Mar 25, 2011

Does Hone really care about New Zealand?

Hone Harawira is appearing more sensible by the day:

(Hone) says rather than considering environmental issues, the Maori Party believes mining is ok if iwi want to mine.

“We need to put that aside and say is mining in the best interests of the people of New Zealand. When they talk about the iwi, the Maori Party just talk about the iwi leaders but the iwi leaders are not actually the iwi, and iwi are very rarely consulted and you will find in most cases where an iwi are actually consulted in terms of the people who live there, they are 90 percent opposed to such activity,”

“We need to put that aside and say is mining in the best interests of the people of New Zealand”. This quote represents a big shift in Hone’s thinking. Previously, Hone focussed exclusively on what was best for Maori, however following the Maori Party split he has adopted a broader approach. In my opinion a focus on the interests of all of New Zealand, as opposed to just Maori, represents a certain maturity. It is also a signal that Hone realises a new party is only viable if he takes a broader approach incorporating the interests of the country as a whole. Therefore, I think this quote lends further credence to my prediction that Hone will form a left wing party as opposed to an alternative Maori Party.  

4 comments:

  1. Kia ora Morgan,

    It reads to me as - what is good for maori is good for everyone - a position I agree with and endorse. Hopefully as the debate widens, the support for a new left maori party will widen too, as more people realise that the kaupapa is the key, not the ethnicity of the representatives.

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  2. Kia ora Marty,

    That is a plausible interpretation. However, I do think this is in line with Hone's rhetoric signalling a new left wing party. I wish that people will see beyond the "Maori" part too. But I do not think that our country is mature enough.

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  3. if he wants to score some easy whitey points, he could attack the farcical Emissions Trading Scheme on behalf of all NZ...

    ...there's easy lefty loosey, righty tighty votes to be got flogging that horse !!!

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  4. Likely the green party will come out attacking the ETS sooner or later. Hone will make much progress in deepening his support base if he takes on environmental issues.

    The maori party on paper had good environmental policies, but is silent when deap sea oil drilling or mining issues come up, including when Iwi and hapu ask for support, when foreign companies threaten fragile areas.

    Aotearoa needs to act on climate change to support out pacific island brothers and sisters who are on the frontlines of climate chaos. That means reducing emissions and moving away from things like coal.

    Kia kaha Hone, and all the best with a left maori party and movement building in 2011 and onwards.

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