The Māori Council of the NZ Labour Party

TE KAUNIHERA ¬MĀORI O TE ROOPU REIPA

17 September 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT
Labour’s Te Kaunihera Māori endorse new leadership

Te Kaunihera Maori congratulated Labour leader, Hon. David Cunliffe, who will be joined by newly appointed deputy, David Parker, to take the Party into the 2014 election.

“The leadership election was an invigorating, inclusive and exciting democratic process. David Cunliffe ran an excellent campaign and won a lot support from Māori within the Union movement and the Party’s membership,” said Haare Williams, Senior Māori Vice-President of the Labour Party.

“Te Kaunihera Māori fully endorse David Cunliffe as the new leader of the Labour Party and will support his commitment to respect and inclusiveness for all. We are confident he will provide strong leadership at this critical time in order to give New Zealanders back their country and promote more equity, prosperity and jobs for Māori.”

“We encourage the leadership to put Māori interests at the core of Labour’s future economic policy platform in order to harness the full potential of the Māori asset base which is conservatively valued at $37 billion.”

“This is a new era for Labour, one that will not only champion full employment and fairness for all New Zealanders, but that will also strive to support Māori aspirations.”

“Less than 60% of Māori voters turned out for the last election as 41.75% of voters on the Maori roll chose not to exercise their power. We look forward to working with the new leadership to reactivate the Māori vote and restore the Māori electorate seats to the Labour Party.”

“It is the time to unite the Party’s caucus and membership to overturn the Key Government. This will require absolute trust, loyalty and a total commitment to win next year.”

ENDS

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