Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Labour belittles kaupapa…..again


Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell
Māori Party Co-Leaders

Date: 21 February 2017,

Labour belittles kaupapa…..again

Andrew Little’s latest attack on the Māori Party confirms he and Labour will deny the need for an independent Māori voice in Parliament, and in so doing, belittle the legacy of all of those who have championed the cause for rangatiratanga since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“When Andrew Little purports to know and understand more about kaupapa than Māori, and then belittles the struggle and the legacy of the various independent Māori political movements of the past century and a half, including more recently the Māori and Mana parties, it only confirms our view that Labour just doesn’t get it,” says Māori Party Co-Leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

“And if Andrew can make such a poor judgment about thinking he knows better than Māori about kaupapa and then wrongly judges the record of some of the greatest champions of our people, including Dame Hon Tariana Turia who crossed the floor over the proposed confiscation by the Labour Party of the foreshore and seabed, how can he safely represent Māori interests?” he says.

“His statements today only strengthen our resolve that the Māori seats belong with kaupapa-based parties and not in the hands of someone who would so effortlessly dismiss our history and deny us our right to enact rangatiratanga,” says Marama Fox, Co-Leader of the Māori Party.

“And if he’s on about a track record, what’s kaupapa about passing legislation to remove the rights of tangata whenua to the foreshore and seabed? What’s kaupapa about denying our people the right to have their claims heard in court? What’s kaupapa about continually labelling our people all the negative statistics that Labour so conveniently forget their party not only perpetuated, but worsened in their 35 years of being in government?” she says.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Through kaupapa tuku iho, the Māori party believes and trusts in whānau to aspire, to dream and to be Māori.

“The kaupapa we drive is whānau. Not dis-ease. Not rawa kore. Kāo. Whānau Ora all day every day. That’s the reason $64m a year is now supporting 11,500 whānau to make life changing choices, to have self-determination and independence and why all New Zealand tamariki under 13 receive free GP visits and prescriptions,” says Te Ururoa Flavell.

“It’s also why New Zealand leads the world in tobacco reform, to save lives so Nan and Koro and Aunty and Uncle are around to be with their whānau; and why rheumatic fever rates have reduced by nearly half,” he says.

“It’s also why for the first time in nearly half a century, benefits have increased, and why the Māori Housing Network in it’s first year since inception has funded:

o the repair of 243 whānau homes,
o the building of 42 affordable housing units,
o 116 infrastructure projects to allow for the building of new homes,
o five emergency housing projects and
o 79 whānau to access housing facilitation support.

“Who did this for our people? Not Labour – but the Māori Party,“ says Ms Fox.

“Ki te hoe whānau. Kia mataara. We’re on the move and today is a good reminder to our supporters that we cannot trust anyone else but ourselves to do what is best for us.”
ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.