17 April 2009 Media Statement

Key all over the place on the Maori seats

Prime Minister John Key needs to put his mana where his mouth is on the Maori seat issue and decide once and for all whether his party supports them or not, says Labour’s Local Government spokesman Shane Jones.

“Today he was reported on Radio New Zealand saying National would not abolish the Maori seats in Parliament unless Maori wanted this to happen – and that he was committed to this position.

“Yet his stance is completely different when it comes to the establishment of Maori seats on the proposed Auckland Super City,” says Shane Jones.

“Auckland Maori have made it clear they want Maori seats on the council – but in this case Mr Key is happy to disregard their opinion.

“No wonder Pita Sharples is resorting to hikoi – although if he’s as annoyed as he sounds the only principled hikoi would be one involving the Maori Party walking away from National.

“There is a history of Maori representation in Auckland local government. Indeed in the 1980s and early 90s there were Maori seats on the Auckland Regional Council,” says Shane Jones.

“The National Party destroyed them. Pita Sharples should know this and is well aware of National’s ever-changing stance on the Maori parliamentary seats, which helps to explain what can only be a mock shock-horror response from him.

“Obviously it suits John Key’s agenda to support the Maori seats in Parliament for now, because he’s intent on keeping Rodney Hide at bay. But it’s a clearly inconsistent position.

“As I’ve said, the future of Auckland needs a heart. The forces with money are poised to take over Auckland. Maori representation is an obvious threat to that corporate agenda. The decisions around the new council should be based on politics for the people rather than politics exclusively for pocket.

ENDS

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