December 07, 2015
Maori and Labour.
Maori and Labour.
WILLIE JACKSON
Now that Labour has made changes to its front bench, they must now start rebuilding the party from the traditional roots up so they will be looking at their relationship with the Ratana Church and Maori.
That relationship was forged in 1936 between Tahupotiki Wiremu (T.W.) Ratana and then Labour Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage. That bond, for the best part, has stood the test of time, though there have been separations, as when former Labour Party MP-turned Maori Party Founder Dame Tariana Turia formed her own party.
But now as part of one of the strongholds for Labour, leader Andrew Little will be reviewing the relationship.
While Little described the MPs political pilgrimage to the Ratana Church in Whanganui as a ‘bit of a beauty parade’, what he’s saying is actually true.
Like the hike to Waitangi, there’s not a lot of real business conducted at these Hui. They are more a show of support and respect for the cause.
Not attending the celebrations would be a bigger slap in the face.
Predictably Maori Party co leader Te Ururoa Flavell accused Little of demeaning Ratana and disrespecting Maori but Little is being savvy.
Instead of rising to the challenge, Little has left it to Te Tai Hauāuru MP Adrian Rurawhe to debate and deflect.
As a direct descendant of TW Ratana, Rurawhe has the authority to shoot down Flavell’s accusations towards Ratana. Rurawhe says it’s Little’s honesty and sincerity that he and his Ratana colleagues admire and respect.
Rurawhe said there was nothing offensive in Little’s view of the pilgrimage to Ratana Church in January of each year and he would be working behind the scenes for more collaboration between Labour and the Ratana Church. Little though is playing his cards right he is not getting to excited about going to Ratana he is playing it safe. The truth is that the church doesn’t have anywhere near the influence that it had years ago with voters and while Labour needs to be respectful of its history with Ratana they don’t have to go overboard in trying to win their support.
That aside, it was pleasing to see Kelvin Davis and first-time MP Peeni Henare promoted in the reshuffle. The hits Davis put on the Government over the Serco debacle and also the Christmas Island detainees were massive for Labour.
Tamaki Makaurau MP Henare is now ranked in the Labour Party.
He picks up Urban Maori and Maori Broadcasting. It’s a very astute call by Labour to appoint a MP who will look into and hopefully look after Urban Maori.
Often when funds are dished out to Maori, and Iwi in particular, it is Urban Maori who are not factored into the equation.
That’s why organisations like mine the Manukau Urban Maori Authority in South Auckland and Waipareira in the west, must become part of the solution.
With 80% of Maori living in urban areas, it is often to us who the whanau come calling to.
Tune in every Monday from 10am to Paakiwaha current affairs from a Maori perspective with Willie Jackson on Radio Waatea 603am
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