Why Māori need an independent political voice in Parliament

The Māori Party says the Labour Leader’s response to two of its Māori MPs attending a charter school fundraiser is one of the many reasons why it’s so important for Māori to have an independent political voice.

Labour Leader Andrew Little said he would have preferred Peeni Henare and Kelvin Davis not to have attended the fundraiser for Te Kura Hourua o Whangārei Terenga Paraoa and that it was a “misjudgement” on their part, not to be repeated.

Māori Party Co-leader, Te Ururoa Flavell, says Labour will never change and it will continue to try to dictate to its Maori MPs about what it believes is right for the party as opposed to what is in the best interests of the people.

“Our co-founder, Dame Tariana Turia, crossed the floor in 2004 because of the way Labour treated tāngata whenua over the Foreshore and Seabed legislation. And from what I can see, not much has changed”, he says.

Māori Party Co-leader, Marama Fox says Kura Hourua are producing some great outcomes for whānau and that’s what the focus should be.

“Our culture pulls us together. Kelvin and Peeni have defied the Labour Party Leader to support the kura and their whānau”, she says.

Mrs Fox says “I’ve already told Peeni that when he’s ready I have a Māori Party t-shirt in his size, and I could rustle one up for Kelvin too”.

ENDS

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