Marae Investigates ran a good debate/Q&A show with Kelvin Davis, Solomon Tipene and Hone Harawira this morning. The show also featured political commentators Rawiri Taonui and Ann Sullivan.
Overall, the show was well run. Scotty Morrison is not the best interviewer, but he put forward a number of good questions and shied away from the disruptive style that other Maori interviewers like Willie Jackson and Julian Wilcox favour. Each candidate was given a fair go so credit to Scotty and the producers.
The debate started with a thirty second blurb from the main candidates. In my opinion none of them impressed. Same old, same old really. Kelvin stuck firmly to his successful Maori futures line, Solomon Tipene was better prepared but still underwhelming while Hone seemed to be winging it. The show then cut to a good piece by Jodi Ihaka outlining the problems facing Te Tai Tokerau including unemployment, underachievement in education and looming treaty settlements.
Each candidate was strong on treaty settlements. However, Solomon Tipene put his foot in it when he spouted the “out of grievance mode and into development mode” line. This is a political catchphrase – not a solution or, indeed, a statement with any meaning beyond the emotional.
Both Hone and Kelvin performed well on jobs. Kelvin put forward a number of tangible initiatives that will create jobs tomorrow while Hone was strong on getting people “work ready”. Kelvin was, in my opinion, stronger on jobs – as the Labour candidate should be.
Hone was easily the strongest on rangatahi. He pointed to his strong record creating initiatives like rangatahi radio. Kelvin made the pertinent point that society needs to create hope for rangatahi and belief in their abilities and potential.
Hone was also strong on the 90 employment law illustrating his new found commitment to working class politics. Hone made the point that no worker, whether Maori or Pakeha, should have to work under such grossly unfair conditions. Hone was strong when he illustrated how unfair the law could be in practise.
I thought Kelvin dealt superbly with whether he is beholden to his party. He pointed out that Labour respects and listens too the Maori caucus. Hone finished the strongest when he said the first phone call he will be making on the day is to Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples. He explained that what is good for Maori is more important than personality politics. Solomon Tipene has also improved exponentially over the past few weeks. He is obviously a quick learner.
Ultimately, I would give the debate/Q&A to Hone. He knew the issues, he had solutions and he spoke well off the cuff. Hone is a performer and he never fails to give the people a show. For a bit of laugh you can watch Hone here on 7 Days and here on the Jono Show. I guess this is part of a drive to soften Hone’s image. A very effective way to do so - genius almost - comedy is reliable way to endear yourself to others. I wonder if it’s enough though.
Morgan
ReplyDeleteAll the people who I have spoken to up here in Whangarei said that Hone won both the Native Affairs and Marae debates. But the reason why they are so strong on their opinions is due to Hone's position on jobs. Hone has said on several occassions that he wants jobs now, not in the future and not waiting for the tourism market to pick up, which seems to be both Kelvin and Solomon's whakaaro. It is a message that is resonating with voters - people remember the success of the old PEP schemes. I would say that in my circles at least, Hone has it over Kelvin on the jobs front.
Just another thing - I have been visited only by the MANA team, not by Labour or by the Maori Party. I am yet to hear anyone say that they are going to vote for Labour and the two people who were thinking about voting for the Maori Party have decided not to because of Solomon's poor showing. I think Hone's win might be bigger than the mainstream media suggests.
Hello.
ReplyDeleteMy Maori relation in Wellsford tells me that her friends are voting for Hone. It seems the more that mainstream media put the boot into Hone, the more they want to vote for him.
Weird.
I predict he will win by a mile.I wonda how many arses in the media will be eatin their words then.Go hard brother Hone.
ReplyDeleteHone was excellent on Marae Investigates and at the end he made that point that he was reasonable and trustworthy, and could work with any Party, even Act or National. In that statement, he went further than the Green Party position, for which it has received so much flack. Perhaps now detractors will gain a bit of perspective on what "highly unlikely" supporting National means and that Hone's position is if anything, a greater commitment to work with both Act and National.
ReplyDeleteWe have a mix of employed and unemployed in our house. Hone's solutions seem real for us. Training, upskilling, working in our rohe for our rohe. We agree with that. We weren't sure who to vote for between Labour and Hone. We've decided Hone now. We agree with what he's saying.
ReplyDeleteI believed hone having so much knowledge means he familiar about various writing techniques, about the subject, and the different writing tools.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure hone have gained his knowledge in his schooling and most of it comes through experience.
If you are skilled, then it means that everyone can write effectively and use the writing tools to good effect. In other words, skill is our application of our knowledge.
This increases your overall confidence which is important to perform any kind of job. This way, you give more value to your employer and increase your chances of receiving a raise and a promotion.
This is a best way can help us get a job.
I vote for hone harawira and his mana party.
So Hone has finally realised he has to work with Tariana and Pita. It's a shame he couldn't have put personalities to one side when he was dropping bombs on his own party when he had some caucus mates. Hone will never play as a team member as he will always be his own man. So those that vote for him can believe his views and opinions but don't for one minute believe that he will ever be an effective member of, or allied to any Government. So his policies will never bear fruit unless some one else picks them up.
ReplyDeleteLilz
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to be a team player when the team is screwed. You only have to look at what Tariana said about Tipene for proof of that!