” from Mr Harawira.

    Labour was focused on changing the Government he said, and was not about “bagging others”.

    Asked if Labour would work with Mana, Mr Little said the party was not in Parliament at present and he was clear about working with parties that were.

    “If you have a look at his track record — he came in to Parliament with the Maori Party, left them because he couldn’t work with them, went off with Kim Dotcom and got kicked out of Parliament. His track record is one of spectacular political misjudgments.”

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS