No Maori-Mana deal
Danya Levy at Stuff reports:
The Maori Party has rejected a proposed deal by the newly-formed Mana Party not to stand against each other in the Maori electorates at this year’s general election. …
The issue was discussed by the Maori Party’s national council in Huntly at the weekend. It later issued a statement saying “no deal”.
President Pem Bird said there was a strong message from the party’s membership that it should remain loyal to the people of Tai Tokerau by continuing to build its presence in the electorate.
“We had a large contingent from Te Tai Tokerau with us at the hui… Our brothers and sisters of Te Tai Tokerau led us to an emphatic conclusion that we would not sacrifice their seat for what might be seen as political opportunism and expediency.
“Basically the message we received loud and clear, was no deal.”
A principled but naive decision. Labour’s chances of winning Te Tai Tonga and Tamaki Makauru off the Maori Party have to be improved if the Mana Party stands in those seats.
There is a risk that the Maori Party could be reduced to two seats after the election.
July 11th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Sharples or Brash “You once again bring the Maori people’s aspirations into contempt and ridicule. Your views are not only inaccurate and ill-founded, but are totally out of tune with middle New Zealand’s ideals and aspirations for our country.”
Harawira on Brash “Your attempts to boost Act in the polls by riding on the xenophobic fears of Joe Bloggs in the street will not work this time round.”
They do seem to have different points of view
[DPF: That is a very nice comparison of the difference between Maori and Mana Party]
July 11th, 2011 at 9:13 am
Maybe the difference is that Turia and Sharples are willing to work with National to advance their policies (Whanau Ora, etc), while Harawira won’twork with anyone to do anything.
July 11th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Who really cares which dog is trying to drag the rotting carcase of race based politics further away from the parliament of New Zealand.
July 11th, 2011 at 9:27 am
Ansell says people are afraid to express honest (and accurate) opinions about Maori and Don Brash DEMONSTRATES WHY!
Fuckwit.
July 11th, 2011 at 9:46 am
It’s a sad day in New Zealand politics when I agree with something Hone Harawira says about ACT, but it just happened.
ACT’s strategy is bullshit, and they deserve to die a very public death in November. Let’s get these clowns out of the political arena so we can get laissez faire politics back into mainstream discourse.
July 11th, 2011 at 9:49 am
A very good decision. They’ve just kicked the prick out so to get back into bed with him would involve a huge loss of mana and give Harawira respectability he doesn’t deserve but desperately craves.
David, you’ll never understand Maori politics until you start to think like a Maori.
It is better to have two seats and hold your head high than to have four seats and be ‘enslaved’ the other guy.
July 11th, 2011 at 10:42 am
I agree with Adolf.
In the long run it is better strategy to act with integrity. If they bowed to Mana the Maori Party would have no mana, and that would doom them in the long run anyway. The Maori Party will be stronger in the end for fighting Harawira and defeating him. The most Harawira can do is be a spoiler and wrecker, and eventually Maori will wake up to that.
July 11th, 2011 at 11:09 am
Yes I too agree with Adolf on this one, I applaud the Maori parties stand on this issue, and I think in general so will Maoridom as a whole.
This raises the mana of Maori party, and good on them.
If we have to have race based politics, lets have it with principle and honour.
July 11th, 2011 at 11:10 am
xenophobic Hone, jeez cuz, don’t use the long words.
July 11th, 2011 at 11:55 am
If we have to have race based politics, lets have it with principle and honour.
There is no honour in race based politics anymore than there is in general politics.
July 11th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
@viking2…touche.