Racism in Tauranga makes it ‘unsafe’ to enter by-election, Māori Party says
The Māori Party says it considered standing a candidate in the Tauranga by-election, but opted not to over concerns about safety and racism in the region.
Party president Che Wilson said racism and hate speech in Tauranga made it a “safety issue” for the party to participate in the upcoming by-election.
“The first hate-speech conviction and the belittling of te reo Māori at a public event took place in Tauranga, even our co-leaders have been the recipient of threats and hate speech by Tauranga residents,” he said, in a statement.
“By standing in the by-election, we would be consciously sending our people into an unsafe environment and can only imagine how hard this is for our whanaunga and iwi of Tauranga Moana.”
Māori Party fearfulness demeans our collective Democracy as much as threats towards them do
I think of the courage of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner and their murder trying to enrol African American voters in Mississippi.
I think of Hone Harawira and MANA activists that still went to work for the people despite gunshots being fired into our electoral office.
I think of the mana of the Māori Battalion in forging a sacrifice for citizenship.
Then I think of the Māori Party refusing to run in an election because someone with mental health issues said mean things online.
A tepid, brittle and timid response to threats will rob us of the strength of our commitment.
Democracy is not for the easily triggered and it doesn’t allow for emotional support pets into the Speaking Chamber.
Māori Party fearfulness demeans our collective Democracy as much as threats towards them do
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IMO the Maori Party are close to crossing the line into race baiting.
Full Stop Dot.
Crossed. Past tense.
This is all about getting their names in media. Branding themselves as victims.
Yeah so Simon Bridges and Winston Peters the two last MPs for Tauranga who both happen to have Maori heritage, must have been in mortal danger? Bulkshit.
This, in conjunction with Kelvin Davis’ speech show us the left is panicking and fighting over who can be the most aggrieved Maori.
This is to do with the Maori party wanting king/queen maker status and Labour not wanting that.
Only the narcissistic or insane would vote for such an mad bunch of racists.
Footnote: there is talk (Seymour) that Labour is going to drop co governance in 3 waters, if true that could be the trigger for these parties having to flex their grievance credentials to their voters.
Exactly KCC, Tauranga has had a Maori MP (“useless Maoris” – according to the race baiter Jackson) for decades. TMP continue to make fools of themselves, Just how stupid do they think we are.
I guess Te Pati Maori think all non Maori are as intellectually challenged as they are.
Bad mistake to believe your own bullshit. It always ends in tears.
Has had a Maori MP for 35 of the last 38 years?
They aren’t afraid of standing, I reckon that’s them making up a story.
They aren’t standing because they would lose with next to no votes, and, they don’t know how to defend their ideas or policies….
Without calling their opponent useless or racist that is.
Lots of Narcissists out there especially around the political beltways unfortunately.
Omg me. I thought of the likes of Nelson Mandela. Not to mention the threats against Jacinda Ardern.
Don’t get me wrong, threats against politicians not ok (or anyone for that matter).
They appear to want to present as the most victimised politicians ever….
Rather it makes it look like things can’t be bad enough if they aren’t prepared to front.
Or is it just more woke stuff, people wanting a save space, language is violence etc, etc.
On the note of people seeing things through an ideological lens, Marama calling immigration racist because they are prioritising jobs that white people do. The list I saw looked liked it is health professionals. (Much needed). And isn’t Marama making an assumption about the ethnicity of health professionals
T
Pure political theatre by the Maori Party hoping to ride the white supremacist gravy train
meanwhile their fearless warrior ancestors are rolling in their graves
There is a famous Dutch saying which goes that “democracy is not for the faint of heart.” Of course Europeans (the ones in Europe, I mean) generally know what it is like to have a jackboot on your neck and the price of shifting it off.
yes it is showboating but their seems to be genuine issues at the root of it, have actual threats been made? robust even fractious debate (hello TDB) is one thing but threats are threats and need attention….
maybe banning convicted dickwads from any elected post would work, most of ’em are just after suckers to grift from anyway, at least that would keep their piggy little snouts out of the taxpayer trough.
no moderator on the TDB would let a threat of bodily harm slip thru gagarin. Don’t add to the fray by making shit up. TDB last bastion of freedom for the opinionated Kiwi.!
shona, my post said
robust even fractious debate (hello TDB) is one thing but threats are threats and need attention….
2 show ponies following the lead taken by another Maori Mr Peters. is sad that the future of NZ could rest with these 2
Mmm. It seems that knowing it’s a lost cause we’ll throw the race card. A shame really, they may have won some friends. It’s easier to do it this way and label Tauranga as white and racist. I’m sure there is more than one or two Maori happily living there. No extremists I’m aware of. There are plenty of white politicians who have been threatened and abused. Goes with the territory. Oh well.
One or two Māoris in Tauranga……Simon B up till recently…
Yes Te Maori party won’t have one any friends in Tauranga….
TMP only contested a handful of general electorate seats in the last election. Couldn’t even be bothered with places like Northland with a high Maori population. This is just grandstanding – to put it politely.
Are TPM mostly King Country? I believe many Maori in Northland do not think highly of King Country Iwi leaders. If so it’s not a surprise TPM don’t campaign up there.
So a couple of whities dropping pamphlets in a mail box is enough to scare off the Māori party?
Surely the BOP KKK will be off to Rotorua quick smart to do the same thing? Send Rawiri running to hide behind mummy’s skirt?
It’s a lame political stunt.
I thought John Tamihere might be up for it. He can sling it about. Remember front bums? Sexiest much.
Let’s not muck around. Standing a candidate would result in severe embarrassment…hardly any votes. Better to copy Labour and do huge PR stunt to make the most of a bad situation. Mission accomplished…except NOT. TPM has now further destroyed any credibility it might have had. They are a childish joke…real victims. Not leaders.
So true Sour Kraut…they (Maori Party) are merely setting up their excuses for losing in 2023
Bullshit, this is just an excuse for not fielding a candidate. If they really thought their candidate would be racially targeted they’d be overrun with candidates
Once were warriors! Now wokistas…
TMP are really trying to stir up division, it’s difficult to reach any other conclusion. I think their continuous incendiary statements will backfire on them.
“Two years ago, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the National Party, the Leader and Deputy Leader of New Zealand First, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, the Co-Leader of the Greens, and the Leader of the ACT Party were all Maori. In the present Government, the percentage of Maori Ministers considerably exceeds the proportion of Maori in the general population. Maori have shown themselves absolutely able to foot it with other New Zealanders in a democratic polity, where every person, irrespective of race or religion, has an equal vote.” DB
A political stunt no more no less.
Abolish the Maori seats, it’s clearly not safe for them.
Has had a Maori MP for 35 of the last 38 years?
They aren’t afraid of standing, I reckon that’s them making up a story.
They aren’t standing because they would lose with next to no votes, and, they don’t know how to defend their ideas or policies….
Without calling their opponent useless or racist that is.
The Maori Party should take a leaf out of Nationals books and resort to dirty politics, it worked for National.
Bert, TMP probably won’t use dirty tactics, mana is much more important, but at least we can see that these wealthy Pakeha Rednecks will be 6 ft under very soon, and thankfully many of their grandchildren have a very different view to racism.
One just has to look at the number of Pakeha students who are joining school haka groups, they love the involvement, they love the friendship and of course the food.
Never before have we seen waiting lists for Te Reo classes nationwide, brought about by huge numbers of Pakeha wanting to learn this beautiful unique language.
The Times They Are A Changing, for the better I believe. Ka Nui Te Aroha.
The Maori Party have had to retract an inflammatory statement.
This morning, Maori Party president Che Wilson announced they would not be entering a candidate for the Tauranga by-election over a claim that a Department of Internal Affairs report stating Tauranga is a hotspot for hate speech and white supremacy.
But the report did not mention Tauranga.
TMP person speaks untruths, and can’t even read critically from the look of it.
Wow the Rednecks are really showing their true colours on this thread. Then again “What’s new”?
Couldn’t agree more. Some of these comments on a left leaning page walk a fine line. Its almost as if its ok to be racist and threatening. Free speech at any cost ??
https://www.tiktok.com/@matthewtukaki/video/7097142569309654273?_t=8SJkdTCrOE5&_r=1
big difference between an individual who happens to be maori representing an electorate and a maori representing kaupapa maori in a maori seat.
kaupapa maori is what people are reacting badly to
CP Why? When will Pakeha learn to share this country and the policies that will benefit all of us?
Pakeha governments have it their way for nearly 200 years but have they done a great job? I don’t think so.
An environment that is going to wipe out all our children and grandchildren in the very near future, diseases that are crippling all countries world wide, and greedy wealthy Pakeha still want to continue in this manner to suit their wants and desires.
I am so thankful I am not a greedy Redneck.
Remember these words when we get our next flood, or so called natural disaster. These disasters are not natural the greedy rednecks are to blame, problem is they are too thick to see or change their ways.