GUEST BLOG: Paul Moon – Why Willie Jackson could be election decider
It was all going so well. The Maori Party looked revitalised, and heading into election year could claim successes in its flagship Whanau Ora programme, as well as being part of a government that has concluded some of the most important Treaty settlements in a generation. And on top of that, the party has reached an entente with an equally resurgent Mana Party, which while not necessarily cordial, nonetheless represents a potentially vital voting bloc in Parliament after the September election.
At the same time, Labour looked to be struggling to secure its Maori support-base, especially after an underwhelming performance by its leader at Ratana last month.
So all the signs appeared to be pointing to a collapse in Labour’s Maori vote. Until, that is, Andrew Little’s stroke of genius in placing Willie Jackson on a high list position in the party – thus almost guaranteeing him a seat in Parliament after the election. But why does Jackson represent a potential change in fortune for Labour and as a more distant possibility, the chance of a Labour victory in seven months? The answer is twofold.
Firstly, Jackson is personally endearing and intelligent, and represents the Labour Party of old – when it was still a party of the workers rather than forlorn liberal social causes. In addition, he already has parliamentary experience, and is a communicator with a common touch – at a time when some in the Labour-Green marriage come across as aloof academic types.
However, what makes Jackson so important as far as the Maori vote is concerned is that he is the highest-profile candidate in any party who is standing explicitly for urban Maori. The accusation that the Maori party is the parliamentary branch of an iwi elite is a longstanding one. And at the same time, this so-called iwi elite is attracting growing criticism from some quarters as inequalities within many iwi show no sign of reducing, despite the increasing wealth of some tribes.
As an example, the Herald reported last week that Tainui has net assets per member of $13,901, compared with Ngapuhi’s net assets per member of $425. Yet in both cases, significant poverty plagues a large portion of both iwi. What has become abundantly clear over the last two decades is the growth in the wealth in most iwi has not been accompanied by the broad elevation in the proportionate wealth of the members of those iwi.
And this is when Jackson’s presence becomes crucial. He can potentially become the mouthpiece of what is nominally called “urban” Maori, but which in practice now encompasses those Maori who – regardless of where they live – feel they have seen little benefit from the Treaty settlements reached in their name.
Not only can Jackson speak on their behalf and articulate their frustrations, he can also point to his own lengthy role in urban Maori development, with a range and depth of accomplishments that in some instances exceed those of iwi organisations.
The reason why this is important is that there is a widening gulf between the haves and have-nots in many iwi, with the latter feeling hard-done-by after waiting for decades in some cases for the benefits of their tribe’s Treaty settlements to trickle down to them, and still not having seen a drop.
Jackson will push the case for urban Maori to receive more government attention, and has the inside knowledge to convert whatever funding is channelled in that direction to achieve something tangible for those who need it most. His work in the area of domestic violence is a good example of such policies in action.
It would be wrong to underestimate the size of the challenge ahead of Jackson and Labour. Maori invested generations of support for Labour for what turned out to be little in the way of dividends in the past fifteen years. Meanwhile, the Maori Party has demonstrated itself to be a master of pragmatic politics, while Hone Harawira remains one of the most principled politicians in recent times, regardless of what some people may feel about those principles.
However, if anyone is capable of clawing back some of Labour’s drifting Maori vote, Jackson is that person. The question is whether he will have the backing of his colleagues, and whether there is time left for him to make that case that Maori still have a reason to return to Labour.
Dr Paul Moon is Professor of History at Auckland University of Technology
First published on Radio Live
You put up a good case for Little’s so called coup in getting Willie on board with Labour ,but then, imo, you shoot it down in the last 2 paragraphs.
I agree totally with the 2nd the last paragraph….. it will be a big challenge.
The last paragraph…. the backing of his colleagues (yes, a very moot point because all is not certain there) and whether there is enough time to sway urban maori his way…. that all comes down to how much mana he has in Maoridom, and that is an unknown. The jury is still out on the case for Willie.
Housing is going to be huge in this election. Urban Maori have low home ownership rates. They are more likely to be living a precarious renting life. If Labour can offer them their part in the kiwi dream by reforming/intervening in these housing markets then this could be a game changer. If this group gets out to vote then Labour’s chance of winning is that much higher. In a lot of ways you are right Paul -Labour’s success or failure could be determined on Willie’s skills at communicating that message.
Maori health too is going to be big.
Government have closed rails services in province’s and the roads are now crammed with killing trucks, and Māori cant drive these roads safety any more and passenger rail has all but gone so this means Maori are left to fend with inadequate transport as the elders cant drive either so a bus is an awful way to go on narrow winding roads as buses have a high crash rate on them.
We in Gisborne are fighting to restore our mothballed rail for this and other reasons.
Willie & Greg’s support here by mentioning this before/in the election would help.
February 18, 2017
gisborneherald.co.nz
Qualified support for rail
by Andrew Ashton Published: February 18, 2017 9:58AM
Regional council says GDC needs to invest
A Gisborne consortium working to reopen the mothballed Gisborne to Wairoa railway line would be likely to receive backing from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council — but HBRC says Gisborne District Council also needs to stump up with investment first. That is something Mayor Meng Foon says he does not favour.
In December, KiwiRail accepted three expressions of interest to operate the line, including one from the Gisborne Rail Co-operative (GRC) that would combine short-haul freight and tourism uses.
Following a presentation from the group this week, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Corporate and Strategic Committee recommended that the regional council should send a clear message that it continues to support efforts to get the Wairoa to Gisborne section of the Napier-Gisborne line reopened.
GRC interim chairwoman Nikki Searancke said a joint approach between the regional council and Gisborne District Council was vital.
“That’s really what we went down to Hawke’s Bay for. We went to seek their co-operation to do this next stage. We recognise that HBRC have been very successful in working with KiwiRail, so we’re keen to work with Hawke’s Bay.”
Gisborne Rail Co-operative (GRC) made a presentation to the Corporate and Strategic Committee meeting asking the council to make a joint approach to KiwiRail for consideration of GRC’s proposal to reopen the Gisborne end of the Napier-Gisborne line for freight, as well as for tourism services.
HBRC contribution contingent on GDC money
The committee recommended that HBRC continue to offer its support for the preservation and preferably the restoration of rail freight options for the Wairoa to Gisborne section of the Napier-Gisborne rail line. Committee chairman Neil Kirton told GRC members that a business case was urgently needed for reopening the Wairoa to Gisborne rail line and it was essential that Gisborne District Council show its support for the proposal.
If GRC could get a commitment from the District Council to put some money towards developing a business case, then HBRC would also consider contributing some money.
Councillor Alan Dick told the meeting that HBRC’s Regional Transport Committee would hold its regular meeting in Wairoa on March 10. The visit was part of a commitment through ‘Matariki – the Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy’ to improve road transport options north, and rail would certainly be on the agenda.
The Napier to Gisborne line has not been used since it was damaged in 2012. Last year KiwiRail reached a commercial agreement with Napier Port to repair the Napier to Wairoa section to run a dedicated log service. It had earlier agreed to a deal with Gisborne City Vintage Railway to operate a steam engine on the Gisborne-Muriwai section, ending at Beach Loop.
Ms Searancke said she was encouraged that GDC councillors had attended a rail forum last year.
“So I’m extremely pleased that they did go to the forum and I think they will support us when we go to GDC and put our presentation to them.”
A decision on the future of the line is expected by the end of March.
Government should pay: Foon
However, Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon said while the topic could be discussed again at council meetings, it had been the council’s view that the Government should be the one to pay to fix the line, since the Government owned the line.
“We have enough projects to pay for in our own district, such as roads, stormwater, Waipaoa flood control and much more. I won’t support ratepayer money for the railway line. My personal view and my lobby to the Government and KiwiRail is to fix the line — if not, then make a rail trail.”
Mr Foon said it was “frustrating” that the region had lost out on “four years of employment and investment” due to the delay in restoring the line.
Using the rail corridor to establish a rail trail between Gisborne and Napier airports could provide a project that could transform the region, he said.