If Labour are to stop being made irrelevant by the Greens, they must replenish their ranks with the next generation of Labour Party leaders and with the retirement of Ross Robertson, they finally have an opportunity to do that in Manukau East.
Let’s be honest, there’s enough dead wood within Labour to rebuild Christchurch three times over.
Look at how the exciting candidacy of Marama Davidson has given the Greens real momentum in Ikaroa-Rawhiti. Marama will diminish Labour’s margin by appealing to their voter base opening up the possibility of another candidate taking the election out while setting her up for a high ranking on the Green Party list come the 2014 election.
Marama’s energy and talents reflect the deeper societal fault lines of Gen Xers elbowing their way past the baby boomer generation who are still holding on for dear life to employment to help pay for those property speculations and holidays to Noosa. Her rise is symbolic of that generational friction and Labour need to be even more acutely aware of this when trying to represent an electorate as young and as brown as Manukau East.
Firstly, their candidate simply must be a Pacific Islander if Labour are to keep faith with that community. Labour have taken advantage of their relationship with the Pacific Island community without giving much back ever since they were burnt by Phillip Field.
Luckily Labour have the opportunity to select a magnificent leader in Manukau East – the very excellent Efeso Collins.
I have known Efeso since we were at University together in the mid 1990s. He is a compassionate, articulate, brilliant man with deep roots into his community. We are lucky enough to have him blog here at The Daily Blog and he appears as a commentator on Citizen A.
He was previously employed at Radio 531pi as a broadcaster but was sacked after criticizing the Government wanting to hand over $4 million in the shonky PEDA deal. It just so happened that the brother of the PEDA deal also owned the radio station.
In that moment, Efeso showed he has the backbone to critique a deal he knew was counterproductive for his community despite it costing him his job. That sort of political courage is a rarity and something that should be celebrated.
By selecting Efeso for Manukau East, Labour have the opportunity to infuse the Party with the very dynamism it so desperately needs with a candidate who has real cross cultural appeal. With his booming voice and intelligent wit, I often think of Efeso as the Pacific Island David Lange, his candidacy would give real meaning to Auckland being the largest Pacific Island city in the world.
This is an opportunity Labour can’t afford to waste.
Chris Hipkins is young, definitely not a baby boomer. Do we need more like him? Or do we need people who fight for class interests rather than basing their political choices on their birthdays?
The problem (one of them) with Labour is not their star sign or their birth years, it’s the fact that, probably since the time of Kirk, they’ve had buggerall engagement with the working class. They’ve become a bunch of lawyers, failed pig farmers, and professional politicians who came through parliamentary services via student politics. They’ve become almost exclusively these sort of people and have forgotten who their constituents are. The branch memberships may be different, but even they are seen as the enemy of the party.
This is why Mana exists, and all power to them and the Greens. May they both never forget why they exist, because Labour did long ago, and it wasn’t because of age induced memory loss. It was because managing capitalism on behalf of anyone inevitably degenerates into just managing capitalism and a clique of decision makers insulated from the effects never noticed.
Hipkins is a x-gen Cato. Yuck.
well said, oh dear , I can see myself in an inevitable slide to Mana , seems like Mana is the only one to call it like it is, honest and inclusive.
I actually dont like politics much, it tends to be a dirty game , often people like Dunne looking for a safe harbour , no integrity whatsoever.But people like Sue Bradford have stuck to their guns and principles and deserve respect for that .My concern is a vote for Mana is a wasted vote , I think almost everyone voting for fairness, respect, dignity, and equal opportunities for all do NOT want National under Keys leadership returned, thats the common enemy .But at the end of the day “strategic voting” can be hijacked and subverted I suspect… And Mana is showing more leadership and principles that any other party on the “Left” , if its labelled Far Left, well fine , Mana is now espousing the values that Labour used to have as a centre left party before they lost their way completely in the 1980’s. I’m not satisfied they have returned to their core values.
Why labour – If he stood for Mana I think Efeso could win the seat.
Despite my scepticism of what the Labour Party has become, something amazing is taking place that fills my heart with happiness, of renewed optimism and pride. I am full of admiration for Efeso Collins. He is undoubtedly a leader who has shown tenacity in the face of adversity, not once but many times over. Bradbury reminded us of Efeso’s backbone when he challenged the government with regards to a vote buying exercise by the National Party ($4million) in the last election that led to his unjustly dismissal from the 5.31 PI radio station. This is but one example of how this outstanding citizen has the courage that most politicians lack. This clearly defines the man that he is. He is also an academic, a wonderful father and husband, a friend to many. Mangere East and South Auckland as a whole needs a leader that is passionate and wise with a clear sense of purpose. A leader who lives out the true meaning of his calling and existence though his actions and words. Efeso will infuse us as Pasifika and people of Aotearoa New Zealand with pride and the necessary determination to improve our worldviews on things that matter most, and act on it with intelligence. As I posted previously, we need leaders that will stand up for what is right for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. A Aotearoa New Zealand that is defined by guiding principles of recognition, respect and equity of opportunity. A Aotearoa New Zealand that believes in the power and necessity of Pasifika-led decision making (underpinned by and recognised through Pasifika’s unique contribution socially and economically) driven by a focus on strengths and excellence rather than weaknesses, deficiency and disadvantage. Mr Efeso Collins is that leader. The transformational leadership qualities he will bring to the Labour Party’s resurgence will be of great benefit to our wonderful country of Aotearoa New Zealand. Faáfetai tele. Tena koutou i tenei ahiahi.
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