Mana enhancement

26 comments on “Mana enhancement ”

• Comments are now closed

1. the sprout 1

   14 April 2009 at 2:48 pm

   “… and for the above reasons we therefore can nolonger support the NACT Government and hereby withdraw our coalition support.”

   I think the Maori Party have already moved away from any shot at ‘enhancement’ and need to make the best chance of ‘salvage’. withdrawing would at least salvage some mana.
2. gingercrush 2

   14 April 2009 at 2:49 pm

   Well clearly they could never join a coalition where they vote on confidence and supply with either Labour or National. Because while this is about their coalition agreement with National, it could equally apply to Labour as well. Of course being in a position where you can’t actually change anything for Maori isn’t mana enhancing either.
3. gingercrush 3

   14 April 2009 at 2:59 pm

   Indeed, I’m rather sick of all this crap about how the Maori party joining in coalition with the National Party isn’t mana enhancing. So why doesn’t someone smart explain to me why it would have been mana enhancing to join the Labour Party in a coalition agreement.
   • Pascal's bookie 3.1

     14 April 2009 at 3:15 pm

     It’s not that “joining in coalition with the National Party isn’t mana enhancing”, it’s how that coalition is working out in practice.

     The reason it gets brought up, and I’m surprised you don’t know this, is because that is how this agreement with National was described. Therefore, how this agreement works in practice can very legitimatly be compared to that ‘mana enhacement’ phrase, as a yardstick, as it were. If you are sick of it, I’m not sure what to say. Boohoo?

     Fantasies and made up stories about what Labour might’ve done in some pretend universe where they formed a government last year, aren’t of much use, except for rhetoric of course, distraction and changing the subject stylz.
     • gingercrush 3.1.1

       14 April 2009 at 3:33 pm

       Yes well I can’t imagine National chose to put in, “mana enchancing” in the agreement. That is far more likely to come from the National party. Yes I am aware why the left chooses to constantly point out what is or isn’t mana enhancing in the agreement. It seems to me, the left made their mind up right from the start. That any agreement with National would have been a betrayal. That speaks of arrogance.

       And I think pushing the fact of what would be mana enhancing if Maori joined Labour is applicable. Because its very rich for those on the left to criticise the Maori party. When its unlikely anyone here actually voted the Maori party. More importantly, the idea that Maori should only be in line with those of left persuasions doesn’t actually work if there isn’t much that is mana enchancing for Maori on the left either.
       • Tane 3.1.1.1

         14 April 2009 at 3:51 pm

         Um, the term “mana-enhancing” has been used constantly by Sharples since the election. I’m surprised you’ve missed it.
         • gingercrush 3.1.1.1.1

           14 April 2009 at 3:56 pm

           Yes I have. I assume the mana enhancing line is very Maori party and not something National is likely to have included. I was actually agreeing that one reason, the agreement gets such traction is because it was described as “mana enchancing”. So I was agreeing with PB there.

           —-

           Nevermind. Seems my capability to write coherently is becoming even more pathetic.
         • Felix 3.1.1.1.2

           14 April 2009 at 4:14 pm

           gc’s comments usually make a lot more sense if you view them through a “Mr Bean” lens.

           To do this you need to imagine that like Mr Bean, gc was dropped on the planet this morning and is finding his way through human society with absolutely no reference to anything that might have happened before today, ever and no information to draw on other than that which is in front of him at this moment.

           That’s why he can’t understand us not trusting a National govt – as far as he knows we’ve never seen all this crap before.

           Seriously, try it. You’ll be amazed at how all his babble suddenly falls into place.
         • Graeme 3.1.1.1.3

           15 April 2009 at 11:30 am

           It has been used … but do you (or I) know what it means?

           I believe Sharples has given credit for the concept within the relationship with National to Whatarangi Winiata (although I would note that if my interpretation of the comments is incorrect, I still consider it likely, and it may not be important anyway).

           In the post-election episode of Agenda, Professor Winiata, Māori Party President(?) had been explaining it for a while, and after being asked if entrenchment was a bottom line (“no”) was challenged by Barry Soper that if National still planned to scrap the Māori seats “that wouldn’t be mana-enhancing, would it?”. He replied that it could be, as National might be seen as giving notice of their rangatiratanga.

           I do not claim to know exactly what “mana-enhancing” means, and I suspect it’s going to be this way for the next three-years, but it would be nice if “mana-enhancing” wasn’t solely used as a punch-line.
4. jerry 4

   14 April 2009 at 3:16 pm

   Even better why doesn’t someone who is Maori explain from a Maori perspective why or why not the relationship with the current government is/isn’t Mana enhancing.
   • gingercrush 4.1

     14 April 2009 at 3:48 pm

     That assumes Maori all think the same. As the left often points out there is a huge difference between the Maori elite and Maori themselves. But there is also a huge difference between the Maori left and the Maori right. And unfortunately, there isn’t much data available to tell us how Maori think/act/vote that are on the general roll. I happen to be one of those. I naturally assume, most Maori that are on the general roll will typically vote Labour. But I do believe there is a large number that vote National or other parties. Not to mention, for many Maori there is no relationship to their kaupapa, their maraes or their tribal groups
     • lprent 4.1.1

       14 April 2009 at 4:49 pm

       You’d be correct. They are more pro-Labour in the general electorates than they are on the Maori electorates (and that is saying something if you look at party votes in the Maori electorates).
   • Rich 4.2

     15 April 2009 at 10:37 am

     How do you know the guest poster isn’t Maori?
5. marty mars 5

   14 April 2009 at 3:34 pm

   Get over it guestpost. You don’t get to decide what the maori party does or does not do and you know nothing about mana – so fucken leave them alone and fight against the real enemies fool. And if you think the maori party ARE the real enemy then you’re just confirming that (white liberal – can’t confirm this specifically for this post) racism is alive and well in this colonised country.
   • lprent 5.1

     14 April 2009 at 4:52 pm

     Nope the post is pointing out that in an electorate system that has a party vote dominated by Labour, the Maori party decided to get heavily into bed with the NACT’s. Problem is that they have to show some results from that and in this term. If they don’t then it is likely that they will lose their electorate votes.

     The post is suggesting one way that they could at least get out of the morass with some integrity left.
     • jerry 5.1.1

       14 April 2009 at 5:01 pm

       I’d suggest another more productive way would be to secure a win on the foreshore and seabed.
6. Dan 6

   14 April 2009 at 4:05 pm

   I don’t know about “mana enhancing” but I don’t think Hone Harawira is enjoying himself at the moment. How long will he stay? Even Pita Sharples who I have respected for years must be swallowing awkwardly at the moment. The super city fiasco has opened the cracks; the foreshore and seabed issue will crystallize the unhappiness.
   Marty, are you reading the same posts I am? As someone slightly left of centre, I was saddened that the Maori Party were suckered by Key and his mates. The Maori Party played an idealistic card when in fact they are dealing with a party whose philosophy is power, and focus groups. The whole relationship is doomed to failure. The Maori Party is hardly the enemy but rather a group that could hold the balance of power over successive generations learning the hard way that the National Party still has not left the 60s. They must be careful they do not lose their supporters back to Labour.
   • The Baron 6.1

     14 April 2009 at 10:02 pm

     Suckered by key and his mates?!? What sort of suckers would they have been to side with Labour – the party that rammed through the foreshore and seabed act; called them “haters and wreckers” and “the last cab off the rank”.

     For christ sake – Maori have their own objectives. They evidently aren’t the same as labour’s, which is why so many maori have rejected them. They certainly wouldn’t stand for being made into little lap dogs running the sort of drivel that this post contains.

     The maori party have gotten more for maori out of this government in 5 months than they got out of labour since their existence. And the only ones to blame for that are labour themselves.
     • Felix 6.1.1

       14 April 2009 at 11:10 pm

       The Labour govt treated the maori Party (and the Greens) very badly, no question about that in my mind. I don’t blame them for wanting to go to the dark side.

       But what do you think the maori Party have actually “gotten” out out this National/Act govt? You must have had some specific accomplishments in mind when you typed that. Please don’t say “mana enhancement”.

       Just while I’m here, that “haters and wreckers” remark – not sure if you have a short memory or if you’re trying to play a bit fast loose with history but it wasn’t in reference to the maori Party.
       • Pascal's bookie 6.1.1.1

         14 April 2009 at 11:29 pm

         “that “haters and wreckers’ remark – not sure if you have a short memory or if you’re trying to play a bit fast loose with history but it wasn’t in reference to the maori Party.”

         I was a hater and a wrecker, in my own small way. Out there by parliament. Don’t hear me crying about being called so either.

         Did. not. like. and. still don’t. the F&S business.

         Thought even less of the National party’s rhetoric and tub thumping. Brownlee going on about the ‘beaches’. IWI/KIWI. Mainstream. Nelsonites marching and telling lies, egged on by Nick Smith. Fuck off.

         Hear lots of people getting offended on my behalf though. re the hating and the wrecking, and the me being called that.

         Fuck off to them, is what I usually think.
       • jerry 6.1.1.2

         15 April 2009 at 7:19 am

         But what do you think the maori Party have actually “gotten’ out out this National/Act govt?

         http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10566662
         • lprent 6.1.1.2.1

           15 April 2009 at 9:15 am

           That unit is built is it? In the budget perhaps? Bill proceeding in parliament?
           Nope just empty rhetoric at this point.
           Meanwhile a high proportion of the Act wish list is underway in select committee. Just shows you the value that NACT place on the Maori party
   • marty mars 6.2

     15 April 2009 at 8:10 am

     I agree. My point is that the maori party will do what it wants to do. Trying to fractionate supporters from the party is a waste of time, it just strengthens support not weakens it. The maori party and the nats will automatically move apart as the true colours of the nats show, it’s inevitable. So the left gives the maori party a hard time and then expects them to hop into bed with them later on. I don’t think so. The maori party are floaters. They have their own constituents and agenda and although they can be influenced – it’s not going to be by paternalistic comments around their mana or (lack of) sophistication.
     If the actual goal is to move us back to centre-left (and it is doable) then there are plenty of targets to go for. Lets focus on where we can actually get traction and dig away there.
7. BLiP 7

   14 April 2009 at 11:43 pm

   It works!
8. enzer 8

   15 April 2009 at 9:40 am

   Indeed there are cracks appearing in the coalition that is National and the Maori Party.

   Perhaps there will be sufficient mana enhancement in the upcoming budget to paper over said cracks…
9. Ben R 9

   16 April 2009 at 12:24 pm

   “We refuse to vote for more money to lock up poor Maori and poor Pakeha.”

   According to the Crimes Act 1961 being poor doesn’t get you locked up.

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS