Maori Party declares war on dependency culture
January 30th, 2006 at 8:28 am by David FarrarPita Sharples has said there is too much dependency on welfare in Maoridom – and Labour have failed to address this.
They seem to be playing a smart hand in positioning themselves as willing to work with any party to advance Maori interests. Of special interest is their plans to run seminars for National MPs on the foreshore & seabed issue.
It will also be interesting if Labour support their attempts to entrench the Maori seats. Mind you even if Labour do support them, they will fall short of the super-majority needed.
No tag for this post.
January 30th, 2006 at 8:38 am
Fascinating that they want to lobby National. I think the Maori Party is successfully carving a role in NZ politics independent of the two major blocs.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 8:52 am
Maori will not vote National except in general seats but they could vote for the Maori Party. The Labour Party basically believes that maori want welfare, to keep quiet and vote Labour. If they make a bit of noise the Labour Party threatens to take away their welfare support. The Maori Party wants something different for Maori and so does National. Let the political earthquake begin.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 8:52 am
Decades of blinding voting Labour has done nothing for the Maori people except entrench them in a dependency culture. If Pita Sharples and Co want to do something about this then I saw more strength to their bow.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 9:50 am
He’s been saying this for some time but the ‘We Know Best’ brigade hasn’t been listening.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 10:14 am
and Labour have failed to address this.
With Maori unemployment at an all-time low, and educational achievment at an all-time high, I quite wonder how you manage to justify this?
Of special interest is their plans to run seminars for National MPs on the foreshore & seabed issue.
I can just see the Nats trying to sell that one to their electorate. Bring it on.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 10:27 am
Just goes to show that if the current govt. lasts full term, it will be simply because of National’s lack of courage.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 10:48 am
it will be simply because of National’s lack of courage.
The same lack of courage that would also see them fail to :
“Health: cut all health spending to ZERO overnight. Sell of all hospital assets. disestablish all health regulations from the medical and nursing councils down.
education: ditto.
social welfare: ditto – except, perhaps for national super.
roading, transport: ditto; Councils & roading or transport companies can make whatever payment requests they desire.
local government, RMA, Maori authorities, Maorti TV, RNZ, TVNZ, etc etc etc: disestablish overnight. Sell all remaining assets.
ACC: completely removed, without reinstating right to sue. ”
Or are you telling me that this is actually real National Party policy, but they haven’t got the courage to let the NZ public know?
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Why does every single post get reincarnated as the left vs right debate, over and over?
Just try discussing the post, without extending it into another unwinnable debate.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Well, as Pita quite rightly said in the linked story: “If there is any hope at all of the foreshore legislation repeal, we can’t do it without National. If we are not talking to them, how in hell are we going to get them to support us?”
That works both ways. While I certainly don’t agree with Sharples on a lot of things, the man’s not talking through his arse on the subject of how destructive dependency culture is to Maori. National and the MP don’t have to be in perfect harmony about the solutions, but National might just have a thing or two to learn from Sharples.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Sharples still wants something for nothing
Both Lindsay Mitchell and David Farrar are excited by today’ Herald headline: Fresh from enjoying some of the benefits of modern medicine, Maori Party leader Pita Sharples vows war on culture of dependency”… But this isn’t the first time Pita Sharp…
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Logix … your repeated reliance on ‘straw men’ is becoming tiresome. Why do you lefties fear and avoid itelligent debate? Beyond you perhaps?
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
your repeated reliance on ‘straw men’ is becoming tiresome.
Straw? I was merely quoting Sinner himself from another thread just yesterday. Ask him if he has paid his dues to the StrawMan Writers Guild.
And as for engaging in debate, a quick look through a few other threads suggests I am probably as willing to do so as any other “leftie” posters…whether it is “intelligent” or not is up to you to decide.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Ross Miller
Classic.
You complain about a strawman (which you may not know was a cut and paste from one of Sinner’s posts in another thread), yet you resort to an ad hominem against “lefties”.
Quality.
Craig – you may be able to shed more light on this, but it was my understanding that Dr Sharples’ solution to welfare dependency might not be palatable to National voters, let alone the rest of the electorate. I was advised (and feel free to correct me) that the Maori Party was interested in taking money for Maori (by Maori etc.) and redistributing it along Tikanga lines. The analogy was made to native americans. It sounded like some sort of voluntary apartheid (including separate courts, laws, etc…)
Not sure if that makes me comfortable. It sounds worse than the homogenous “one” NZ that Dr Brash is so keen on.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Intelligent debate is fine…..but you’ll search rightwing sites in vain for it. The right tends to rely on pronouncements from a few selected individuals, and seminal books by saints, and worships these things. If saint ayn or saint steyn say it, it’s holy writ and must not be questioned.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Personally I don’t believe Sharples is trying to align himself with any party at all. It sounds like he’s just trying to do his best for the people that voted for him. If he can pull a number of those people out of welfare dependency and give them the opportunity for a better life then good on him and i’d hope that all other parties supported his efforts to do it. Feel free to shoot me down if i’m being naieve – but I hope it’s truely something that he wants to achieve.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 4:15 pm
LOGIX…states Maori educational achievement is at an all time high..Maybe but it is in bone-carving,flax-weaving, and the most popular course at the Wananga ‘steering a waka by the stars’. The trade courses have all been scrapped due to lack of interest.
Vote:January 30th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Baxter, you’re talking complete shite. Take industry training for instance, Maori participation in traditional trades-based training is growing at a rate faster than non-Maori (17% of all trainees in 2004). Maori participation in every single dimension of post-school training is improving dramatically. Spare us the National Party research unit crap.
I agree with DPF, Sharples is cleverly positioning the Maori Party to be a centre party capable of dealing on the left and right – its both smart and probably representative of their membership (I’m speculating as I don’t know). Maori are every bit as diverse as non-Maori, a fact recognised by most if not Tim Barclay.
But I think DPF’s characterisation of Labour’s policy very partisan – Maori might have strong institutional links to Labour but its Labour’s policy that makes the difference (Foreshore issues to the side for the moment) particularly when compared with National’s rhetorical pronouncements. I think Brash has lost a lot of support National might have built up under Graham, Bolger, Kidd and through Wira Gardiner and Hekia Parata.
Vote:January 31st, 2006 at 8:52 pm
It seem to me Mr Shaples you got it all wrong. We as Mauiwi should be working and getting the penehana as well.it would be a good way to pay our rent, health and education expenses. Dont you think an extra $7000 a year to low income earners ie 20-30k would go a long a way to help promote a healthier future. Our people deserve better than to be told by you what a sorry ass bunch of people we are. Be positive shape up or ship out. The penehana should be available to all and not to just those who as you say have to much dependency on welfare.Otherwise it`s more money for the tauiwi government to go along and spend it on more crap
Vote:February 1st, 2006 at 12:36 am
Logix just described my dream National Government program…if only they had the guts to do it!
Vote: