Hon Willie Jackson

Labour Māori Caucus Co-Chair

MEDIA STATEMENT

22 November 2017

Labour Māori Caucus looking forward to the challenges

Labour Māori Caucus co-Chair Willie Jackson says “the Māori Caucus is very much looking forward to being challenged by some of the biggest advocates of kaupapa Māori tomorrow.”

“The caucus has decided that although there is limited time before Christmas, a strategy day was imperative and important in terms of the overall Māori Labour Party strategy.

“With that being the case, we felt that we should hear from some of our most well-known Māori representatives, leaders and movers and groovers to give them an opportunity to front us with their expectations.

“We have to be open to challenges and we know that expectations are high, but this hui should help us as we work through our strategy.

“There are so many issues that our people want to talk to us about – from water to conservation, to whānau ora, Iwi and tribal rights, urbanisation. Obviously we can’t cover everything, but tomorrow will be the start of something as we piece together the Māori strategy for our people.

Jackson says he and co-Chair Meka Whaitiri asked all the caucus for some of the major players who might be available to have a kōrero to us, and they had come back with an impressive line-up in a short time.

“People have been invited no matter what their political persuasion, with the main criteria being ‘are they supporters of advancing kaupapa Māori?’ and ‘do they have a challenge for us?’.

“Invitations went out widely but not everyone could make it in the short time that this hui was put together.

“However, we have an outstanding line-up who we are looking forward to seeing tomorrow.

“Those who will be appearing in front of the Māori Caucus include:
§ Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi DNZM MBE (Te Kohanga Reo National Trust matriarch)
§ Prue Kapua (Māori Women’s Welfare League, National President)
§ Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Te Pou Matakana, Chair)
§ Donna Flavell (Waikato-Tainui, CEO)
§ Mike Smith (Greenpeace, Campaigner)
§ Khylee Quince (Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland)
§ Morgan Godfrey (Political Commentator)
§ Moana Jackson (Lawyer, Authority on Treaty of Waitangi and Constitutional issues)
§ Kim Workman (Authority on Criminal Justice Reform and Corrections policy)

“Former Race Relations Conciliator now National Director of the Salvation Army Education and Employment Gregory Fortuin has also been asked to come in to provide his unique perspective in terms of kotahitanga and people working together.

Jackson says “It should be an exciting and challenging day.”

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