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Harawira criticises Maori Party's 'cosy deal'

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Harawira criticises Maori Party's 'cosy deal'

3News NZ

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has been stingingly critical of his former Maori Party colleagues after they last night opted to remain in Government with National.

The party's co-leaders emerged from their scheduled meeting with John Key saying the rift with the Prime Minister over water has been smoothed over.

Mr Key's agreed not to legislate over Maori rights and interests in water.

Mr Harawira, a one-time Maori Party MP who went on to form the Mana Party, says the decision was what he expected.

“Credibility was already on a low level over the Marine and Coastal Area Bill,” he says.

“‘We could walk away, we could oppose this’ – and then next thing you know they’ve got a cosy deal.

“Now they’re doing exactly the same thing – they’re staying.”

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Comments

3/08/2012 6:37:01 p.m.

Mal wrote:

@Mike. Why should the new foreign owners have water rights? And you whine about maori. Water appears to be owned by pakeha. Why are they selling it? If you are worried about flooding. I have a simple solution for you. Move your land. Ok?

25/07/2012 3:23:43 p.m.

jan.. wrote:

No need for Turia to sniff up Keys backside but the awareness and movements of the National Government that needs investigating to why New Zealand in such a mess.. KIA KAHA' HONE..

20/07/2012 10:11:42 a.m.

Gary wrote:

It is all just a media show. Maori party trying to appease its supporters by summoning the PM to a meeting, JK agreeing to sit and talk to show everyone what a great democratic society we live in, end of the day it all meant jack sh*t. It is just to fool us the people. Keep us quiet and feel like everyone is winning. Long term selling the assets is a loss for NZ, short term it does not gain enough revenue to change the deficit only buys National more time, so overall it is a bad choice. That is the logic and sensible view, and if JK had put forward a mandate that showed benefit and gain from the sale then I could agree with it but they have nothing to show and no mandate for future growth for NZ. They sell this to the public on fear of debt, yet this will do absolutely nothing to change that and move us backward long term. And come the budget they will yet again bring out the case and offer us all another ZERO with a sympathetic grin on their face. Come on people National have Zero policy for Zero growth to get NZ Zero gain. Interesting how this brings out the racial hatred in people, I will not mention any names from the replies but you know straight away after you read their comments?

19/07/2012 10:03:17 p.m.

Tukotahi wrote:

So what do we do Hone, follow you and not work with anyone? I think its a bit hypocritical of you to want the Maori party to leave National, yet you are prepared to go back to labour who 'did' the same thing to maori and suceeded. Mana has made no gains for maori since its birth, because hone is too busy flying around the counry ($40 k+)trying to discredit a party that is actually making gains.

19/07/2012 5:36:58 p.m.

Divadays wrote:

Stace: "we would do more to help our country"?? That is exactly what is wrong with "you lot", you whinge and cry and demand money for something that was mostly SOLD (of course, some wasnt...but isnt that true for ANY people who come from another country/island and take over or merge with (in our case) another group? What a bad attitude and a sweeping generalisation that you only do not "help your country" because you do not get enough money to do so. Oh and any Treaty claims that are settled should already be going into the communities of their tribe...or does that not happen? I wonder why??.....

19/07/2012 1:12:08 p.m.

alan wrote:

hey Hone its about maintaining a subtle govt not about cosy deals ..... what do you want an Election in the hope that you might get a few more votes and National sail home with a greater majority ?

19/07/2012 11:29:51 a.m.

Mike wrote:

Nobody in the pro-Maori ownership will address any issue that has been raised. Hone is more a tradition follower, like the historical Hone performing traditional Maori hospitality to the Chatams. Gisbourne Maori also had a dose of Maori hospitality back then so even today they dont look that fondly on Hone.

- On what basis do they claim Maori ownership of water?
- How will this affect others rights to water except remove rights?
- How much will it cost NZ?
- Will Maori take responsibility for any damage done by water if they own it?
- How will Maori in general benefit from the ownership?
- and if Maori benefit generally, how will NZ pay to give that benefit?
- Is this not pure racism holding one race above all others in priviledge?
- ETS currently targets carbon. Farmers are being told that since they own cows, and they breathe, they should pay ETS for this. Owning water would make the owner liable for ETS and water is more plentiful and the water molecule is about 200x more global warming than carbon in CO2.

Already the ownership of water is beeing used to disrupt the asset sales on the basis of charging/depriving the electricity companies for water. The rest of NZ will be next. If the electricty companies have to pay for water, it will just have much higher electrictity prices (including Maori) while Maori in general see none of the money.

19/07/2012 11:26:19 a.m.

david wrote:

Harawira should face reality and relise we are all in this together, and that the Maori party at least holds some senior positions in the government. Furthermore, if he wants mana, then he should respect the wishes of his elders. Dame Whena Cooper said about the whole of NZ, "we are one people, we are one nation"

19/07/2012 10:34:08 a.m.

Stace wrote:

As long as John Key tells new zealanders about all the business deals going on around new zealand that involve using our land, then it makes it a lot easier for us as citizens/tax payers to appreciate and understand why it is they need to use the land. I think previous Maori parties didn't have the balls to say anything and just let it slip because they weren't actually in charge, and probably demanding too much of the land back. What any Priminister needs to do from now on is work close with the Maori party, no matter what. We would be generous enough to lease our land to anyone as long as the land stayed in new zealand hands and maybe some of the money made from it was given back to the community. Thats where new and bigger Marae should be built, not only for Maori, but for any new zealand citizen. We need to start thinking in groups and communities and how our taxes can help out eachother. You do that and we would do more to help our country.

19/07/2012 9:23:05 a.m.

Challenger wrote:

What did Hone expect. Money always trumps mana. Maori could always pick up some bones being in the Govt. If they are out they lose the money and the Limo and don't get any bones. They get to keep the mana. Is it that important