Māori politicians talk education and make a bid for 'vote power'

Māori politicians took to the stage at the AUT Māori Expo to explain their views - and make a pitch for young voters.

Hone Harawira, who had resigned as an Independent from Parliament the day before last Thursday's Expo, flagged his interest to work with the Greens. But he said was focused on working for his people and electorate if he is relected to Parliament in the November 26 general election.

Harawira first needs to win the upcoming byelection in his Māori Party-held seat of Te Tai Tokerau, which will test the mandate for his new Mana Party.

“The first relationship we will look to develop after the election is probably going to be with the Greens before it is with anybody else,” said Harawira.

“We look to develop for relationships that enable us to grow our capacity to be strong for our people, first of all.”

Favour MMP
Both Harawira and Greens co-leader Metiria Turei argued in favour of the MMP system of voting and encouraged the audience to vote for it in the November referendum.

Turei said that it was more beneficial for Māori for politicians to represent them outside the government, and not by forming part of government.

“The consistency of position, that consistency of values and principles is what makes us a very clear advocate for Māori political aspiration,” she said.

Harawira agreed.

“If you have heard of collective responsibility, it means anything the government says you have got to shut your mouth. Even if you don’t like it, you still have to shut your mouth,” he said, talking about his negative experience having to work with National before resigning from the Māori Party.

“We want to be able to signal to our people it’s better for us to be strong with one another in the early days, than to just get into power and jump into bed with whoever is in power.”

'Mutual annihilation'
Shane Jones, associate spokesperson for Māori affairs, who was chairing the debate said: “The irony is that we have two parties here that want to work with each other after the election but could in effect annihilate each other by going after the same vote.”

Turei said the Greens were the most consistent party in favour of Māori over the last 12 years.

“We are the only party that has voted against both the Foreshore and the Marine Coastal Bills because they were racist.”

“The Māori Party has had to vote against pro-Māori legislation and have had to vote for anti-Māori legislation because of its relationship with National. The Green Party has not.”

Te Ururoa Flavell, MP for Te Waiariki and member of the Māori Party, defended his party’s record.

“Parliament is about making numbers, but on one occasion, [Māori Party co-leader] Tariana Turia stood up and said, ‘On a matter of principle, I refuse to follow that path’.

“We are there to represent the best interests of our people at the top end of the table.”

ACT snubbed
Flavell clarified the Māori Party has no relationship with ACT and Don Brash.

“We don’t have a relationship with ACT, let’s get that right. We sit outside the cabinet,” he said.

“This is the problem. People think we are tied up with ACT. For goodness sake we are at the opposite end of the spectrum. ACT has a relationship with National, they don’t have a relationship with us. We have a relationship with National, not with ACT.”

Labour candidate Kelvin Davis for Te Tai Tokerau said it was unrealistic to follow the minor party approach, and encouraged young people to join Labour and vote for the party in at the next election.

“There’s going to be another Labour government,” he said. “We can either have it with a lot of Māori representation speaking up on Māori issues or not.”

Retiring National MP Georgina te Heuheu supported the idea of Māori working from inside the government.

“Some of the things we value most as Māori have come through under National governments,” she said.

Jobs needed
“And we make no apologies for focusing on the economy. If you haven’t got a growing economy you can’t produce the jobs that our people need.”

“I’m very proud that we negotiated an agreement with the Māori Party. That was a recognition that we needed more brown on our side.

“We needed their thinking to influence our thinking.”

However, Te Heuheu lamented that there was much to be done for youth and their education.

“Too many Māori boys leave school without level one NCEA – what’s the point of that?

“They are going to end up in jail. We don’t want that.

“They are too good, our young people are too good. They are too beautiful. We want you all working, and contributing.”

Questions on schools
A young student put his hand up and took the Associate Minister for Māori Affairs to task on the decile ranking of schools.

“Why are our schools in decile one and not decile ten? Why are our schools failing to move up?”

Te Heuheu responded that the government was addressing the issue.

“That’s part of the work that’s going on now, which is basically to set standards. That’s a recognition that where they sit in the scheme of things is not in the scheme of mainstream schools,” she said.

“It’s a good question, the issue is being addressed.”

Turei encouraged the young voters to ensure they vote at the next election.

“There are heaps and heaps of Māori who don’t vote,” she said.

“Make sure your whole whanau goes with you to the polling booth and does vote. So many of our people don’t vote and so our political power is not exercised.”