Māori Party shockwave – Labour Cabinet Minister to defect

1. Perfect timing.
   While the cat’s away the mice will play.
   I’ll bet my left nut there will be other defections from Labour to the Maori Party.
   With Labour falling 10% ( 33% to 30% ) in the latest poll there will be ongoing ructions within the Labour Maori caucus.
   Meanwhile the Greens continue their internecine civil war in public.
   Nothing but good news for both ACT and National.

   • Its an extremely poor way for Whaitiri to depart, especially for someone so senior as a minister. The big ol’ defect this the other side, fuck you, game over, thanks for employing me!

     She doesn’t bother telling the PM, he finds out when he turns his phone back on in the UK. It appears she told very few if any in Labour. Class all the way.

     No political party containing someone like that is worth even looking at let alone forming an alliance. Because that is the untrustworthy conniving standard they work from!

     • Treachery, not quite treason is the name of the game.Hard to trust these people.

   • Caramel looks as if she is sucking on a taro root.

2. Te Parti Maori is no longer king maker. That implies Te Parti Maori could go either left or right. It is pretty clear now that Te Parti Maori will only go left. Therefore Te Parti Maori is simply part of the left bloc in the same way that the Greens already are.

   Does this mean that NZ First is also in the process of making the same style of migration, that is, being part of the right bloc, instead of being able to negotiate with both sides?

   If so, these developments will change the nature of coalition negotiations. No longer is there drawn out negotiations as parties decide which side they will support; that is already pre-ordained. Instead the negotiations will occur within the blocs as they determine the agreed joint platform. That will still take some time because the respective strengths of each party within the winning bloc will not be known till after the election. Obviously, the strength of each party within the bloc will largely determine the allocation of both policies and cabinet positions within the governing bloc.

   • They would never go with the Nats, frankly they learnt their lesson when they went with them and only got the crumbs under the table.

     • But why would they even want too. National are corrupt. Luxon is a flake, he truly is. Hipkins will destroy him during the debates as Te Puke Luxon won’t even know which town the debate is held in. And people want him as PM, meh!

   • Just to add to this.

     It would be very helpful to voters if the two groupings (Labour/Green/Te Parti Maori for the Left and National/Act and maybe NZ First for the Right) could agree within their bloc on a basic set of agreed positions before the election. I recall Labour and the Alliance did this for the 1999 election.

     Obviously it can’t be everything, but there must be some fundamentals upon which they can agree. In my view they actually owe it to the voters. In this election, either of the alternative governments will be a coalition with the major party only having two thirds of the vote. That means major policy concessions to the smaller parties within the coalition. There ought to be some indication before the election as to what these concessions/agreements might actually be.

     • Well we don’t really know what Washington wants Wellington to do. I want sovereignty. I want domestic manufacturing, Security, job security, energy security, water security. 50% budget increase to health and education. But the most sensetive issue are wealth taxes. There are political status that can’t be discussed like military ties with Taiwan and Ukrain. Like if we are headed towards war voluntary or involuntary then let’s have that debate.

3. Goodbye any chance ‘The Left’ in NZ had of winning this election.

   • Why?
     One thing we know for absolute certain, the Maori party will not form a Government with National whilst ACT are involved.

     • As a National Party member I would hope they would not join with this racist party .I would hope Luxon tells NZF thanks but no thanks.

     • Too right Bert. TPM and Greens cannot work with Nact. A big clump of centre NZ swing votes are going to swing comfortably away from a Labour given the partners they’re going to need. I don’t like it, but that’s my sense of it. The same votes that gave Labour the mandate to avoid them needing Greens and/ or TPM as coalition partners at the last election are going to look at this election and throw their votes at National. We have 6 years of Nact to suck down ahead of us. So. Thanks Labour for squandering your mandate. Thanks Greens for loosing sight of core business, and thanks TPM for pulling off a stunning poach (or betrayal – however you want to frame it) at the expense of ‘The Left’s’ chance of looking like the kind of even tempered, calm and considered representatives NZ needs for the troubles we face. Chippy might have been a great, but . . . . yeah. I sure hope I’m wrong, I surely do, but yeah. Nah.

4. Labour had its chance in 2020 with that once in a generation MMP majority and they did not have the courage–or more importantly, the ideological ability and class position–to go for broke and lay waste to Rogernomics and Ruthanasia’s toxic legacy. Neo Blairism ruled and here we are.

   But nonetheless the 2023 General Election needs to see a Labour/Green/Māori Govt. (TOP? not yet convinced).
   Lesser evil voting is the unfortunate way with bourgeois Parliamentary democracies, because all main parties are in reality cross class and try and maintain they represent “all New Zealanders”. This is bollocks with only the degree of their subservience to capital varying. But you have to work with and struggle against basically with one eye on the future.

   We are indeed in the midst of major demographic change. Greybeard pundits are moaning on, but many new gens don’t give a toss about Māori capacity building and iwi moving closer to achieving some post colonial justice at last.
   Culture wars and the digital world have certainly changed things–for the worse in many respects. So the most right wing party of ’em all, ACT, plays the “look over there” game for their incel and libertarian fans with warm guns, Bennie bashing, Māori bashing & organised labour bashing. ACT will freeze minimum wage and cause all manner of shit to go down if they coat tail in again.

   So more power to TPM I say.

5. Dunno if blindsiding the PM and cabinet does much for deepening ties…. animosity definitly.

   • You could bet Willie wasn’t blindsided. Labour Maori caucus and Te Pati Maori two branches of Maori First the party run by the bromantic Johnwill.

6. If you are going to vote for a third party, you might as well bypass the Greens.

   Te Pati Maori have better climate and environmental, and social justice policies than the Green Party. 

   You might say; ‘But Te Pati Maori policies are unrealisable. But at least we can count on Te Pati Maori to fight for their policies inside and outside parliament, rather than opportunistically subsuming themselves into the bigger party in exchange for getting their arse on a cabinet seat. A policy the exact opposite of the Greens who even if they do get their feet under the cabinet table, will be voted down every time, and then be bound by cabinet rules on collective responsibility to support whatever nasty policy the majority of cabinet ministers decide, disgusting their supporters and ending the Green Party as an electoral force.

7. Do Chloé next! Waka Maori or Waka Labour?

8. Meka played well for the Parliament Netball team. Hopefully she is still able to play. Stu Nash a big loss to the rugby team also, especially the after match.

   Does beg the question, what is the point of the large Labour Maori Caucus. Needs to be slimmed down literally and figuratively.

9. Can anyone remember how the waka-jumping legislation works?

   The left seem to have the assumption that Maori values and community ideals equals a rebirth for the left in the face of the Greens meltdown, but that may well prove an erroneous assumption.

10. Self Interest is the only thing that most modern politicians know.

    • 100%

    • Just like pigs feeding out of the trough.

11. Te Pati Maori has built up some credibility over the last term. The Maori members of the Labour caucus also. If TPM had any sense they’d tell self serving Whaitiri to get lost.

12. Feel free to call this a load of waffle, I will let you decided but this is what I see.

    After listening to Meka Whaitiri this was a choice for her Māori peoples needs.
    I respect this point of view as she was restricted in Labour to action for Māori, her greater freedom in the Māori Party will be immense.

    I do love her line of “Māori need to be the ones that do things for Māori”. This line I truly respect.
    The non Māori sympathizers who wokenize(?) or tokenize Māori, your days are numbered as the Māori party have a good upright in the ground without you. Working with Māori, not as one if you are clearly not. Culture merge is better than culture theft.

    My question is ‘how do we as a nation merge in a government to run state services’? Maybe at heart we are worried about the ‘state services’ title becoming less with more Māori involvement? Or Māori being part of “State Services” but it simply has a different name? Obviously “Co-Governance” doesn’t work – lol.

    Many in this nation seeing more political firmness by Māori on their own back seem scared because of a lack to discuss the elephants in the room in a weighed up civil manner. Sometimes I feel we look for right and wrong instead of being better people by understanding each other.
    Do we fail to understand culture is at the heart with many grievances – or should this play such a role in governing services. Personally with the Treaty I think culture makes New Zealand the richer because of our ability to envelope culture. To govern without culture would be . . . . yuk.

    However, how would we create a separate system of self governance and sovereignty for Māori but being inclusive of all? Or does it have to be inclusive? We clearly have been operating the other way round & it has not worked for Māori. So, how can we merge for both with policies and process’s to be more inclusive? Clearly it has to start with all parties working together. Or are we on the right path now but just to slow for Māori?

    I believe as a kiwi we have an ability to do this & well – in a way it is an exciting thought. But with the Māori Party we don’t get this message very well do we? A DAME WHINA COOPER would have been perfect about now.
    If together we explore respectfully there maybe a better way by mixing Westminster up even more for New Zealand.

    I do not wish to see two separate systems for both parties as this is a tax spending nightmare. But a system of governing in which we focus on everyone’s future in New Zealand but by being fully inclusive.

    On a current political note National must be a little worried – not because they cannot work with the Māori Party – in fact I’d go as far as to say with their strength in policy & process while in government they have the ability to be more inclusive for Māori. However, their elephant in the room is clearly ACT & their dismissiveness of the Māori Party. There is a stubborn line in the sand with ACT without thinking outside the box.

    It would be better for NZ if National or Labour were alone with the Maori party instead of Labour with the Greens or National with Act. Just my personal opinion, but irrelevant to how democracy in NZ will most likely work.

    This next election will be fascinating – that is for sure.

13. We can tell its election time the NZ media always seems to put the boot into the Greens at this time as do the right-wing commentators. As for Meka switching parties this does not surprise me she is merely aligning herself with a party that shares similar views and ideology. I am on the Māori roll and in the Ikaroa Rawhiti area and I will give Meka my vote again this election, but I will be giving Chippy my Party vote at this stage primarily as I don’t want Act and National in power again. I can see our country going backwards under the Nacts. Both the National and Act parties have shown they care mainly about the rich and we all know the trickle down does not trickle down it trickles up. In fact, many millionaires globally became billionaires, and this tends to occur when there is a war or epidemic event. We only have to look at what has happened in Russia. Why some dumb NZers like Trevor above continue to call the Māori party racist when our entire political, judicial, social and economic systems are founded and based on racism and discriminative practices justifies the need for a Māori political party.

    • tautoko i te kaupapa, covid.

    • I am on the General Roll but TMP will get my Party Vote.

14. We can tell its election time the NZ media always seems to put the boot into the Greens at this time as do the right-wing commentators. As for Meka switching parties this does not surprise me she is merely aligning herself with a party that shares similar views and ideology. I am on the Māori roll and in the Ikaroa Rawhiti area and I will give Meka my vote again this election, but I will be giving Chippy my Party vote at this stage primarily as I don’t want Act and National in power again. I can see our country going backwards under the Nacts. Both the National and Act parties have shown they care mainly about the rich and we all know the trickle down does not trickle down it trickles up. In fact, many millionaires globally became billionaires, and this tends to occur when there is a war or epidemic event. We only have to look at what has happened in Russia. Why some dumb NZers like Trevor above continue to call the Māori party racist when our entire political, judicial, social and economic systems are founded and based on racism and discriminative practices justifies the need for a Māori political party.

15. We can tell its election time the NZ media always seems to put the boot into the Greens at this time as do the right-wing commentators. As for Meka switching parties this does not surprise me she is merely aligning herself with a party that shares similar views and ideology. I am on the Māori roll and in the Ikaroa Rawhiti area and I will give Meka my vote again this election, but I will be giving Chippy my Party vote at this stage primarily as I don’t want Act and National in power again. I can see our country going backwards under the Nacts. Both the National and Act parties have shown they care mainly about the rich and we all know the trickle down does not trickle down it trickles up. In fact, many millionaires globally became billionaires, and this tends to occur when there is a war or epidemic event. We only have to look at what has happened in Russia. Why some dumb NZers like Trevor above continue to call the Māori party racist when our entire political, judicial, social and economic systems are founded and based on racism and discriminative practices justifies the need for a Māori political party.

16. We can tell its election time the NZ media always seems to put the boot into the Greens at this time as do the right-wing commentators. As for Meka switching parties this does not surprise me she is merely aligning herself with a party that shares similar views and ideology. I am on the Māori roll and in the Ikaroa Rawhiti area and I will give Meka my vote again this election, but I will be giving Chippy my Party vote at this stage primarily as I don’t want Act and National in power again. I can see our country going backwards under the Nacts. Both the National and Act parties have shown they care mainly about the rich and we all know the trickle down does not trickle down it trickles up. In fact, many millionaires globally became billionaires, and this tends to occur when there is a war or epidemic event. We only have to look at what has happened in Russia. Why some dumb NZers like Trevor above continue to call the Māori party racist when our entire political, judicial, social and economic systems are founded and based on racism and discriminative practices justifies the need for a Māori political party.

17. Following the vile fascist style hate campaign by the Far Right, drove Prime Minister Ardern from office, her replacement, Prime Minister Hipkins, has quailed before the Far Right and rolled back a lot of Prime Minister Ardern’s more progressive policies. In my opinion Hipkins cowardly pandering to the Right and Far Right has fueled Maori discontent.

    Maori discontent with Labour led Meka Whaitiri to leave the Labour government to join the Maori Party.
    Maori discontent with Labour led Tariana Turia to leave the Labour government to found the the Maori Party.
    Not since the Labour Government took away Maori rights to take court action to challenge the exploitation of the seabed and foreshore has there been such a high level of Maori disaffection with a Labour government, or such a high profile defection by a Maori MP from a Labour Government.

18. At least when the House sits first after the election she’ll be very used to the view from the seat she will occupy going forward.

19. Tamihere is a cunning fellow.
    Now, in all likelihood, targetting Kerekere and Tuiono, the disaffected Greens.
    But reckon Ngati Seymour is one defection too far!
    If Labour, Green and TPM make up the next governing coalition it will only be if TPM get a very, very good deal for the tangata whenua.
    An interesting few months ahead.

20. We can tell its election time the NZ media always seems to put the boot into the Greens at this time as do the right-wing commentators. As for Meka switching parties this does not surprise me she is merely aligning herself with a party that shares similar views and ideology. I am on the Māori roll and in the Ikaroa Rawhiti area and I will give Meka my vote again this election, but I will be giving Chippy my Party vote at this stage primarily as I don’t want Act and National in power again. I can see our country going backwards under the Nacts. Both the National and Act parties have shown they care mainly about the rich and we all know the trickle down does not trickle down it trickles up. In fact, many millionaires globally became billionaires, and this tends to occur when there is a war or epidemic event. We only have to look at what has happened in Russia. Why some dumb NZers like Trevor above continue to call the Māori party racist when our entire political, judicial, social and economic systems are founded and based on racism and discriminative practices justifies the need for a Māori political party.

21. I’ll state again, I’m not Labour. (Also not the other Andrew, hence the name change) But they threw away 3 years of total control of parliament. Any excuses about why things couldn’t be done are null and void. So many policies, programs and projects they said they had ready to go, now nowhere to be seen.

    I didn’t like a chunk of their policies, but DO SOMETHING!!!!! All the ideas are moot and useless unless you actually do something with them. Now all we know is the current crop is beyond useless at doing anything remotely more demanding or complicated than a photoshoot or press release. I wanted to see programs put in place so we can actually evaluate them. Instead it is now going to be a decade of “we would have fixed that if we were able to put our policy in place” excuses. And rubbish, you had the chamc and mailed it in.

    And someone help the poor students if I get instructed to implement the policies one of TPM advisors tried to explain to us in my school of preferentially passing Maori if they seem even bothered to attend. It’ll end up causing decades more problems and horrific failures the educational system can’t afford anymore.

22. Why are all the lefty wahine porangi?

23. 15% of the electorate. Kia Kaha. Kia Mana.

24. maori, green and ACT… let’s have some real progression in our parliament. lol dreams are free.

25. This being an entirely appropriate move on the part of the minister, given that both major political parties display a stunning and shocking snobbery towards the minor political parties, which they have displayed for many years now, and this is an attitude which is certainly not called for.

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