Sharples praised
June 29th, 2006 at 9:28 am by David FarrarThe Dom Post praises Pita Sharples for his actions in the Kahui twins killing, noting he has not just wring his hands in despair, but willingly got his hands dirty trying to help.
I have to agree with the praise of Sharples. Nice to see some real leadership.
No tag for this post.
June 29th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Right, so political opportunism wasn’t a factor. It must be difficult when you’re polling below the margin of error.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 9:48 am
Bullshit Ross, the guy did a damn good job and played a difficult situation deftly. I think if he had not acted as he had there would have been quite a few more people grumbling about special treatment for Maori. He aslo enabled the Police to be in a position of saying the tried as much as the could to conisder any cultural issues involved but then to what the community expects.
It could have been a lot worse. Your cynicism is more to do with you than with this serious issue.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 9:48 am
The Maori Party are not polling below the margin of error, and in fact the use of that term shows an ignorance of what the MOE is.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 9:57 am
I said some months ago that Sharples is going to prove a key figure, in one role or another. I 100% agree with DPF on this…it was handled deftly and showed real leadership. More than a few other pollies could take lessons from this man…on all sides of the House.
This is one issue that is too dammed important to be used for point scoring…
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Let’s see. A TV3 poll last month showed the Maori Party rating at 2.2% and the sample error was 3.1%. I’ll leave it up to readers to decide if the party is doing well.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 10:14 am
Let’s see. A TV3 poll last month showed the Maori Party rating at 2.2% and the sample error was 3.1%. I’ll leave it up to readers to decide if the party is doing well.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 10:20 am
Sorry, but I cannot buy into this compulsion to praise someone so fulsomely when that person is the leader of a party based on race. Furthermore, I do not see any reason for politicians of any party to be involved with what is essentially just another crime. The focus here should be on the Police and the Police Commissioner and their inexplicable paralysis in respect of pursuing a solution to the death of the twins.. Mr. Morrison says “I think if he (Sharples) had not acted as he had there would have been quite a few more people grumbling about special treatment for Maori”. What the hell is wrong with people grumbling about special treatment for Maori?? The more people grumble about it the better. After all, its only a plank to power for the socialists.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 10:36 am
I have to agree with the praise of Sharples. Nice to see some real leadership
Are you, by reduction, having a dig at Tariana Turia, DPF?
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 10:50 am
Ross – the margin of error for the Maori Party at 2.2% for 1,000 sample is 0.9%. The 3.2% relates to the margin of error for a party at 50%, and is a maximum having no relation to the MOE for the Maori Party.
Jeremy – no.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 11:27 am
I do apologise. You’re right, Pita Sharples has no need to seek puplicity when his party is rating so highly at 2.2%.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Ross
Vote:You obviously no nothing about Peta Sharples and the Human being that he is.
I’m with DPF, Neil & Logix on this one.
The human race needs more people like him!
June 29th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
In over 70 years of Labour Government there have been very few maori MPs of that Party, if any, that had any leadership qualities. Indeed the Labour Party thought so too and never appointed them to any portfolio of substance. I call that the soft prejudice of the Labour Party. The Maori Party is something different and contains people of real ability and markes a much welcome change to the duds the Labour Party have foisted on the public. Horomia is chairing this cross party group to look at various issues arising out of the Kahui case, I predict there will be nothing useful arising from that case. Indeed I am more interested in Dr Sharples and what he is going to do.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
I’m curious. Is RedBaiter a pseudonym of tims?
On topic: Yes, Pita Sharples has absolutely done the right thing and covered himself in glory here.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Redbaiter is absolutely correct.
Vote:There is no need whatsoever for any politician to be wading in on this, even if is a genuine attempt to add value.
I can almost see it now – if this was an issue that involved non Maori and some non Maori politician was seen to be getting involved (no matter how well intentioned), I bet my bottom dollar, Sharples and his ilk would be braying from the mountain tops about how inappropriate it would be.
These politicians are all the same – opportunists.
Better they should expend their energy in promoting the treatment of all as equals !
June 29th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
i agree with both David and redbaiter – I am fed up with pussyfooting around the maoris – we all need to co-exist and this latest example of 2 murdered babies shows how prejudiced NZ is in favouring Maori. If a Pakeha family had done this they would have been separated and dragged in for questioning and forensics crawling all over the place – not left alone to have a family meeting to construct a story and allowed to bury them before coming forward. If it weren’t so tragic it’s be farcical. The awful thing is there are too many ‘families’ like this and what chance do we have if the cycle isn’t broken.
Vote:We are too politically correct for our own good – now we’re giving criminals underfloor heating in a bid to protect their rights – what about the rights of their victims? 93% of offenders repeat and yet we are still banging on about rehabilitation
June 29th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Good on Pita Sharples for taking action & Leadership by going around to meet with the Kahui family, could you imagine ACT’s Rodney Hide doing that? I believe Hide would think he would be lowering himself, or to scared to meet up with Kahui’s. I hear only constituent with $$$$$$$$ get Hide’s ear.
Vote:I would also like to hear what other Maori Leaders think of the Kahui deaths. At the end of the day MP Pita Sharples swore an oath to uphold the laws of NZ. I suppose he has no other option but to see, one or some of the Kahui’s banged up in jail, even if they were out of their head or had know idea what happened to the twins at the time. Tragic I know, but at least leadership was shown by Dr Sharples
June 29th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Cadmus- In my view, Sharples was not doing anymore or any les than what the Police had been trying to do as part of their normal duty – Encouraging someone to speak up !
Vote:That is not leadership but opportunism.
Leadership is poles apart from selecting when its opportune to stick ones nose in.
June 29th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Pita Sharples is a politican so of course he was always going to speak up on this issue But full credit to him for not blaming white colonialists the usual reaction we have had to tolerate for the past few decades. Sharples stood up and said what main stream Kiwis have been thinking for years.And have been too afraid to say so because of the usual suspects intimidation.Now we have heard it from a Maori leader that Maori people must grow up and take responsibility for their actions instead of hiding behind pathetic excuses.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
DaveC, I suppose your are right to a point. I do believe however Pita Sharples was concerned and we know Politicing doesn’t do any harm at the same time. I also think we are hearing a united voice of lynch mob just by the Pollies, at the end of the day they have all agreed to uphold NZ law.
Vote:I think one of the biggest cop outs is by the Maori Affairs Minister. This bipartisan approach by all political parties has turned into a joke. The first thing we hear from the Minister is this Problem is across the board and effects all parts of NZ society, we all agree on that. The answer is B/S in my view!
The vast problem lies in low socio economic families, yet the combined Pollies can’t even agree on that one.
No, DaveC Pita Sharples fronted, I believe he was genuine, but I agree the Politicing was also part of it.
June 29th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Cadmus – the comments on Rodney border on defamation. Please refrain.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Which is not to overlook that Cadmus was entirely off-topic, for which Cadmus was previously red-carded.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
I have always respected Sharples as a powerful Maori Leader even before he entered politics, although I generally did not agree with the direction he was taking… His immediate re-action contrasts markedly with that of Samuels and Horomia who had to wait over a week until their spin-doctors and female overseer decided what they should say.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
The call for a minority
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
DPF is your clock still working on daylight time? I think it is an hour out
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
Agree with you DavidW So now that the pollies have decided on cross party talks the best thing those who want to see action can do is hold the pollies feet to the fire and stick the blow torch down their y fronts.The pollies only ever react to pressure.They and their little spin arseholes will be watching carefully to see which way the wind is blowing Hopefully a hurricane in their direction.For starters they need to get rid of the plethora of agencies and have one and one only focused on problem families.A co ordinated approach instead of the piece meal one at present.Problem families can have up to 17 separate agencies dealing with them.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Cadmus,I sometimes think you should get out more.As for Rodney,he had enormous guts to subject himself to possible public ridicule/morbid immagination etc.in the TV dancing prog.You could see the whites of his eyes for God’s sake but he did it anyway.I can respect a person like that,and I do.Forget the politics..this man has balls.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
Mara,
I suspect that Rodney likes being on TV as much as Pita Sharples or any politician. Agreed, that at least Rodney went out of his comfort zone, the same thing can’t be said for Pita.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
Off topic sorry.Just popping off to flagellate myself.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Mara,
I suspect that Rodney likes being on TV as much as Pita Sharples or any politician. Agreed, that at least Rodney went out of his comfort zone, the same thing can’t be said for Pita.
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Pita Sharples showed us that he is a good person,and that not all maori are baby bashers
Vote:June 29th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
Congratulations to Pita Sharples, he showed some great leadership in my book. He is a leader who actually may assist greatly in the betterment of his people. Good luck, and this from an ACT man!
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 7:01 am
Cadmus,
(Apologies Dave for going off topic on this):
Since you’re so obsessed with Rodney, and convinced that he only meets a very narrow band of constituents, I’d be more than happy to give Rodney a call and arrange a meeting for you to see him, so that you can tell him face to face what you think of him.
Rodney’s man enough to front up. Are you?
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 8:44 am
I.P. I have meet Rodney Hide. I went to an ACT meeting, public welcome. A friend and I went to the bar after for a drink. Hide came up to the bar, then stood and talked with us. Then the ACTiods swarmed in. After I listened to the converts views, I had no doubt what Hide & Co stood for. Also I didn’t plan it but Don Brash spoke to me during the Election at a Mall. I turned around and here was Brash & Team in my face. I admit I was caught out on that one.
I.P. I would have nothing in common with the man.
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 10:33 am
No, Cadmus. I’m not talking about you meeting with Rodney and a whole lot of other people in a bar. I’m talking about you meeting Rodney by yourself, to discuss the various obsessions you have, and points of policy difference you’ve got with his party.
Rodney’s a very accessible guy. I’m sure he’d be happy to meet with you to discuss your concerns. Or are you just too chicken?
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 11:28 am
I’m talking about you meeting Rodney by yourself, to discuss the various obsessions you have, and points of policy difference you’ve got with his party . . . Rodney’s a very accessible guy. I’m sure he’d be happy to meet with you to discuss your concerns.
After all, it’s not like Hide has anything better to do with his time . . .
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 11:57 am
I.P. I wonder what Rodney Hide & I would talk about?
I know what he is trying to do to NZ I.P. , I know the path he is following, I know the agenda, I disagree with his views. I don’t want the gulible taken in by his spin. It will be us NZers that have to pick up the pieces. In private Hide could tell me anything, why not debate it in the open?
You see I.P. in my view the Brash/Hide agenda is as follows.
Sell off all state assetts, no matter if they make a profit or not. Then go figure I.P. who would be given the chance to buy them???
BTW, I’m taking Schools, hospitals, housing, Prisons, welfare services, (and I’m not on any benefit) Foreshore, land etc.
How I see the Hide/Brash theory being, let the private sector run it and return the profit to shareholders. I thought we all owned it but Hide would see it different.
This is how it works I.P. the Private contractor would still have his hand in our tax purse. They would take the assett, but be prepared to supply a service, but once they have that assett make the rules up as they go. You see Hide & Roy had to vote against the freeing up of telecom. they would fight tooth and nail for a monopoly, a small group of Foreigners holding 70% of a former state assett.
If say the service feel to pieces, it would be up to the state to bail it out, and the shareholders would be wanting a handsome profit for a clapped out falling apart former State Assett.
The SOE had to return a profit to the taxpayer, us.
Under Hides theory the Company would have to return a profit to it’s shareholders, thats right I.P. a group of off shore investors maybe? Not taxpayers.
I.P. lets get one thing straight if someone owns a Private assett and wants to sell it I couldn’t care who buys the thing, as long as it is an above board and legal transaction.
I don’t think you get it I.P. In my view Brash/Hide are interested in selling things you and I own, and then expect you and I to buy shares back into it? It’s all smoke and mirrors son, can’t you see it. No one will gain out of it but a select few interest groups.
You may have more money in your pocket with tax breaks but at the end the day the private sector would be clipping your ticket just as much, as if not more than the state.
I.P. Think about this, would Hide be in favour of you and I setting up our own Phone company…Yes he would support us. But you see we would have to start from scratch. Telecom have an assett generations worked and paid taxes for, no doubt many died in the process in their employment over the yrs.
Let Hide and his lot if they want to start from scratch, and build things not steal ours. They can’t I.P. they haven’t the money, they want a bargin, and an instant profit.
Look Hide & ACT need to be kept honest & shown whar they really stand for.
No, I’m not chicken to talk /debate Hide, but it would be a total waste of time.
I doubt Hide would challenge me on any of the above.
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
David W makes a couple of valid points. Those of us who work hard ( I have a small business) are paying for the lazy couldn’t give a stuff bludgers. I know let’s have another sprog and neglect that one too – if we start at 16 we can probably have 8 or 10 before we’re 30 and that should give us over $2k a week – but we’d better replace the 2 we just killed…
Vote: