Playing clever but playing with fire

Written By: - Date published: 12:49 pm, November 14th, 2008 - 56 comments
Categories: maori party, national/act government, workers' rights - Tags:

On one level, the Maori Party’s dealing with National is smart work. Key needs to look inclusive even though he doesn’t need the Maori Party’s support to govern. In return, the Maori Party can cement its future by getting the Maori seats entrenched through a government bill, rather than hoping a private members’ bill gets drawn from the ballot, and show its constituents that it can deliver by getting the Foreshore and Seabed Act reviewed. In other words, the Maori Party succeeds in getting National to do things it wouldn’t otherwise do in return for support it doesn’t need.

On the other hand, if the Maori Party votes for National’s anti-worker, anti-public service legislation or continues to support it on confidence and supply once these measures have been passed its supporters will punish it. And rightly so. What really matters to most Maori is what really matters to other workers – employment, decent wages, health and education for the kids. It’s nice to get the Foreshore and Seabed Act reviewed but it is worthless if the Maori Party then helps National/Act take away Maori workers’ rights, pay, and social wage.

If the Maori Party does support a government that attacks workers rights, it will confirm that it is the party of the Maori elite, not ordinary Maori. From Turia’s statements so far, it seems she thinks that it doesn’t matter what they do, the Maori people will continue to support the party. She refuses to even acknowledge that the Maori elite has different interests to Maori workers.

The Maori Party should be careful not to take the people’s support for granted. Maori showed in the 1990s that they are willing to take a punt on a Maori party – they elected Tau Henare from New Zealand First to the Northern Maori seat in 1993 and all four Maori seats went to NZF in 1996. But they also showed that if that party supports a rightwing government in its anti-worker polices shared ethnicity is not enough to maintain their support. In 1999, after NZF had supported National against Maori voters’ expectations, all the Maori seats returned to Labour. If the Maori Party wants to avoid a similar fate, it needs to abandon the fantasy that the class interests inherent in capitalism don’t apply to Maori, and it will have to be very careful that the blame for National’s anti-worker polcies is not placed at its door.

Supporting a government that will hurt Maori workers in exchange for largely symbolic gains is playing with fire. If they don’t oppose those policies, they are liable to get burned.

56 comments on “Playing clever but playing with fire ”

  1. the sprout 1

    Fair points SP.

    And let’s not forget the implications for Maori voters of the National refusal to entrench the Maori seats, combined with the planned 2011 referendum on MMP. While there are arguments for a universal franchise, they are all dependent on the continuation of an MMP system. Ditch MMP and arguments to abolish Maori seats become very tenuous.

    And then of course there’s the internal stability of the Maori Party while in collusion with National. Let’s also not forget this ‘smiling snake’ gem from Hone Harawira on just how far he trusts Mr Key:

    http://vodpod.com/pod/video/427834

  2. Tigger 2

    I wish the Maori Party well in advancing things for their members.

    If I was in their position I would do exactly what they’re doing.

    And I would be hoping like hell that it didn’t bite me in the bum.

  3. the sprout 3

    likewise Tigger

  4. Ianmac 4

    I don’t understand just what the Maori Party has been promised. The Ministerial baubles surely aren’t enough?
    We will look at the Seabed and Foreshore Act?
    We will look at the Entrenchment of the Seats?
    All seems a bit uncertain to me.
    Must be something really really enticing in there for the MP to be so upbeat! I wonder what?

  5. gingercrush 5

    I’m not sure using New Zealand First is a good example. That relationship was a mess. Where it was clear no one within New Zealand First really trusted each other. The coalition arrangement was insipid and hasn’t exactly been followed by anyone else. And I’m not even sure New Zealand First achieved a thing for Maori.

    I also think its more than just an issue of Maori Elites and ordinary Maori. I happen to have Maori blood myself. There are several tribes but mostly comprised of Kati Mamoe and Ngai Tahu. I am not a member of Ngai Tahu. Unfortunately the link to Maori was lost 60 years ago or so. There are numerous Maori like myself we have maori blood but can barely identify with other maori. We don’t benefit though the treaty claims and of course if you’re like me, and you’re white and don’t look to have any Maori blood. You naturally get people saying,”You’re not Maori”.

    My point is: There are many such Maori. Then there are the Urban Maori who may still have Maori identity but their tribal links are lost. While there are the ordinary Maori which have the tribal links but not part of the elite. Then there are of course the elite Maori. That is four different groups of people. One group seemingly get nothing out of deals with Maori. Another may get a few social institutions in the cities but otherwise they don’t exactly benefit. While ordinary Maori can benefit its still decided by the elites.

    Its an interesting discussion you’ve opened up and I certainly look forward to what replies this topic gets. But since this topic is really about the Maori party working with National. Indeed employment, wages, health and education are all important for Maori.

    In regards to employment its likely that while we’re in a recession many Maori are going to lose their jobs. That is unfortunate but can’t be blamed on National themselves. Perhaps with the infrastructure projects National will be working on there is the possibility of Maori being employed. Maori during the Labour government enjoyed higher rates of employment, but also sadly more Maori are unemployed than non-Maori.

    In regards to wages. The Maori Party should be pushing at getting the minimum wage higher. But here it would likely be inappropriate for them to support changes to employment Acts. Health and Education, Maori can make a case for independent funding that starting with National in the nineties, was continued by Labour and which is an area the Maori Party favour. Independent funding is something the Act party approve of, and could likely work with the National party as well.

    There is of course a danger that in the Maori party working with National, there will be a backlash. But the only other choice they have is to sit on the opposition benches for three years. And there is no guarantee that Labour will work with the Maori Party in the future. One thing Labour really stuffed up is in their refusal to work with the Maori party in 2005.

    The Maori Party arrangement must allow for independence in areas they can’t agree with National but also to give additional support to National where that is appropriate.

    I too disagree with Phil Goff in that the Maori Party are an independent party, they are free to choose to act in what they believe are their best interests. They are consulting with their people. And in 2011 we’ll see whether they continue to be supported by Maori.

  6. Tigger 6

    lanmac – maybe it’s just the promise of being included in government talks? I always doubted Labour for leaving the Maori Party out in the cold – it was short sighted. If nothing else the Nats have learned from that mistake. Then again, as you point out it’s one thing to talk about stuff, but if they are empty promises then the backlash will be brutal.

  7. bobo 7

    It was nice to see the Maori Elite like Tuku Morgan meeting with John Key who I would say represents the average Maori about as much as Bob Jones represents the average pakeha.. I’m thinking Turia has already stated this is her last term in Parliament and wants to try seeing what she can do for Maori from within Government, it is high risk stuff for MP survival but her last chance.

  8. TimeWarp 8

    Nice GC – didn’t realise you were whanau. I’m a Tahu boy myself, not that you could tell by looking at me.

  9. paul 9

    Am I right – the huge concessions from our new leader are:
    1) review the whole electoral system (including Maori seats)
    2) review the F&S Act?
    An agreement to ‘take a look at’ these things is very different to an agreement to change them in a way that would benefit Maori. This whole thing may very well backfire on the MP, and they’ll be stuck with supporting National for 3 years. The electoral review might scrap MMP. The F&S review might over-ride customary title. Even if the MP vote against these, they may still pass. Tread carefully my friends.

  10. But Steve, you’ve always argued strongly that the Maori Party is a party of the left. You rubbished any suggestion that the party might be anything else and therefore insisted on counting predicted Maori Party seats as being firmly in the Labour-bloc.

    What has changed?

    Bryce
    http://www.liberation.org.nz

  11. Kerry 11

    I think the Maori Party should think about NZ First and what happened to them after supporting that Corrupt Nat government of the lat 90’s.

    I have no problem with the Maori Party going after a great deal….as long as they remember that 50% of the party vote in maori seats when to Labour…..along with Labour keeping 2 of the maori seats.

  12. keith 12

    Is the “Maori Elite” related to the maori monarchy? I confess I’m ignorant of Maori political history, can someone enlighten me and/or point me to some online resources?is

    [lprent: Letting this through the ban. I want to know as well. Last time I looked at this was a few decades ago (pre-online resources)]

  13. Lew 13

    What makes any of you think none of these dire mutterings have occurred to the māori party?

    I don’t see them taking any line of implicit faith in National. I see them entering into a deal on the understanding that both are bound by a sort of mutually-assured destruction – the māori party will suffer if it is complicit in a policy agenda which harms their constituency, and the National party will suffer if it alienates the `redneck’ (again, National’s term) base. But between those two extremes there’s quite a lot of space, and it’s in the interests of both parties to work together within it.

    A lot of this complaining about how the māori party should do this and should do that `for their own good’ is just more of the same patronising bullshit of old, and the complaining about how the māori party are being class traitors of some sort is nothing more than an attempt to hijack their own particular cause in service of a wider agenda.

    L

  14. Lew 14

    paul: Nobody knows the full deal yet. Not even people who turn up to the hui. Only the MPs know, and until it’s signed I’d be surprised if it gets leaked.

    L

  15. Lew 15

    Keith: Not really. A bunch of people have affiliations to or are involved in both, but it’s largely because there’s a fairly small pool of prominent persons from whom to draw.

    L

  16. the sprout 16

    “But… you’ve always argued strongly that the Maori Party is a party of the left”

    Bryce you seem to be confused.
    Obviously the Maori Party’s people ARE overwhelmingly of the Left.
    Less so its leaders perhaps.

  17. Daveski 17

    What a laugh. The Labour Party effectively drove the MP to do a deal with National because Labour didn’t have the nous to bring them into the tent. The “last cab off the rank comment” didn’t help either.

    Hone Harawira is no fan of National but even he said that they’ve got more out of National in the last three days than they did under Labour in the last 3 years.

    Leadership is often about taking people to places they didn’t expect to go to.

    Credit to the Maori Party for trying to do so and trying to make NZ better as a result. It’s good to see that NZ sux campaign is still in full swing even if under new ownership.

  18. Vinsin 18

    I still can’t see this being a good deal for the Maori Party, it seems they’ve got everything to lose and very little to gain. Even if they’ve got huge secret policy concessions from Key they’re still going to be used as a scapegoat when things go wrong. Think about it, Key doesn’t need them there and when the novelty wears off then there going to be down the road. If they don’t get the two concessions we’ve been talking about – it’s highly unlikely that they do – it’s going to show the Maori Party as an irrelevant party that does nothing for maori or anyone else and then i imagine the maori voters will go back to labour, which would be very sad indeed.

  19. Simple question for simple answer— do maori today have more asset than let’s say fifteen years ago..?

  20. the sprout 20

    “Leadership is often about taking people to places they didn’t expect to go to.”

    LMAO 🙂
    As that going to be one of the foundation lines of the next 3 years I wonder?

  21. jtuckey 21

    From Willie Jackson

    “…My advice to the Maori party is if there’s a deal on the table then take it. Hopefully the deal being offered by John Key will be more than just the Maori Affairs portfolio because to achieve real progress the Maori party has to be involved in key portfolios like social welfare, health and education.

    Left wing commentator Chris Trotter said it will be the beginning of the end for the Maori party if they do a deal with National. But a coalition between Labour and the Maori party in government is now not an opportunity.

    What Chris has forgotten is that the Maori party came about after Labour’s betrayal over the foreshore and seabed. He’s also forgotten Maori lead the way in all areas with negative statistics. The Maori party doesn’t have time to worry about Trotter’s agenda because a Maori agenda comes first, and that involves finding solutions that span the whole political spectrum.

    They have no choice. This is an opportunity to advance Maori development in 2008 with a National that is hopefully different party than it was in 2005.”

  22. Chris G 22

    Bryce:

    “But Steve, you’ve always argued strongly that the Maori Party is a party of the left. You rubbished any suggestion that the party might be anything else and therefore insisted on counting predicted Maori Party seats as being firmly in the Labour-bloc.”

    They are, by implications of Hone Harawiras comments here:
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0809/S00326.htm
    That they are quite clearly philosophically aligned to the left… Are you denying that Bryce?

    refer to question: Even though there were other players on the majority team who felt likewise, do you expect some fallout from Maori because you chose to join in with the majority decision ?

    “What has changed?”

    Goodness knows, Hone and Tariana want a bit of pushing power. If you read that interview it gives a bit of insight in to the direction the MP want to take.

  23. Lew 23

    Chris G: They’re not philosophically aligned to the left; they’re philosophically aligned with tikanga Māori. `Left’ and `right’ are concepts which come from a European political tradition – they’re not human universals. The principles on which they’re based predate Marx in any case – although of course their policies are influenced by a lot of European political thought as well, it’s quite false to say they’re philosophically left. There might be a lot of commonality between left ideas and the māori party’s kaupapa and policies, but there’s not the strong causative link you imply.

    I’d say the māori party’s willingness to work with National even when the election was still too close to call, rather than ring-fencing itself on the `left’ as did the Greens really puts the lie to this line of argument.

    L

  24. Chris G 24

    okay Lew my point was to a) question what the hell Bryce was asking and b) Dispel his implication that the MP might not be left wing. I didnt imply a strong causative link, I provided a web-link to Harawira interview where he told of the MP voting record. That speaks volumes of how left wing they are whether or not you may not want to chuck them in that group.

    When they vote more than 80% of the time with the greens and only 25% with the Nats…. Ill let the numbers speak for themselves.

    Call it what you will. but ‘unknowingly’ they are supporting left wing principles and it is very hard to argue the opposite. Maybe it is wrong to categorise them as such but shit its hard not to say so.

    If im playing pin the tail on the donkey Im aiming left as a I can with the MP pin in hand.

    Plus: There willingness to work with the Nats, I believe, comes from their drive to have a strong voice of Maoridom in any government. Again, look at the interview of Harawira, he suggests that Parekura horomia wasn’t loud enough as a voice for Maori. To extend that; If im the maori party wanting a strong maori voice in a Nat/Act government, fuck im not getting excited about the prospect of Tau henare or Simon Bridges running Maori affairs… let alone Gerry Brownlee!!

    Seems like a no-brainer for the MP to lend a hand, not some sort of evidence of their non left right positioning.

  25. the sprout 25

    Lew
    But isn’t tikanga Maori essentially communitarian, and therefore philosophically aligned with the Left, while if anything’s eurocentric it’s the individualism of the capitalist right?

  26. Scribe 26

    keith,

    Is the “Maori Elite’ related to the maori monarchy?

    The Maori Elite is made up of the sort of people Michael Cullen would call a “rich [brown] prick”

  27. Lew 27

    The Sprout: I’m not an expert on Māori political history, but I don’t think so. There’s probably an argument to be made there, but it seems somewhat teleological. The same end can be arrived at by different means. You’d also be begging the question that `left’ is communitarian by nature and `right’ is individualistic – in the original usage it was simply republican or monarchist. I understand common usage is different now, but you’d need to nail it down very well, and in matters like this a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

    And if you’re trying to make an argument as to the universality of communitarian culture everywhere except in European-originated capitalism, then the going will be tough. There be dragons 🙂

    L

  28. Chess Player 28

    Everyone here seems to be trying to claim they know what is best for Maori.

    Can you not just presume that they can figure that out for themselves?

    Or would that be democracy?

  29. Scribe 29

    Chess Player,

    Everyone here seems to be trying to claim they know what is best for Maori.

    That’s not unprecedented. I remember when the Maori Party talked about scrapping the dole and argued the party doesn’t really represent Maori. I found that quite astounding.

    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/make-work-dont-work/#comments

    Must be part of the “Maori elite”

  30. Lew 30

    Scribe, this may be the first time you and I have ever agreed on anything substantive.

    L

  31. Scribe 31

    Oh, Lew. I doubt that 😉

    captcha: needy argue (hee hee)

  32. gobsmacked 32

    “Everyone here seems to be trying to claim they know what is best for Maori. Can you not just presume that they can figure that out for themselves? Or would that be democracy?”

    It certainly would be democracy. Now check out who they voted for.

    Good luck to the Maori Party. The problem is not that they are doing a deal – the problem is that John Key is better at it, and knows how to make a Clayton’s promise.

    Looks like ACT are playing harder ball than the MP. Quite right too – if not now, when? It only gets tougher from here on in. Warm fuzzies at a signing ceremony won’t keep voters happy through the hard times ahead.

  33. Lampie 33

    But isn’t tikanga Maori essentially communitarian, and therefore philosophically aligned with the Left, while if anything’s eurocentric it’s the individualism of the capitalist right?

    you talking collective vs individualist?

  34. simon 34

    The fact that the traditionalist (sic tory conservative) leadeship/faction within (and outside) The Maori Party have finally/again shown themselves now with their pandering to National (for baubles of power) is leading me to reconsider whether The Maori Seats are a truely representative form for Maori in New Zealand.

    Because once again ordinary working Maori are being shafted by the Maori Elite (like the NZFIRST debacle).

    Maybe it is time to abolish the seats and then Maori can vote based on personal, political and economic values rather than based on a psuedo nationalistic (racial/tribal facade) platform which is ultimately antidemocratic.

    Labour voter since day one…

  35. simon,
    The fact that the traditionalist (sic tory conservative) leadeship/faction within (and outside) The Maori Party have finally/again shown themselves now with their pandering to National (for baubles of power) is leading me to reconsider whether The Maori Seats are a truely representative form for Maori in New Zealand.

    Excellent. And there I was beginning to think that the so-called elitest maoris would constitute the magpie party as their ‘base’ remained wingless, so to speak.

  36. the sprout 36

    umm, magpies have wings – big strong ones with nasty claws underneath and sharp beaks out front.

  37. Akldnut 37

    Well I’m in the Tamaki Makaurau electorate,my whanau are all Maori and these clowns in the MP sure don’t represent our values or beliefs if they align themselves with Nat. (and I’ve got a huge whanau)
    They stated that anyoneone on the Maori roll could attend the hui.
    To be truely representative they would have put an email, a phone call, a reply paid envelope in the mail, published an adress where all the hui were to be held (to give an equal opportunity all interested Maori to attend) or all of the above to all those on the Maori roll! As it is I phoned three of their offices and left emails, a contact name & no. as they were unmanned – no reply!!!

  38. vto 38

    to the original post SP … it is ‘smart politics etc’ and it illustrates the speed with which the previous lot (what were their names now?) are receding into the distant distance. And for such clearing good reason..

  39. randal 39

    it aint over till the fat lady sings
    so
    who is the fat lady?

    and never fear ovt
    The ‘New Zealand Labour Party’ will be back
    in another coalition that will prove more durable than anything the tories can lash up
    they can tighten the ship
    strip a little fat
    downsize here and there
    but anything too drastic and they are history
    even the fat lady knows that

  40. Santi 40

    “Supporting a government that will hurt Maori workers in exchange for largely symbolic gains is playing with fire.”

    Spot on. Maori have supported Labour for too long and got little in return.
    It’s good to see a change of attitude in Maori leadership, which is now prepared to explore political support for a National-led government in return for real gains.

  41. Lew 41

    Simon: Yet more paternalistic bollocks. Because those on the Māori roll don’t vote how you like, or don’t vote in a way you deem to be `responsible’, or don’t seem to be serving what you consider to be their interests, you suggest the disestablishment of their chosen form of representation? Your position on this is at odds with that of Akldnut, who seems to share your distaste for this decision but is careful to couch his comments in terms of his own perspective and that of his family.

    You might not like it, and you might not agree with it, but the electors of five out of seven Māori electorates elected MPs who declared beforehand that they would be open to negotiations with National. They declared it, and the people voted them in, and now they’re doing it. You might disagree (and that’s fair enough) but there’s no legitimate claim it isn’t democratic. Those who voted for them knew (or ought to have known) this was on the cards.

    L

  42. Chris G 42

    “Those who voted for them knew (or ought to have known) this was on the cards.”

    Very wishful thinking, Lew. Lots of people I talked to couldnt tell you jack shit about the policies of the party they voted for, regardless of what side of the political spectrum they vote.

  43. Lew 43

    Chris G: Lots of people I talked to couldn’t tell you jack shit about the policies of the party they voted for, regardless of what side of the political spectrum they vote.

    I said knew (or ought to have known) – they had a responsibility to know. The māori party were clear about their intentions, so there can be no question of bait and switch. If some people didn’t pay attention, voted anyway, and are now pissed off about the result then that’s hard luck for them. They voted, as they were entitled to do, and now their elected representatives are implementing their agenda, as they’re mandated to do.

    The natural conclusion of your line of argument is that we should implement some sort of poll test – you have to know || about politics to vote. Think really hard about that.

    L

  44. Chris G 44

    haha well that definately wasnt my intended implication.

    I just think its a poor indictment on our voters when a whole bunch didnt know simple things eg. Greens didnt want electorate votes, one friend who ‘voted national but I dont like ACT, they might not have worked with National (!!!!)’

    of course Im not suggesting a poll test.

  45. Lew 45

    Chris: It could be worse – we could have compulsory franchise.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaQJj1BQUiU

    L

  46. sean14 46

    How dare the Maori Party not sit meekly in opposition for the next three years hoping for a Labour victory in 2011!

  47. John BT 47

    As long as we get the money”……. Tariana Turia on the telly. What do you say?
    Historically, National have done better for Maori. Think Treaty settlements and kohanga reo for a start.
    Labour must be wetting themselves at the thought of Key keeping up this sort of consensus govt. Next thing you know he will be talking to the unions and the watermelons!!!
    God forbid, a Nat who understands MMP, the economy AND has a social conscience.
    Nine years plus in opposition for Far Goff and co!!!!!

  48. gobsmacked 48

    Here is a hugely significant story (so naturally the rest of the media will ignore it):

    Gisborne Herald reports:

    “Ngati Porou’s foreshore and seabed deal with the Crown is secure, despite the change in Government.

    Prime Minister-elect John Key met with senior Maori leaders, including Dr Api Mahuika of Ngati Porou, yesterday and repeated a commitment to Ngati Porou’s foreshore and seabed deal, signed on August 8.

    The deal would not be affected, he said. He promised iwi an ongoing working relationship. (emphasis added)

    It was not made clear whether Ngati Porou’s $90 million treaty settlement, signed on November 1, is also secure.

    The seabed and foreshore deal was negotiated independently by Ngati Porou, after controversial legislation was introduced leading to the formation of the Maori Party.

    The agreement signed recognises Ngati Porou’s customary rights over the foreshore area. The iwi has naming rights over much of the East Coast and local hapu would have the authority to put rahui or bans in the event of a drowning. They will have a stronger input to local authority decisions affecting the area.”

    So, given that commitment, it is clear that National are not going to return to the status quo ante in the seabed and foreshore. The Act will not be repealed, because that would undermine the agreement with Ngati Porou.

    But then it was never going to be repealed by National. Just “reviewed”. Which means doing nothing, but doing it slowly.

  49. Pascal's bookie 49

    Labour must be wetting themselves at the thought of Key keeping up this sort of consensus govt. Next thing you know he will be talking to the unions and the watermelons!!!
    God forbid, a Nat who understands MMP, the economy AND has a social conscience

    I for one hope that John Key does govern as a pragmatic centrist and rejects the advice of the nutjobs to his right. I couldn’t be more happy than to find the National Party adopting the policy positions I support. That’s ’cause I’m not so blindly partisan that I find that the name of the party in power to be more important than the policy they enact.

    That would be fucking mental. Really truly dangerously mental. Tight white waistcoat kind of mental. Kind of like someone who hated the Labour party so much that they would be cock-a-hoop that Labour were defeated by a party that just copied all their policies, and then moved toward the unions and the greens to keep Labour out of power.

    One would suspect that such a person; didn’t know anything about politics causing them to just treat it like sports (go blue team, red team sux), and probably would be very easily manipulated by politicians of any stripe. Right sheepy like.

  50. John BT 50

    Baaaaaa.
    Previously, I was manipulated by Helen Clark (so to speak ). Did not take long to find out what a bunch of nutjobs I had supported.
    Go blue team!!!!!

  51. Pascal's bookie 51

    Good for you.

  52. gobsmacked 52

    If the blue team really are set on burying Orewa and Iwi/Kiwi, I’ll gladly lend them my shovel.

    But the thing about the blue team’s fans is … if they don’t like the results, they quickly turn nasty and call for the coach’s head.

    Fortunately, if there’s one thing National Party voters are famous for, it’s their real passion for Tino Rangatiratanga, so I’m sure John Key’s job is safe.

  53. the sprout 53

    “it was never going to be repealed by National. Just “reviewed’. Which means doing nothing, but doing it slowly”

    That, or re-doing it worse.

    “one thing National Party voters are famous for, it’s their real passion for Tino Rangatiratanga”

    Oh totally.

  54. John BT 54

    In the largest poll (about 40,000) that I saw the support for Orewa 1 was about 90%.
    Labour stopped calling their racist policy “closing the gaps” and only stopped the spending after $250,000,000 did not make the slightest bit of difference.
    Tino Rangatiratanga ( Maori sovereignty) could only ever happen if Maori decided to scrap the Treaty.
    I think it would be nice if we all followed the intention of Te Tiriti which I believe was He iwi tahi tatou. Namely, we are all one people.
    That nice man Mr Key could be the one to make that happen.

  55. Lew 55

    John BT: Tino Rangatiratanga ( Maori sovereignty) could only ever happen if Maori decided to scrap the Treaty.

    Māori themselves disagree with you. Do you presume to tell them how best to achieve their goal of tino rangatiratanga? If so, upon what basis?

    I think it would be nice if we all followed the intention of Te Tiriti which I believe was He iwi tahi tatou. Namely, we are all one people.

    What a nice idea. I agree. The problem is that before we can get to that point there’s the small matter of 168 years of breaches, both of Te Tiriti as a legal document and of its kotahitanga spirit, by the crown and its agents. Redress that and he iwi tahi tatou becomes a possibility. It’s not as if Māori even want the full value of their breaches redressed – or even a tenth of the value, or even a hundredth of the value – the Ngai Tahu settlement, so heavily criticised as being over-generous, was valued at about one tenth of one per cent of the true value of the land and resources illegally alienated by the crown in breach of Te Tiriti.

    So yeah. Let’s honour that Treaty and make its foundational principle of unity NZ’s core goal – starting with the Crown.

    L

  56. randal 56

    how many issues were discussed on television
    none
    and all you tories know it
    the natoinal campaign was designed to denigrate and demonise the opposition with no attempt whatsoever to present any policy but only to appeal to prejudice and bigotry and make the little people feel big for five minutes
    well their five minutes is nearly up
    hahahahaha

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  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
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    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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