Maori Party Beat-up Ironic: Maori Party Presidential Candidate

Monday 1 Jul 2013 | Press Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Standing Maori Party presidential candidate and current co-chair for the Tamaki Makaurau electorate George Ngatai, has responded today to an attack by Labour Leader David Shearer.

Mr Shearer’s comments about the Maori Party being ‘finished’ with a prediction that it will ‘slide away to nothing’ were made after the Maori Party suffered a lower than expected result in last Saturday’s Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election.

“The irony is not completely lost on anyone,” said Mr Ngatai.

“I think it is rich that Mr Shearer makes these kinds of cheap comments about the survival of our party when it is he who will be fighting for the survival of his own leadership position over the coming weeks.

“Gillard was first. Will Shearer be next? My own prediction is that the recent bad-news polls for Labour spell the beginning of the end.

“He is giving orders on a rudderless party caught in a perfect storm where the intoxicating scent of mutiny is starting to smell irresistible even to the blindly loyal officers on board.”

“If Labour truly wants to represent Maori, then Mr Shearer should not disrespect Maori. He forgets that our party as born as a consequence of imperious, bullying tactics promulgated by the Labour Government in 2004 by way of the Seabed and Foreshore Act which effectively denied our people of any natural justice.

“My personal view is that we as Maori need to unite to maximise our representation in the 2014 general election.

“Irrespective of whether individuals are politically left, centre or right-leaning, we need to find a way to reach our goals as Maori people first and foremost.

“If that means we need to change how we think about party politics moving forward, then so be it.

“But it is what our people think that is important, not my opinion. That is why we will be consulting with them over the coming weeks where issues such as leadership and party direction will be discussed,” said Mr Ngatai.

The Māori Party AGM will be held on July 13 at Whakatane.

ENDS

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