MEDIAWATCH: Willie Jackson calls it like it is by reminding Ihumatao protestors of what National would have done
After smacking down Labour’s Māori senior vice president Tane Phillips in favour of Claire Szabó, Willie Jackson’s job to keep the 7 Māori electorates just got harder.
Māori flocked to Jacinda’s message of hope 2017 and their loyalty in giving Labour the 7 electorates plus a huge bump in the party vote in the general electorates has been openly questioned with Māori mental health criticism censored, public health treaty issues, armed police concerns and the lack of progress on Ihumatao have all combined to offer the Māori Party a chance to wrestle an electorate back and gain an extra MP from coat tailing to provide National a chance of Government.
Labour have to give Māori some quick wins or risk that vote walking away from them.
Large budget increase for Māori Media – From Māori TV to Māori political shows on mainstream to the small independent Māori radio stations, Māori Media have had no increase in funding for decades, a large injection of funds would get an enormous amount of attention by those outlets.
Social housing with Urban Māori Authorities – a specific program aimed at helping more Māori get into home ownership through building collaborations with Māori Urban Authorities.
Parihaka Day becomes a National holiday – symbolic and powerful gesture that will cement into place an important cultural identity for Māori and wider NZ.
Willie Jackson was on fire reminding Ihumātao protestors who are complaining about a lack of Jacinda appearing that National would have dragged them off by the throat…
Ihumātao: National would have ‘dragged those Māoris out by the throat’ – Willlie Jackson
Labour MP Willie Jackson has defended the Government’s handling of the Ihumātao standoff, saying if National was in power, “they would have dragged those Māoris out by the throat about three months ago”.
…but if Labour don’t give him some specific wins to take to the electorate, throat dragging National will be back.
The PM’s “stop order” on Fletchers at Ihumātao was a most important circuit breaker, but not a solution. But if a genuine resolution is not found soon, it will all be back on again. Which would actually be good for an uplift in direct action and class struggle; along with various Climate Strikes, and workers Union strikes–which First and Unite Unions are leading the way on.
It was magnificent to see the Auckland Police Operational capacity outflanked and exposed by online organisation by supporters of Pania Newton. Thousands can and quite likely will turn up if the cops try a Bastion Point here.
The answer is plain as to what Labour needs to do to keep Māori voters on side, unfortunately as plain as their inability to do it, or even ascertain the reason to do it!
They need to smash the fiscal cap, apologise to the nation for Rogernomics, roll back the Parliamentary neo liberal consensus with National, AND most importantly repeal a whole stinking pile of monetarist, dog eat dog legislation–Reserve Bank Act, State Sector Act, SOE dividend requirements, and cleanse the Public Sector top echelon of hundreds of neo lib toadies and traitors to this country.
We have courts to work out the solution. We should not encourage acts of civil disobedience. All this is going to do is create a line between the Maroi involved and police who are not the enemy. If Labour buckle and give in to this mob it will see them lose at the next election which is already a strong posiblity .
Have you read anything at all about the background of the Ihumaatao protection? It might educate you about why “this mob” have stayed there for the past three years.
Well put Tiger Mountain. I dont think we can expect much from Labour here but that just means that the door is well open for Maori and other disaffected peoples to collect around some other more people oriented party. Not sure how Hone and the Maori Party are going but if they could heal their rift and provide a vision for Maori and even include beneficiaries Labour have moved so far to the centre right that they could pick up some real strong support.
Willie Jackson assumes that a conflict at Ihumatao will end in victory for the Crown.
On the other hand, I am confident that the kaitiaki and mana whenua will emerge victorious.
So in terms of the final outcome, it doesn’t really matter whether Simon Bridges might choose to fight, except that it would make more sense for him find a peaceful resolution and thereby avoid a humiliating defeat.