By: graham smith

graham smith — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:22:00 +0000

It is true that Labour has failed to even try to understand Maori views. But it is equally true that National has no real feeling for the condition experienced by the great majority of Maori. Labour see Maori as poor as poor and not really relevant to winning elections and anyway they had no-where else to go before MMP. National leaders have always patronised well-educated Maori (they being the closest to successful in their Pakeha eyes). But a broad-based Maori Party is something new and not easily stereotyped. Indeed it might be said that by looking for Policies that will truly help Maori to progress with self-respect and justice, that Maori are just asking for the same as all NZers. By sitting on the cross-benches, a truly independent stance can be taken.Probably all 7 of the Maori Electorates will become longterm Maori Party strongholds. Maori voters have been disillusioned now by the rhetoric of Labour 1984 to 1990 with extremely damaging ACT-like Policies privatising basic services, National social spending cuts that saw many Maori families forced onto benefits and driven back to their whanau in rural areas to survive in dreadful housing. To be led down a blind alley by NZFirst was humiliating. And now second time round with an unthinking Labour Govt of Clark, Mallard and Cullen whose sole interest is in keeping the middle-class content and to hell with the merits of the Law or seabed ownership etc. The Maori Party MPs don’t seem to have any natural allies except the Greens who look to principle, consensus, and sustainability-policy approaches that are ideal for a brave new world that many Maori are seeking.

Comments on: Could the Maori Party and National do a deal?

By: graham smith