I think this op-ed in the Herald sums up where Poto Williams and the apologists for her bizarre own goal are coming from:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11796975

MacLennan is dead wrong BTW. “Identity politics” refers to the practice of taking a single-issue approach to campaigning for women’s rights, indigenous rights, immigrants rights, queer rights and so on, instead of an intersectional approach. The problem with the single-issue approach is that it replaces deep solidarity with opportunist alliances, where allies who also work on other political issues can be thrown under the bus for perceived gains for one’s own single issue. Obviously, this allows plays right into the hands of our opponents, who do think strategically across the full spectrum of political issues, and can use single-issue activists as wedges; divide and rule.

Maybe Maclennan is right, and I’m only saying all this because I’m a pākeha man who wants to hold onto his privilege. I mean, it’s not like a middle class professional who gets op-eds published in the Herald could possible have any privilege to defend…

Only by the few remaining neo liberals in the Labour party , ANDREW. And it is also that ilk that has been causing all the factional infighting for so many years.

It is time they are asked politely to either leave or accept lesser positions … they have caused nothing but destruction and disunity .

New Zealand deserves better.

It is time this neo liberal element is dealt with and purged so that once again we can have a true political alternative to the current hostilities of this anti worker and anti sovereignty government.

And I would be very careful about claiming it will never happen here as well ,… we have seen BREXIT and we have witnessed what has happened in the USA – both cases being a demonstration that globally , – the public have had enough of these liars.

And that has been true time and time again whether it be the fall of the Roman Empire, the dissolution of the Mongol Empire after the death of Genghis Khan or the family tearing itself apart in the divorce courts.

The only time there will be direction and cohesion in the Labour party is when by attrition its neo liberals are purged and / or marginalized.

Until then , expect further divisive dissensions , factions , inappropriate and insubordinate actions by its members and MP’s.

And that’s the reality and the truth of the matter in a nutshell.

And Poto Williams is a prime example of it.

Well, theoretically at least… 🙂

If so, I have a bridge to sell you.

No thanks, Andrew. We already own the roads, bridges, etc.

Her motives are to stand for what’s right, I imagine. It’s a fantasy to expect people to pretend to stand for things they strongly disagree with for the sake of the party. Voters certainly won’t do it, and neither should she. Willie’s nomination was a stupid decision.

Agreed. Greg O’Connor will be pure poison to the Labour “brand”. If Labour’s ambition is to literally reinvent themselves as “The New National Party” (aka “The New Labour Party”, as it was known in Tony Blair’s Britain), then Greg is a goosestep in the right direction. I guess Labour (and the Greens for that matter) is very much in the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” mode as of late.