Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is drawing inspiration from the late GreenMP Fa’anānā Efeso Collins on her return to politics as she criticises Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for his absence from Waitangi for this year’s celebrations.
Davidson today made her first public appearance in more than six months at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Davidson said she had “renewed belief in the power of community”, recalling a quote from Collins: “No one stands alone, no one succeeds alone and no one suffers alone.”
Beautiful powerful words form our dearly missed Efeso there from Marama. It is good to see her back and ready for the battle ahead, her return is a reminder that sickness can strike anyone down and how precious it all is.
If Marama, a cancer surviver can make Waitangi, it’s shameful Luxon won’t.
First, he’s the Prime Minister, Waitangi is the birth place of our nation, he has an obligation to front.
Secondly, he has to front because he has allowed the most divisive piece of anti-Treaty legislation ever created to be debated.
Luxon is such a weak Prime Minister that he got played by Seymour into agreeing to ACT’s race baiting political stunt and green-lighted a 6 month hate tour to promote it.
Not fronting after allowing the most conflict driven race baiting law ever is inexcusable and total cowardice on behalf of Luxon.
Trying to frame it as legitimate after all the damage to our race relations that he has done is an affront to basic dignity.
Not fronting Māori after denigrating them is political cowardice no matter the Party, National have just managed to be worse.
Happy Waitangi Day Comrades.
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When you see how Seymour was treated Luxon was right to stay away and avoid the trouble that could have happened .There would have been no winners just fodder for the news outlet
If he fronted, it would show he has a spine, but no, he proved yet again his skeleton has the structural integrity of a slug.
Oh! So you must deeply admire David Seymour for facing up to the Nga Puhi a**ehole brigade eh? Do you a member of ACT, then or just vote for it.?
He was smart to stay away it was made plain that he would be pilloried.
Your comparison is illogical.
@ bob the fister. You write : “Your comparison is illogical”. I’d write; And your existence is illegitimate.
Well KW old chap your comment is grammatically incorrect to the extent it’s a contradiction in terms.Nevertheless I forgive you.
Space between “terms and Nevertheless”. Poor grammar and because of your cognitive deficiencies Bob we forgive you.
Sorry Squeaky you are wrong.
You are wrong and continue to be wrong Bob the illiterate.
It’s David Seymour, what more do you expect!
Does this mean that Bob is a bastard ?
Nah just a collection of chips processors and a failing CPU
Quite like that title Annie.
Why would he be pilloried? Oh because of his policies, thank you Blob for your admission.
What did you expect Trevor, respect is earnt, what on earth do you believe Seymour has done to “earn” respect?
He turned up and faced the angry mob.
As a migrant I do not feel my knowledge of the treaty gives me the right to pass judgement on the right or wrong interpretation of the it but I wonder how many NZ have either as it was not taught in school tomorrow generation more the pity. .
I fully understand as a child of the 60s unlike Bob the troll, John or whatever his foreign name is, his comments are juvenile. What I will ask of you is if National , NZ First and every other party are going to vote this bill down why does Seymour insist on continuing wasting taxpayers money that could go anywhere else, is it arrogance, immaturity, either way it is a political disgrace.
Martyn – I hope Ngai Tahu/Kai Tahu treats the PM well.
They just go quietly about their business, don’t be surprised if Luxon disappears on a long sabbatical.
Phil McCracken – Reckon.
You just want to throw shit at him (literally) for TV. I hope no RW PM ever goes again.
They don’t need to attend Waitangi, it’s the maori party political show, this is where they get their MSM coverage, it’s all just a show and the PM showing up just adds extra spice for them to show themselves up.
Different year…same old Waitangi shit, hoo humm.
Same old racist right wing diatribe from tighty righty, same shit different day.
Waitangi is at risk of self destruction.
How large was the attendance this year on a relative basis.
Waitangi is fine, the common denominator is the right wing racism and arrogance..
Because you are an idiot.
Luxon is a pussy, plain and simple.
He can run but he can’t hide.
He can hide. He hides in Hawaii and pretends that he’s in Te Puke. That was crazy as.
The righty tighty trolls are getting very worried, the CoC is crumbling, you can smell the fear on their breath.
Not all debate has to happen in parliament between just a few select people. Everyone has the right to state their case and debate, wherever it’s convenient. Of course this should occur at Waitangi.
The chickens, see the yellow ones above, are coming home to roost.
If Luxon had nothing to be ashamed of he wouldn’t fear Waitangi. If he knew he were doing his absolute best for ALL NZders, he’d be happy to go to Waitangi.
His problem is he feels very guilty and guilty people hide. They prefer to go where no-one will mention their guilt, cowardice and weakness – such as early childhood centres.
I hope Luxon doesn’t get a completely hassle-free day. He doesn’t deserve it. I hope someone in Ngai Tahu/South Island is brave enough to challenge him.
Seymour of course, brazens it out, even when he’s been asked not to attend. Loves the sound of his own voice. Loves taking offence. Such a shame no-one ever taught him the keep quiet and listen.
I don’t know why Trevor above, is so concerned about a little bit of opposition for Luxon.
Is he so snivelingly pathetic that he can’t stand any opposition to his face.
Queen Elizabeth II went to Waitangi and survived. She didn’t throw her toys out of the cot and refuse to play.
She knew the importance of being seen, to be believed.
She had more respect for Māori traditions than our own PM.
p.s. Marama looked great after the Dawn Service this morning. She still has more hair than Luxon and the look suits her better.
Going to Kai Tahu was a rare astute move for Luxon. It might frustrate whiners like Davidson, but that’s politics.
luxon’s a coward. Besides, he has no interest in Maori. Luxon’s also someone with a focus on his long game. He know’s he’s gone at the next election but then he’d have known that before he ran for the position of lunatic in chief within our perverted neoliberal monkey cage that’s our parliament to begin with. In reality he’ll be in training for a post PM of NZ privateer position where his insider info and his soulless skills as a manipulator will come in handy when he’s taken up a position within some sociopathic corporation which will deliver the equivalent of his current ministerial salary four fold. Luxon’s a player. A self confessed faker ’till he makes it.
If you voted for the prick, then don’t do it again! They’ll all be lining up for their chance at the Big Money, don’t you worry about that.
Well that seals it my vote goes to Luxon who is obviously doing a grand job.
Your vote always goes to Luxon because you haven’t a brain and can’t think for yourself.
I’m a man of letters Squeaky.
French by any chance
Squeaky French letters on a troll bot! some sewing machine oil should do the trick
Thanks, this article is spot on and a great shout out to Marama and the sadly missed great Efeso, gone far to soon. Rise up the Left.
For goodness sake! Noone wanted to hear the same speech again. He hasn’t got anything else to say.
He’s incapable of listening. He only wants to be the chair of the cabinet, he doesn’t want to lead the country, he isn’t leading the country, and isn’t capable of leading anyway. So no point him going.
Yes, same old, same old. He’s a bore.
The money being spent on David Seymour’s racist bill could have gone towards school lunches