Nanaia Mahuta has come out against Goff. From Waatea News:
Another of Labour's Maori MPs has broken ranks with leader Phil Goff over working with former Maori Party MP Hone Harawira.
Waikato-Hauraki MP Nanaia Mahuta says Mr Harawira has taken similar positions to Labour on issues such as the 90-day bill, raising the minimum wage, and greater protection for employee rights.
“But the real proof is what happens after election 2011 and I’ve been in politics long enough to know that the wind blows both ways and you can’t rule anyone in and out before that day. That’s the day that matters,” she says.
Ms Mahuta has confirmed she will stand again this year, despite stepping back in Labour's rankings for health and family reasons.
Goff needs to get on top of this – there is clearly a huge amount of dissatisfaction among the Maori caucus. As I blogged a few days, Parekura has already come out against Goff. This means Labour’s most senior Maori MP’s have openly defied the leadership and reneged on the accepted party position. This is nothing but sloppy political management on Goff’s part.
But perhaps the most interesting aspect of Nanaia’s statement was confirmation that she will stand again this year. This will disappoint the Maori Party. Although Nanaia’s grasp may be more tenuous than previously thought. Make no mistake, Nanaia is an extremely dedicated electorate MP and a well connected and respected member of Tainui, but nothing lasts forever. Fatigue may begin to settle in and a good candidate may, keyword may, clinch an upset. Nanaia can run on her record as an electorate MP (bar her record on the foreshore and seabed) and cruise to victory. So often though there is no correlation between performance and re-election. Success is often a combination of incumbency, personality, reach and circumstance. More often than not ones chances of re-election are situational. Is the public generally favourable towards my/my party’s brand? Does society currently value what I espouse etc…
Ultimately, I am picking Nanaia will retain her seat based partly on name recognition and partly on the perception that she is a dedicated electorate MP. This time around her connections to the Kingitanga may prove to be a black mark against her given the trouble surrounding the Kingitanga. It is almost certain that Nanaia will not be re-elected on the basis of her involvement on the national scene. She is silent on most if not all issues affecting Maori. I haven’t seen anything from her since I started blogging some three or four months ago. To be fair her focus is her family and good on her for that.
In any case she will probably win given the state the Maori Party is in. In 2008 the Maori Party brand was at its apex and the party ran incredibly aggressive campaigns in all of the Maori electorates. Even then they could not unseat Nanaia who was, following the seabed and foreshore controversy, exceedingly stained. If politics is indeed situational, and if Nanaia cannot be unseated in the most unsympathetic situation for Labour, then I am not sure she will be unseated this time around. The tide is turning against the Maori Party.
I have to agree - the Maori Party nomination is a loverly person but he does not quite do it -
ReplyDeletePresently the political and tribal future of several individuals within Waikato are being closely watched - and Nanaia is neither outside or inside that tent.
Nanaia is a worthy opponent and she will wipe the table with him in any debate as he is just too polite.
Nanaia could stand as an independent -- and make the connection with Hone -- which would cause Goff's checks to turn more red ...
She only retained the seat by a 888 majority - Angeline Greensill tried 3 times to unseat her -
Nanaia's strength is in her debating prowess - she is powerful, organised and prepared.
Angeline Greensill is amazing, and she was a great asset to the maori party.
ReplyDeleteTainui desrves better than to have Tuku morgan constantly pushing his own personal agenda, he is trying to advocate for privastisation so he can get a tiny piece of the pie - regardless of the environmental or social damage the policies he supports cause.
Perhaps Angeline would win the seat is she tries in the following election. I would like to see many wahine stand with Hone in the new party. Perhaps Angeline could stand with Hone or in the green party. Aotearoa needs a lot more talented people in parliament, and far less of the dead weight, and old white men, with old ideas, of no use to Aotearoa.
Goff is an example of dead weight!
ReplyDeleteLabour wrongly thinks with Nanaia announcing she will stand again this year - that all Waikato people will faithfully follow and vote Labour.
ReplyDeleteGoff also thinks just because the leadership of Ratana are considering voting for Labour that all others will follow like sheep. He has no perception of of his gross paternalism.
Will Goff entertain the demands and aspirations of morgan and ngai tahu - will he too accommodate the so-called 'iwi leadership group'?
Goff simply will not be able to control / limit their desires and will flail hopeless as in current form ...
What Hone has done is woken up the senses - finally a champion has arrived - but he needs help to advance and achieve policy gains.
Morgan - yes has his personal agenda - it is not about the people.
Last week Morgan told TKI it has no power.
Morgan - whether it is privatisation -- it is a personal agenda - seeking control, power and fame: and yes the Mahuta clan is right alongside him - they have too much too lose should morgan fall - and he will soon - hard.
What Waikato need to do is to not re-elect Morgan -Te Kauhanganui (TKI) is at a cross-roads. It votes on resolutions and provides TAA with the directions to do its bidding.
TAA (viz Morgan and his shadows) give TKI the fingers and does what it wants and ensures it benefits.
The day of reckoning is about to beckon for morgan and his cronies ... may we welcome it.
"The day of reckoning is about to beckon for morgan and his cronies ... may we welcome it."
ReplyDeleteIt couldn't come to soon!