GUEST BLOG: Willie Jackson – Special mihi to Meka
Sorry for this late post, but just in case you missed the big news in the Maori political world last week. It’s appropriate that I make mention of it right now.
That is that the Māori Party had a HUGE LOSS last week that went largely unnoticed by mainstream media and that’s of course because mainstream get somewhat confused at times about Maori issues and then equally confused when the Māori Party come out with all their babble, babble nonsense about how they just failed the Māori nation. But of course it’s for the good of everyone!
However, nothing can cover their failure last week to get their Ture Whenua Bill passed into law. Basically Minister Flavell just gave up and the person who can take the most credit for this is Ikaroa Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. Now Meka has been terrific on this kaupapa, she has hounded Te Ururoa over the bill which she said was damaging for thousands of the constituents.
She said:
“The Māori Party have tried to rush this Bill through Parliament and force these reforms on Māori land owners without their informed consent.
“This has been a shambles from the outset, from the damning Waitangi Tribunal Report through to Treasury’s recent slamming of the proposed Māori Land Service.
“This has been the Māori Party’s flagship policy and a leadership test for Te Ururoa Flavell as Māori Development Minister; a test he has failed.
“This process has exposed a Minister who is out of his depth, and totally out of touch.
“He has shown contempt for the Waitangi Tribunal and disregard for the views of Māori landowners, legal experts and institutions.
“He’s seen the loss of centuries of institutional knowledge from the Māori Land Court because it suited his agenda.
“Te Ururoa Flavell has never been able to back up his claims of broad support, and even stooped so low as to call me a liar on television, then refuse to debate me on the substance of his own Bill.
“There are a lot of Māori landowners celebrating out there today, but the fight isn’t over.
“Only a change of government will ensure this Bill doesn’t see the light of day again.
“A Labour Government will scrap this Bill and ensure any further reforms are truly land owner-driven and align with the guidelines provided by the Waitangi Tribunal.”
And Meka is right the Maori Party can’t be trusted over this legislation, when asked to debate Te Ururoa ran for cover and resorted to insulting Meka so it was obvious that he wasn’t handling the pressure. We on the Māori team in Labour have already passed our congratulations on to Meka and its right that she be commended for a fantastic campaign that stopped the Māori Party totally in their tracks. Which is not easy to do particularly when they have this love affair going with the National government at the moment.
So ngā mihi kia koe Meka and keep up the great work in the Ikaroa Rawhiti.
Who is the Uncle Tom.
I would not suggest corruption but do I need to.
A paid man has no principles.
Congratulation Meka
Time has well past when Mana / Labour alliance should be defined without tying either party. Labour may well need Mana in the Months ahead rather than divide the people who wish to dump this govt and its lackies.