Ok.
So, let’s just be honest with the situation, it’s not a good look that Nanaia’s relatives were consultants in projects that she oversees.
The perception of cronyism or nepotism is almost as bad as actual cronyism and nepotism, but as a Nanaia fanboy, allow me to offer a defence not only of 3 Waters but her role as Foreign Minister when China is being so aggressive in the South Pacific.
Firstly, it’s important to note that Nanaia has done everything by the book, the Cabinet Manual is very clear when there are conflicts of interest and those have all been managed, so let’s not forget that. You might not like the outcome, but the due process for managing conflicts of interest have been followed.
Secondly, it’s almost impossible to do anything in the Māori world without a conflict of interest, they are all everyones cousin or Aunty or Uncle etc etc, that is the basic cultural norm, everyone is connected, so let’s acknowledge that and understand that before we start criticising.
Thirdly, where I am critical of Nanaia is in her pussyfooting around with the 3 water assets. Rather than tell them at the start that they could opt out, she should have simply seized all the water assets using the Public Works Act!
Here’s what she needs to do with 3 Waters.
- Nationalise the bloody water to ensure water infrastructure and clean water.
- Make sure it can’t be privatised by ACT and National.
- Make sure no corporate Iwi are making profits from these changes.
- Stop Chinese companies bottling our water and taking it.
As for criticism of her leadership in the Pacific while China is pushing into our sphere, I think her Royal ties with the other Pacific Royal Families will provide a unique entry point China can’t access.
It is true that we need new strategies and tactics in the Pacific.
Auckland is the largest Pacific Island City and we do little to celebrate or leverage off that. We need to look at offering fundamental migration opportunities for Tuvalu, Tokelau and Kiribati who face the worst impacts of climate change but we also need to think outside the square in terms of not only countering Chinese influence but beating it.
I think two ways NZ could uniquely promote its interests into the Pacific against China could be via Rugby Diplomacy and Journalism.
The All Blacks doing a tour of the South Pacific would actually be of huge cultural and sporting importance and something the Government should sponsor with taxpayer dollars to help subsidise the costs to the All Blacks as a sign of respect to the sporting and cultural contribution Pacific Island nations have provided NZ.
Why shouldn’t we use Rugby as a diplomatic tool to build standing throughout the Pacific? It’s something China couldn’t match and something NZ could excel at.
Likewise Journalism. AUT run the excellent Pacific Media Centre to promote quality Journalism throughout the Pacific. What if NZ saw the promotion of quality Journalism as a craft throughout the Pacific as a strong way to counter corruption and Chinese influence? Scholarships, Pacific News Media websites, support of local ethical journalism these could be the pillars of promoting corruption free politics and holding those Governments to account.
Rugby diplomacy and promotion of Journalistic standards throughout the Pacific could counter China and promote NZs strategic interests.
We can’t outspend China, but we can play a far smarter game and I believe Nanaia is part of that smarter game.
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“ Secondly, it’s almost impossible to do anything in the Māori world without a conflict of interest, they are all everyones cousin or Aunty or Uncle etc etc, that is the basic cultural norm, everyone is connected”
Anyone seeing why co governance is a terrible idea yet?
Instant conflicts of interest from an unelected tribal elite.
We will be the most corrupt nation in the Pacific.
This instant nepotism makes us more, not less prone to Chinese influence.
The cabinet manual also treats perceived conflicts of interest just as seriously as actual, clearly the perception is still there.
“we” won’t be a nation.
Maori didn’t come from Europe.
Keepcalmcarryon. Well Mahuta could avoid perceived conflicts of interest by consulting equally with water experts from within the Pakeha world. There are one or two good ones. One was so good that John Key trashed him to the BBC saying that water scientists were like lawyers, and you can always find one with an opposite opinion. Time perhaps to bring in another blonde Canadian, pay them a small fortune, shove them onto commissions of enquiry etc. Swedes seem to be good on water, but I’m not sure if we have a Swedish tradition. The Chinese like our water as much as our milk. There’s a broad canvas out there.
Discussion on the obvious conflicts of interest issue inherent in the co governance proposals is being avoided – we need to talk about this.
Ngai Tahu, for example, have massive commercial interests in farming, forestry, fisheries, tourism and commercial and residential property. How can the Iwi appointed regulators possibly not have a conflict when resource applications involving their competitors or themselves are to be decided. The opaque tribal, familial, communal and racial connections and commitments make conflict avoidance impossible. Crony capitalism with a tribal twist?
everything you say is right BUT don’t get too wound up whilst property owning MPs make decisions on CGT if they own more than the family home they should recuse themselves from even discussion of the subject in parliament.
Yes there is obviously corruption in maoridom only a fool would deny it…BUT the rest of NZ has it’s share…it’s not that maori are particularly corrupt it’s that we as a nation tolerate general corrruption.
I am amazed when people say politicians do thinks to line their own nest . Most politicians even the Greens could earn vastly more in the private arena . While you may not agree with their outlook most are there because they care and want to do good for others not to stop their property being taxed.
No, they wouldn’t. Those school teachers and dental nurses earn far more in parliament than they would in their previous roles.
Teacher Kelvin Davis
Nurse Annette King
Teacher Gerry Brownlee..how long has he been there.
“Most politicians even the Greens could earn vastly more in the private arena.”
lol
oh really trev? seriously? or are you just a wind up merchant?
why does the very thought of a CGT make you personally fill your tighty whities trev?
Hahaha priceless. I can see private employers cagefighting for the right to employ Sepuloni and Potato. Trevor, you are funny.
Brownlee could be employed privately in a bakery, Lexington Luther in a Mercedes franchise and Willis acting in the next Harry Potter film as moaning Myrtle.
The MP’s are at least required to disclose their assets (shares, property etc) and financial interests and things like directorships. They, like local councillors, are required to recuse themselves from decisions where there is a conflict of interest. They obviously can’t be all things to all people all the time so be careful attributing to corruption or greed the things you don’t like.
They have the opposing parties and the media and some strict rules to satisfy and, perhaps more importantly they do have to face the people every three years. So at least we have that. Iwi appointees are responsible to who?
disclosing their assets and not acting in self interest are 2 different things, the former being a public notification of their intention to act on the latter.
Maori people are not opposed to Maori people starting businesses and working hard and so on for profit. It’s when Maori do it of the back of Iwi assets / resources ect for personal gain gets everyones back up, sue, court or just give em a hiding.
The problem here is that Mahuta isn’t smart. she is a blunt tool used to smash things through
Is she the same blunt tool as Paula benefit and Hekia Parata?
She is far smarter than either of them.
XXX is an ignorant tory blowhard.
Either way, that’s not hard.
Covisdispa Nanaia Mahuta is very different from the two you mention, and it’s better not to link the three women because of shared ethnicity or gender. Impressive lineage, I counted her mother as a good friend. The only person I know who’s worked professionally in her environs in Parliament, regards her positively. Never in a thousand years would she boast like P about the cost of her shoes, or jump up and down waving at passing traffic like H when out electioneering.
And that is why she is so smart, because people like you underestimate her at your peril.
Surprise, surprise the Tainui Princess and her family are making some coin out of 3 Waters. Can’t say I’m shocked outside of someone in the feckless daring to publish this.
Another Labour Government shambles.
Can they do anything at all?
Can’t build houses, can’t feed hungry children but can put on fairy like performances when overseas.
Who personally took on the responsibility for children in poverty and it now worse than ever?
Hollow promises.
O woe is us, Bob!
They are almost as bad as the last National Govt, who lowered our alcohol limits, and promptly caused alcohol-related accidents to increase instead of decrease. Probably a first world-wide for NZ! A complete shambles!
No woe In Vino I’m quite happy just raising pertinent points.
Disagree I think they are incompetent compared to the last National Government but admit I’m biased.
Spot on In Vino
No woe In Vino I’m happy.
Thanks for sharing your view with me.
Mahuta is turning out to be a disaster as foreign minister. All this Chinese activity is happening on her watch. The belief that she can rescue the situation is naive beyond belief.
Yes Tom C she joins the growing list of inept Labour Government Ministers.
Oh right Tom C. China wouldn’t normally be so bold with a Pacific powerhouse like New Zealand, but they have spotted an opening. Jesus wept
3 Waters is just comodification of water. An Asset Class. Set a value and then market it for investors to pay for the $185b of upgrades by selling them ‘Green Bonds’ with a built in return that the government will guarantee.
Who hasn’t seen this before. All you need to be concerned about is who is going to be the ‘Broker’ for this? A fund management company, assets manager? Is there one in NZ that can handle a gig this big? Or will it be an offshore vulture capitalist?
As for her performance as FM. She’s pretty shit for allow her boss to declare War on Russia!
No diplomacy at all.
And helping Waikato-Tainui claim ihumatao in their pending treaty claim for all of Tamaki Makaurau too was suspect. They tried to blame Winston for that!
Thanks Tane so effing obvious Bomber won’t countenance it.
got it in one tane
If all Māori are related one way or another (really?that could be said about Pakeha) I think you will find numerous examples of how ‘they’ can’t agree on anything.
That said is this in line with manual or not? If not it has to be dealt with now. You can’t have this sort of set up and expect faith in elected officials.It’s like when Bill English was claiming an allowance for accommodation in Wellington because he did not own a dwelling…..oh but the family trust did. Give me a break!
People said the same thing about nepotism when Te Ururoa Flavell was the Minister with his own tribe Te Arawa getting a lot of funding for Maori broadcasting. And if we look deep enough we will see this type of issue is also prevalent with Pakeha Ministers for example Bill English awarded funding just before an election to an organisation his wife Mary was involved with.
Hey Bobby what about that Bill English eh, nasty piece of work eh.
Created the housing crisis.
Broke his promise on narrowing the wage gap between Aussie and NZ and can’t remember the 450 texts he sent to Todd Barclay at 2am in the morning.
Hollow promises indeed as well as lies.
Its all Labour now Bertie boy, i know its hard to understand, but it is ALL.Labour.Now.A.Full.Majority.Government with no one else to blame.
But the double dipper from Dipton!!!!!!!!
Nice try Sizzling Sausage. But he won’t get it. well he does, but he’s paid by the Labour PR machine to not get it. Probably gets $500 for each post…
really? where can I sign up and is it as good as the rate nats/slater give you only a cabbage?
Just Kraut, you keyboard warrior you, you’ve been busy…
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nanaia-mahuta-calls-out-keyboard-warrior-after-n-word-slur/QZVPP5MEJG5EFC6DK4ALQLWRMQ/
Your rebuff is of little intellect sausage and coward cabbage isn’t the brightest side dish.
Sausage, did your teacher tell you Labour had a full majority. Clearly she needs to teach you how to construct a sentence.
As Labour have a full majority, stop your whining and accept Labour’s policies as the majority are more than happy with Labour. Coward Kraut, Bob/John and yourself are in the minority and will be for years to come.
Thanks for that Bert wasn’t aware it took place.
Of course not Boob, ask the PR National party machine that is coward Kraut, he knows alright, he’s just little scared, but on the Paula Benefit fundraiser of $10,000 a post he doesn’t really care.
Selective memory Bob/John?
Wait until the famous ‘Te Reo’ courses are being delivered by non Maori who speak it better and have become the ‘authority’ teaching it, speaking it ‘better’ and making a living off it, to everyone else.
So much money to be made from woke decision making, that doesn’t seem to look too far.
Personally don’t care about $100k but do care about millions being spent of consultants in the DHB’s and gang members and all the other neolbierals and white collar crims, making a killing advising the woke.
Everyone may be everyone’s cousin but surely not everyone is everyone’s husband. Not sure where the line should be drawn but I’m confident there is a line. Somewhere.
That conflict of interest is just terrible.
Almost as bad as the statement from the ministers office trying to sweep it under the carpet.
Expect Labour to get beaten up over this one.
Interesting perspective Bomber but I tend to disagree wholeheartedly
“I think her Royal ties with the other Pacific Royal Families will provide a unique entry point China can’t access.”
“We can’t outspend China, but we can play a far smarter game and I believe Nanaia is part of that smarter game.”
Well, so far you don’t seem to have played a smarter game than China. This move from the PRC has pretty well blind-sided all the institutions and personnel of the colonial regime, and Nanaia Mahuta is no exception.
Over the past century of New Zealand colonial and neo-colonial rule, Samoa has been very badly treated by the regime in Wellington. People from Samoa and other Pacific states also remember the dawn raids, and know that New Zealand’s colonial capitalism has really only been interested in exploiting their labour and resources.
China comes without a record of racism and exploitation in the Pacific, and much to offer in the way of material development assistance. To the people of the Pacific that counts for more than a few royal titles. The game is now China’s to lose.
While the colonialists remain convinced of the utility of royal patronage, the system is losing its gloss both here, among Pakeha as well as Maori, and in the Pacific. Tuheitia himself is respected for what he can deliver. His whakapapa and his position do not suffice. It is the same for Nanaia Mahuta. If she goes north with nothing to offer she will be welcomed and then sent on her way while China does the business.
One path we will not choose is that of surrender. We will not look away from our past in shame, we will learn the next generation of our miss dead’s in all history lessons taught in all schools so that when we say to them to he kind and courteous to our Pacific cousins that will know what we mean.
For every small step that we kiwis take towards a unified South Pacific, China and even Australia will have to spend at least ten times more on aid or what ever than we will spend on history lessons and education.
The South Pacific is Aotearoa New Zealands oldest Allie. We all have to work and share this place and look after it together and if either or who ever has any concerns about foreign or domestic influences that threaten the peace and stability of the region then Wellington as the wealthiest nation of the group must bare that burden willingly.
best we can hope for is the US/OZ outbribes china in regard to the corrupt pacific nations, either way we have no say.
From what I hear Minister Mahuta is turning down interviews left and right.
Yes she’s far too busy avoiding the Pacific political switch occurring on her watch.
She can’t be this incompetent.
Intentional?
it’s what happens (and this applies to both sides) when your political career stems from sitting on the right committees and nodding at the appropriate points, 3rd rate management pollies become 3rd rate ministers.
It would be wrong to blame Mahuta for this major geopolitical failure. The whole Labour government and all previous governments over the past three decades must share the responsibility, and it goes wider than that; the regime’s Five Eyes allies have also been caught on the wrong foot.
The fundamental policy error here is the belief that no matter how badly it behaves Anglo-American imperialism is invulnerable to challenge. The Realm of New Zealand will go down in flames on account of this single fatal miscalculation.
Very few of this governments ministers are happy to face the media so she is just joining the others. It is not surprising when you look at the disaster that this country is heading .Inflation ,crime, health ,foreign policy ,prisons , transport, housing , benefits, all disaster areas with little to offer in the way of a fix. Employment is the only good news but even there they have stumbled on allowing immegrants in that can help get industry thriving again.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nanaia-mahuta-calls-out-keyboard-warrior-after-n-word-slur/QZVPP5MEJG5EFC6DK4ALQLWRMQ/
Great deflect in today’s granny Herald. Things must be getting a bit uncomfortable in the woke heartland that is Ardern’s Labour. Funny how it’s NEVER racist for government ministers to abuse Opposition members racially( Jackson to Seymour)and never racist to use parliamentary privilege to cite a supposed loss wealth on racial grounds ( Kelvin Davis)when that member belongs to one of the most prominent , privileged and wealthy Northland Maori families ( the Peters whanau) that has afforded a very pedestrian politician an easy entry to political power and of course very comfortable salary.
Mahuta does not deserve such racist abuse. Her questionable honesty over the advice she supposedly received from Crown Law in the forming of the 3 waters co- governance claim is the issue. The pending court case brought by the water users group brings all of the BS surrounding 3 waters and the lack of constitutional law backing her whanau’s interpretation of the Treaty to light. Yes the Taxpayer’s Union raised the funds to fight this case. So what?
Right from when I first heard of co-governance i researched legal opinion supporting it’s validity. THERE ISN”T ANY!
That our PM has not questioned or checked Mahuta’s fallacious claims to cabinet is unacceptable. On a par with directing news media to not acknowledge that Maori ceded sovereignty.
I have attempted on numerous occasions to post links here on TDB regarding this atrocious trashing of our democracy.
Few if any have been printed.
Here’s a few more
https://www.waterusers.org.nz/news/amended-statement-of-claim
https://localgovernmentmag.co.nz/3-waters-proposal/
Mahuta’s lack of respect for Democracy will bring this government down.
It will bolster Act’s vote substantially and make Luxon ( retch) our Leader. Hey but yeah let’s give away our democracy cos you know Treaty Rights!
https://localgovernmentmag.co.nz/3-waters-proposal/
Wow, full on racist Shona, for all to see, thanks for that.
duh!
You bring up good points around her royal links and I’ve long agreed with you that we should use our rugby links to foster stronger relationships , give them a couple teams in super rugby or whatever it’s called now, the nrl and have the all blacks and local teams play in the different nations regularly.
However. If her ties to other pacific royalty matter, they havent amounted to much and she should be using them. Now.
The fact she’s only sent one letter to the Solomon’s since April is a disgrace. The fact she hasn’t had contact with the Russian or Ukrainian ambassador is shocking. The fact that she’s got no plans to visit the Pacific, again is shocking.
She should have piggybacked off of the new Australian labor foreign ministers trip around the new pacific. The fact that Samoa and others are blindsiding us with this is not good enough.
She’s had three trips.
In the upcoming cabinet reshuffle she’ll lose one or both of her positions.
Doesn’t matter why the look of nepotism is bad and she’s been an awful communicator at her water reforms and she’s been a pretty crap foreign affairs minister.
I imagine police, justice, foreign affairs portfolios will be changing hands when the pm returns for her govt reset. Rumours are running rampant inside labour about who is in and who is out (dear God please don’t let the Debra Russell being in cabinet rumour be true…. She’s labours Maureen Pugh)
The water reforms are massive, so massive and time consuming and it’s clearly what Mahuta is more interested in, the water reforms are so time consuming she can’t possibly be expected to also be foreign affairs minister, it’s not a benign political environment anymore that portfolio is possibly the most important position in cabinet atm and needs to be full time.
I’d personally take foreign affairs of her. Give it to the pm herself (look at her on the international stage no pm of NZ has ever had this influence) as Helen Clark once held it, give Duncan Webb Justice let Fafoi keep broadcasting, let mahuta keep three waters give Nash police and Keri Allen regional development as she is a regional mp and give Poto civil defense (she’s an mp from east chch, if anyone knows about earthquakes it’s her)
the thing that makes her sand up the buttcrack is royalty can merely pronounce things and they happen, being a pollie by whatever devious means must convince, she pronounces but does not convince.
Great T.V. One interview tonight, so I guess you heard wrong.
Renders Keepcalmandcarryon’s post irrelevant.
He can’t be that incompetent.
Intentional?
How much do you pay the nzrfu to go play up there , as the reason they don’t tour the islands is there is no money to be made , and I doubt many would like the Nz Government paying them to do so