All posts tagged Maori Party

Shane Jones – a fundamental split “until it’s all over”

In an interview on Marae Investigates Shane Jones was asked about the leadership problems in the Maori Party. He said (subtitle translated from Maori):

In politics if you are fundamentally split it won’t be long until it’s all over.

Jones also mentioned that David Shearer hadn’t apologised to him for initiating the Bill Liu inquiry – which Jones said found no wrongdoing on his part, which denies clear criticisms of him.

This suggests there could be still a bit of a split between Shearer and Jones.

But it’s interesting when talking of the three way split in the Maori Party to also consider Jones’ own Labour Party, which seems to have significant split issues, with three Shearer, Robertson and Cunliffe factions.

Shearer+Robertson currently have an alliance but it is often suggested that Robertson is simply waiting for the right moment to make a leadership bid.

Camp Shearer is obviously split from camp Cunliffe.

Will it ever be possible for Robertson to form an alliance with Cunliffe? There have been suggestions that Robertson is waiting until after the Marriage bill has completed it’s passage through Parliament. Or that a leadership bid will be made later this year if the polls haven’t significantly improved. There are many rumours.

Or are Labour’s splits too fundamental. Will it be long “until it’s all over”?

by Pete George on March 24, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on March 24, 2013

http://yournz.org/2013/03/24/shane-jones-a-fundamental-split/

Maori Party leadership lacking

Is three leaders more or less?

I have admired aspects of the Maori Party way. I think the way they consult with their constituents before making decisions on support or opposition to issues and policies is very good democratic practice – something other parties could learn from.

But all political systems have flaws. And mostly those flaws are related to personalities.

Tariana Turia tries to explain how their new leadership will work.

“It would be about people leading but only in very specific areas.

“Three people who would be carrying out particular roles in the interests of our people. We think that’s a very good solution.”

It may be a good solution for the three MPs wanting to retain or obtain leadership roles, but it looks very indecisive.

Turia is retiring at the next election but doesn’t want to let go of her position until then.

Pita Sharples seems to want to not let go of anything until he karks it, despite growing hints he is past his best in politics.

Te Ururoa Flavell has made his leadership ambitions clear, but there seems to be no clear way to the top.

The Maori Party may have more leaders, sort of, but it looks like less leadership, a (further) sign that they are losing focus and direction.

It’s getting crowded at the top of the Maori Party. Too many ariki, and no kaimahi.

by Pete George on March 22, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on March 22, 2013

http://yournz.org/2013/03/22/maori-party-leadership-lacking/

Act president John Boscawen on ‘Maori’

Perhaps coincidental considering Rodney Hide’s “and hate the Maori” reference, John Boscawen has mention Maori and the Maori Party many  times in his conference speech.

From President’s Address – ACT 2013 Annual Conference:

And in particular I despair about the chronic levels of underachievement amongst some of our children – disproportionately, Maori and Pacific Islanders. I cringe when I see the desperate efforts of our opponents trying to misrepresent our position on partnership schools. If this is the calibre of the Teacher’s Union, no wonder we have a problem with some of our teachers.

If ACT is not back in 2014 in even bigger numbers, National will be dependent on either the Maori Party, New Zealand First or worse still, both of them!
The country would pay a very high price for this. In fact it’s already paid a high price over the last five years and that would only get substantially higher if the Maori Party held the balance of power.

To get just a glimpse of this cost, one only has to look at the Emissions Trading Scheme. ACT is a party of principle and when we weren’t prepared to burden the country with the excessive costs of the ETS, a position vindicated by National substantially amending the scheme in the most recent term, the National Party went out and bought Maori Party support.

Iwi were to retain the carbon credits which in 2010 were valued at over one billion dollars. The market has subsequently collapsed and so today its value is a tiny fraction of this, but it remains a fact that that was the price the Maori Party was able to extract to support a single piece of legislation.

I have a great deal of respect for Tariana Turia and her ability to extract benefits for her people. I think Maori electors generally fail to appreciate just how successful the Maori Party has been.

Since then, we’ve also had the Marine and Coastal Areas Act – our new seabed legislation and the government’s current Constitutional Review. One can only imagine the list of demands that will come from that should the Maori Party hold the balance of power in 2014.

Having ruled out Winston Peters as a possible coalition partner, National would have been left with only one alternative – The Maori Party. I believe had Epsom voters not elected John Banks, the Maori Party would have held the balance of power and would have been in a position to have decided who governed New Zealand. They would have extracted a huge price for their support!

I don’t know how many of those supporters actually voted for Paul Goldsmith personally with their electorate vote, but those that didn’t should be very thankful that the majority of Epsom voters did. Because if they hadn’t, Paul Goldsmith would have found himself either in opposition now or at best, part of a government dependent on the Maori Party for the passage of every single piece of legislation.

It seems that the Maori Party is a major point of focus for the Act Party.

by Pete George on February 24, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on February 24, 2013

http://yournz.org/2013/02/24/act-president-john-boscawen-on-maori/

“Maori Party…dead or dying”

Interesting comments by ‘xtasy’ at The Standard on the Maori and Mana parties and their futures.

The Maori Party generally more or less appears to be a “dead” or “dying” party now.

Founded initially upon Tariana Turia leaving Labour, due to issues with their foreshore and seabed legislation, Sharples and others joined her to establish a party to seek redress from what Labour introduced into law, and a kind of “movement” was started.

The downfall of the Maori Party clearly started by going into a support agreement with a National led government, and to somehow at least passively “agree” to a range of controversial policies, naturally also to amend the law affecting foreshore and seabed matters.

But Maori Party members – repeatedly told by their elected MPs, that the agreement with Key and his National led government is good, necessary and will bring more benefits than being in opposition, have increasingly felt hood-winked.

Harawira brought on the challenges that arose through working with National and its other support parties. An internal rift developed, and Harawira left (or was forced to leave), to form Mana.

Mana is supposed to be a new, inclusive “Left Party”, but most know, it is primarily led and organised by and through Harawira and his closest supporters. Yet he always wishes to emphasize, that Mana stands for the rights of Mana PLUS others, e.g. Pakeha, negatively affected by bad right wing policies.

Maori Party support has dropped and they will struggle to get voted back into Parliament, since Tariana has announced her retreat. Sharples is just too much of an old power loving hanger-on now, as one must seriously question his ability to influence the decisions of the government he supports, and is member of as a Minister. Flavell made a challenge, but Maori Party leaders are too scared now to see it through.

Harawira made comments on National Radio this morning, basically admitting, that Mana is in a way the other Maori Party. He talked about working together, some form of alliance, or something in that direction. He also presented his interest as a “leader” for Maori interests.

There was suddenly not much talk about inclusiveness and Mana being more than just an “alternative Maori Party”.

Looking up their website tells you enough, how it is run and what the priority political emphasis and support base is:
http://mana.net.nz/
http://mana.net.nz/2013/01/is-mana-maori-a-possibility/
http://mana.net.nz/kaupapa-vision/

It appears to be an “inclusive” party so far, through some images and presentation, but when looking closer, it becomes clearer to me, that Mana is primarily a party established by Harawira as “independent” MP for Tai Tokerau, who appears to have seen a need to try and boost membership and support by allowing in Minto, Bradford and a few others, to establish a wider set of leading members. Yet in polls it still struggles to get above the 1 per cent rate.

See also this newspaper article from the Northern Advocate:
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/harawira-id-lead-maori-mana-party/1724449/

So I feel, Harawira now has to come CLEAN, on what is ultimate mission is, where he stands, whether he really wants to be primarily a Maori leader, or to keep working on a more inclusive leftist party.

My suspicions are, he wants to be the former, as that is what he feels more passionate about.

Hence again, my conclusion is that not just is Labour in a situation where it is struggling to find a “new way” as a “left” or at least “left of centre” party, Mana is also about to fall to pieces, given Harawira’s newly revived true aspirations.

Maori Party will soon be “dead”, I would expect, at least no more than a party in a similar situation as ACT is in now.

From The Standard post Maori Party in terminal decline

by Pete George on January 24, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on January 24, 2013

http://yournz.org/2013/01/24/maori-party-dead-or-dying/

Maori Mana merge?

An interesting tweet:

Mihingarangi Forbes ‏@Mihi_Forbes
Is there a Mana-Maori Party merger in the wind? Both Harawira and Sharples say it’s a possibility

The Maori Party are finding survival a challenge and their leadership transition is very muddled. Voter support for a Maori dedicated party is diminishing.

Harawira will have discovered that running a one MP party is very hard work and when on the fringe of the political spectrum prospects of gaining significant political power are very limited.

So a re-unification of Harawira and the Maori Party makes some sense.

But it complicates the leadership situation. Harawira would be likely to want to score some sort of leadership role as part of a merger deal, but Pita Sharples seems reluctant to let go and Te Ururoa Flavell seems anxious to further his political ambitions.

With Tariana Turia’s planned retirement that would leave a merge party very male dominant.

 

by Pete George on January 22, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on January 22, 2013

http://yournz.org/2013/01/22/maori-mana-merge/

State of the parties

Coming in to the middle year of the term I thought it was worth looking at the state of the parties. Two are in strong positions, they rest have significant problems to address.

National

Not without problems last year but National are still in a strong position, and with virtually half the MPs they should be. And they are polling nearly 50% higheer than their nearest rival. National’s main challenges will be to progress their MOM asset sales programme without too much damage, and to establish a much clearer and stronger vision and mode of operating.

John Key has had his problems but still has very good public support. His health could become an issue.

Labour

After losing the 2008 election Labour are on their second new leader but still show little sign of reinventing, reinvigorating and rebuilding themselves. They are dogged by an old guard dominated caucus split by leadership issues, and the party has problems with factional infighting that involves old guard union interests and old guard activists.

Labour seem to have settled for being a second tier party reliant on the Greens to compete with National.

After promising a difference David Shearer has failed to inspire or excite the party nor the public and looks owned by the old guard. He may learn and transform but that will take a major change in tactics and tact.

Green Party

The second party in positive territory, the Greens have built support well since a successful leadership transition. If they can hold their current level of support to the next election they will have done well. There main problem is a lack of a stong senior partner – if Labour remain weak the public may be wary of a stronger but smaller Green Party pulling a centre-left coalition too far left.

Both co-leaders are doing well in their constituency. Greens even managed a genuine leadership batle where Metiria Turei prevailed over a more extreme left looking Sue Bradford.

NZ First

The Peters Party did well to get back into parliament with a good muster of MPs to make up the numbers for Winston, but the old campaigner is not as sharp or persistent as he was and there isn’t a lot to stand out amongst the rest. If they maintain support they could be a coalition playmaker next time round but at this stage they don’t have a lot to offer a new Government. They have become a grey and protest vote party with little more of note to offer. It’s hard to see NZF surviving when Peters goes.

Maori Party

The Maori Party was already struggling to maintain levels of support and this was complicated when Harawira split away. Now their leadership transition is not going well. They will have difficulty maintaining relevancy, especially if they lose any more seats and if they don’t get a coalition deal next time. Whanau Ora could cause them problems.

Act Party

John Banks is still there but the party is in a precarious state. He isn’t making much impact in his return to parliament. National will be much more careful (or they should be) helping Act in an electorate next elexction, and they will be grateful if Banks fades off the scene. Act have to completely reinvent themselves or they won’t survive past 2014.

United Future

United Future has one of the most experienced and long serving MPs in Peter Dunne but it’s survival is totally reliant on him not retiring, and even if he stands again he will have another battle to retain Ohariu. His party has a sound and palatable set of policies but fails to appeal, so unless electable candidates inherit an opportunity the party is Dunne. The Super review this year may raise some interest in the party.

Mana Party

Hone Harawira should ensure a seat and a presence, and Mana may possibly find a way of picking up an extra seat, but then their only hope is being essential to make up the coalition numbers. How Harawira would deal with being in coalition is like a Maui voyage, totally uncharted territory.

by Pete George on January 22, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on January 22, 2013

http://yournz.org/2013/01/22/state-of-the-parties/

Dunne on parties and Christmas

Peter Dunne has been tweeting his thoughts on how the political parties might view Christmas.

Greens…

…want Santa’s sleigh run banned – inadequate effluent collection systems in place for reindeer and tipsy Santas flying across skies

Labour…

…worried Santa’s elves non-unionised, so possibly exploited and under paid. Want them covered by Actors Equity, with no special deals

NZ First…

…angry North Pole elves being used to make toys for Kiwi kids – opposes foreign influence of Christmas

Maori Party & Mana…

…decry lack of iwi influence on Christmas – now seeking urgent hearing before Waitangi Tribunal

ACT…

…has forgotten altogether about Christmas this year

National…

…believes Christmas lacks a a hard commercial focus – will sell shares next year to Kiwi mums & dads in a competing Santa business

And UnitedFuture?

It just wants everyone to be nice to each other and get along this Christmas.

Some responses:

Jeff ‏@sthnjeff

@PeterDunneMP ‘s Tweets quite humorous this morning. Must have a new Press Secretary or intern.

Peter Dunne ‏

@sthnjeff No, just a fun, quiet morning dispensing Christmas cheer – I’m not allowed to be grumpy!

Dene Mackenzie ‏@mackersline

@PeterDunneMP That seems fair as we have forgotten about Act.

And a serve back:

Joel Rowan ‏@RealJoelRowan

UnitedFuture can’t decide whether to have Christmas with Mum’s side of the family or dad’s side?

by Pete George on December 19, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Politics
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Posted by Pete George on December 19, 2012

http://yournz.org/2012/12/19/dunne-on-parties-and-christmas/

Rating the parties for 2012

This is my view of how the parties have performed over the first term, based on an outsider’s media and online impressions as an interested follower of politics, plus some interaction with some MPs via Twitter and emails.

National 5/10

National have attended to the key things steadily and competently – they have continued to manage the economy in an extended period of difficult worldwide conditions. So they get a pass mark overall. But balanced against that are a number of poorly managed issues, especially in education, and difficulties dealing with their MOM asset programme (although that was predictable) and the ongoing Dotcom dealings.

Online – their interaction is sparse. John Key’s ID is used for party PR (I don’t expect him to have time to spend online). Stephen Joyce uses Twitter for diary announcements. Tau Henare is active but it’s mostly trivial. There’s occasional bits and pieces from others. Judith Collins has dipped her toes in Twitter and has seemed to genuinely attempt to engage. Very little email response from National MPs, and they are not visible in the blogosphere.

Maori Party 7/10

The Maori Party keep achieving what they can as a reliable part of the coalition government, but maintaining their independence by voting against National and for their ideals and committed positions. They are not very visible online (Te Ururoa Flavell tweets a bit) nor much in media but that’s not where they need to be to engage with their constituency.

UnitedFuture 7/10

Peter Dunne has a very heavy workload in a one MP party, representing an electorate (in which he is active) and as a minister. As usual does what’s required reliably and industriously, and he is active online, engaging on Twitter and Facebook. He does his parliamentary and electorate jobs capably, but has a challenge reviving his party.

Act 3/10

John Banks had a very difficult reintroduction to MP duties due to excessive media coverage and hasn’t risen above this. He has also been dogged by his Dotcom dealings. Seen as little more than a proxy for National. I acknowledge that after a long absence it was a huge task returning to parliament and setting up office in a gutted party. Much to do for Banks and Act to survive.

Labour 3/10

Labour have continued their disappointing last term non-recovery. They are struggling with an impatient party that feels alientated from caucus, and David Shearer has failed to measure up as a great fresh hope – the measure is heading downwards. A dysfunctional caucus, maverick MPs, poorly prepared policies and botched hit jobs all make 3/10 seen generous.

A number of Labour MPs are active online, some doing well and engaging but with a few notable embarrassments. Their Red Alert blog is ineffective. Some will respond to emails.

They have to deal with major dissent and competing factions, plus some interesting changes to their selection rules. Much to do.

Greens 8/10

The Green Party grown it’s parliamentary footprint, they have grown in stature with Russel Norman’s leadership in particular significantly outshining all other opposition leaders. New MPs have added to their strengths. They have some challenges proving the viability of some of their policies and selling themselves to a wider (non-adoring) audience but have made excellent progress.

Their biggest problem is being seen as a party that wants to ban too much and wants to impose their social ideals on everyone. They should work on addressing these to maintian their gains.

Their MPs and party are the most active online through their blog, Twitter and social media and they will engage, and will respond to emails.

New Zealand First 4/10

Struggling to make a decent impression. Winston Peters tries hard in Parliament and challenges the Government at times but is not the dogged Winston of the past, he often seems dog-tired and battling with motivation.

The rest of the MPs seem to be minor shadows under the wily but wilting wizard.

Not much online, Richard Prosser tweets a bit but little of significance. Early email response have tailed off.

Mana Party 4/10

Harawira mostly works within his own realm and seems to be maintaining a following but only sometimes comes out into the open – sometimes controversially. Little impression in parliament (difficult for a one MP party). He may maintain a niche but could struggle to grow beyond that. Active on Facebook and one of several Twitter accounts is active.

If any parties or MPs want to respond please comment, or email – petedgeorge at gmail.com – and I’ll post it.

by Pete George on November 29, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on November 29, 2012

http://yournz.org/2012/11/29/party-review-2012/

“Mountain of persuasion” on boat people jail plan

National’s Nathan Guy is struggling to get support for his bill to lock up non-existent boat people. From Stuff:

Human Rights Watch refugee programme director Bill Frelick called the Immigration Amendment Bill a scare tactic rather than a rational plan, saying Guy’s belief the legislation sent a signal that queue-jumpers wouldn’t be tolerated was “fundamentally flawed”.

“First, there is no queue. And second, the legislation does punish people who might indeed have genuine claims for refugee status.”

The bill got past the first reading to committee stage but Guy doesn’t have sufficient support to get it past the second reading. He would need the support of either United Future’s Peter Dunne, or a New Zealand First or Maori Party MP.

United Future leader Peter Dunne has called the plans inhumane and said he would need a “mountain of persuasion” to change his mind.

The Maori Party still discussing the issue.

NZ First leader Winston Peters refusing to give any assurances.

Priorities?

Bill English has been using the “not a priority” excuse for dismissing  bills like Paid Parental Leave and dismissing discussion dealing with Super. They are both issues that deserve attention (Super demands attention).

So why are National promoting a bill that would draconally protect New Zedaland froma threat that doesn’t currently exist?

This bill should be well down the priority pecking order.

by Pete George on October 28, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on October 28, 2012

http://yournz.org/2012/10/28/mountain-of-persuasion-on-boat-people-jail-plan/

Watered down Maori support?

The latest Roy Morgan poll will put the spotlight on National’s performance and how the main parties stack up, but there’s also an interesting minor party move.

Minor party support in polls is very fickle, but there could be a sign on Maori Party and Mana Party support, in the wake of water rights publicity.

  • Maori Party 1.5% – down from 2.5%
  • Mana Party ^ (signifying less than 0.5%) – down from 1.5%

Greens, NZ First and United Future have all gone up, suggesting that people dissatisified with National and Labour are moving their support, but both Maori parties have not picked any of this support up, they have lost support.

Poll results are rounded to 0.5% which equates to 4 poll respondents.

Maori+Mana support dropped from 4% (31-37 people) to 1.5% (10-16 people).

Is this a sign that support for Maori parties has been watered down after publicity on water rights, disunity and a perception some Maori are opportunists trying to get anything they can out of Government?

If nothing else it highlights the fact that Maori/Mana support has dropped from about a quarter of the 16% who identify as Maori to less than an eighth.

by Pete George on October 11, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Pete George on October 11, 2012

http://yournz.org/2012/10/11/watered-down-maori-support/

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