No welcome with open arms for John Tamihere

There have been no cries of alleluia to the prospect of former Labour Party cabinet minister John Tamihere’s resurrection from political purgatory to re-join Labour’s ranks again.
 
While the Party’s faithful gathered for their conference in Auckland this weekend, John Tamihere told TVNZ’s Marae Investigates this morning that he’d been advised it would be inappropriate for him to attend.
 
“I’ve got media accreditation, I could go and make it a media circus but I’m not interested in doing that.” Mr Tamihere told interviewer Scotty Morrison.
 
Media commentator Willie Jackson told the programme that Labour needs Tamihere to reboot its Māori caucus which he claims has performed miserably.  He told Marae Investigates that the Party’s Māori Policy Committee should have supported Mr Tamihere’s return.
 
“The Māori Policy Council should hang their heads in shame actually and Parekura Horomia in particular, he should show some leadership on this.  John used to drive that Māori Policy Council.  He fronted for the infamous Seabed and Foreshore Bill so the Policy Council should be welcoming him in. But that’s just nonsense what’s happening at the moment.”
 
However John Tamihere would not confirm he is running for a seat in Parliament again.
 
“No I want to be part of an upgrading of the conversation that’s based on the economy. Not whether I’m a Māori, not whether I’m a Pacific Islander, not whether I’m a gay or a woman.  The identity politics have to be put to one side for the benefit of the whole of the economy. “ said Mr Tamihere
 
ENDS

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