Maori making history

The ODT’s headline Maori Making History  comes from a quote by the new Maori Party MP for Te Tai Tonga, Rahui Katene.

She was referring to the deal negotiated between the party and Prime Minister elect, John Key. Details haven’t been amde public yet but it’s thought the party will get two ministerial positions outside cabinet in return for giving confidence and supply to National.

This is good news and the story itself might be making history too. I don’t recall ever seeing an ODT front page lead quoting the former MP for Te Tai Tonga, Labour’s Mahora Okeroa, so the new MP is already achieving something her predecessor didn’t. 

The arrangement hasn’t pleased new labour leader Phil Goff but Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia isn’t impressed by that:

Ms Turia said Mr Goff’s comments were “bloody patronising behaviour” and he was “scaremongering” to try to derail the process.

“He’s trying, once more, to frighten our people into saying we should sit with Labour. Well, Labour didn’t even invite us to sit with them in the last government and our people are sick and tired of being told what to do.

“He should stick with re-building the Labour Party instead of trying to dismantle others.”

Ms Turia said there was a strong feeling that “red or blue” it was critical to have a Maori voice in government.

That voice will be stronger if it’s not wedded to either left or right.

But we must remember while there may be issues and beliefs many, perhaps most, Maori have in common, there can rarely if ever be a single voice for a group of people. And we’ll really be making history when there are a wide variety of Maori voices coming from within all parties and they don’t need a separate vehicle to ensure it’s heard.