Maori Party Knifes Their Own Candidate to Suit John Key
MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira
Wed 17 Sept 2014
“The people of Tai Tokerau want a straight answer Mr Flavell”, said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP, Hone Harawira. “Is
it true that your executive decided to tell Maori Party voters in Tai Tokerau to vote for John Key’s nominee, Kelvin
Davis?”
Harawira was responding to advice that the Maori Party National Executive had already made the decision, even though it
had been opposed by their Tai Tokerau committee.
In an interview with TVNZ today, Flavell refused to rule out such a deal, saying “that has been a part of the
discussions but no determination has been made on that particular issue.”
“The people deserve a straight answer Te Ururoa - yes or no?” said Harawira. “Are you going to betray your Tai Tokerau
candidate at the request of the National Party … again?”
Harawira said that in 2011 the Maori Party chose Solomon Tipene to be their candidate and then told voters to vote for
Davis after he’d been endorsed by John Key. “And now they’re trying to do the same to Te Hira Paenga.”
“Well, the people of Tai Tokerau have had a gutsful of the Maori Party choosing and shafting people from the north, and
from what I hear, so too has Te Hira.”
“Te Hira told the Maori Party Executive he would not stand down and I congratulate him on his stand” said Harawira “We
might be in opposing parties but Te Hira is my nephew. He is a fine young man, with a strong kaupapa Maori educational
background, and a passion for the things he believes in.”
“And perhaps that’s the real message for the Maori Party leadership” said Harawira “you can suck up to John Key all you
want, but don’t expect the Tai Tokerau to play along.”
“It didn’t work with me, and it looks like it won’t wash with Te Hira either.”
ENDS