Maori Party should walk out - Harawira

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:32a.m.

Hone Harawira says the Maori Party should leave their coalition with National

Hone Harawira says the Maori Party should leave their coalition with National

Protesters used Waitangi Day celebrations to voice their anger over oil drilling and asset sales yesterday, targeting the Prime Minister and members of the Maori Party.

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira spoke to Firstline this morning about why he thinks the Maori Party should resign from Government, and the possibility of removing politics from Waitangi Day.

The Maori Party are backing iwi leaders to take the National Government to court over treaty legislation around asset sales, which Mr Harawira says “kind of pisses me off”.

He believes the Maori Party should leave their coalition with National over the issue, saying that would be “the honourable thing” to do.

“You’re either opposed to it or you’re not opposed to it, and if you’re opposed to it and you’re in coalition with the Government, bloody walk out,” he says.

“Don’t say… iwi leaders, will you please take it to court while we skulk in our ministerial limousines.

“You say hey, we’re not going to ask our people to do something that we won’t do first.”

Labour leader David Shearer suggested this morning that politics be removed from Waitangi Day – something Mr Harawira says won’t change the nature of the day.

“[When Helen Clark didn’t attend] people still used Waitangi as the opportunity to voice their displeasure at the way in which the treaty is being mistreated,” he says.

He says yesterday’s protests were “same thing, different day” when compared with previous Waitangi protests, and happened for the same reason – “the treaty is being mistreated”.

Watch the video for the full interview

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Comments

07 Feb 2012 12:11p.m.

Tukotahi wrote:

Hone should be worrying about his own party and delivering to all those who voted for him, you know, feed the kids, $1000 bucks for xmas. As for the honourable bit he is far from that, this is a man who wanted a Ministerial position and the leadership when he was in the Maori party, but packed a hissy and left to start his Mana party, mmmmmmmm Mana something else hes a bit short of.

06 Feb 2012 10:53p.m.

Gosh wrote:

Worry about your own stink party bro.

06 Feb 2012 06:49p.m.

Pete wrote:

Section 9 is the only safety net NZ has over asset sales and mining. The National government is rushing legislation to mind before NZers wake up to the reality around the world. Earthquakes, environmental contamination, and health issues are all proven beyond doubt. Multinational oil corps continue to deny their responsibilities and left devastating effects behind while they rake wealth ands resources. There's nothing else protecting NZ from Mr. Keys laws as he himself has investments in multinational banks..

06 Feb 2012 06:43p.m.

Andrew Harris wrote:

I love Hone's use of words, 'Honorable' and 'Our People' who is he kidding? Go Maori walk-out, who care's you are a minority who contribute the least yet bleed the most about being hard done by.

06 Feb 2012 06:18p.m.

Gary wrote:

I am a white Englishman,lived in NZ since 1975, and I totally agree with Hone.

06 Feb 2012 05:43p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

Bob Treaty settlements are just like a piece of string too what length is it.More they are given more they want.We need the governments too sit down and sort out the pakeha grievances from the 1st settlers who came to NEW ZEALND.NZ would not be like it is today.It is not just the Maori who are upset on asset sales,but pakeha are also.

06 Feb 2012 05:11p.m.

Andrew wrote:

Hone Harawira’s comments suggest he believes that legislation surrounding the treaty is supreme and takes precedence over other legislation and where there is conflict with other legislation or with government policy the treaty prevails. This may come as a shock to Hone Harawira and as a wake up call to all Maori malcontents but most New Zealanders probably couldn’t give a toss about the treaty and see it as no more than an historic note and an impediment to real progress in the 21st Century.

06 Feb 2012 02:19p.m.

dova wrote:

dream on bob you want them the Maori party to completely prostitute them selves with national throw away all their promises and party principles . their word to the people during and election . bob we are not all like you and national mate .bob wants the maori party to cave in on the lot while national never cave in on a thing and he wants you to take that as right and fair . bob its about time national took some self responsibility for one instead of just preaching it to others . what a bad government this is .

06 Feb 2012 12:18p.m.

Bob wrote:

Except maybe the Maori party realise that because they are in a coalition with the government they're in a position to make a difference and get themselves heard on policies that they believe in, unlike you Hone, who is in a position to do nothing more than moan from the sideline. Im a National supporter but david Shearer makes alot of sense with this... but why stop there, how about finalising all treaty settlements asap and start acting like one country. Waitangi day can be used to celebrate our maori culture and traditions instead of celebrating our differences and how the maoris were hard done by from the european settlers. To be honest i dont even know why the Prime Minister went to Waitangi this year, except from the fact that hes expected too there is always an incident there with yesterday being no different, infact he didnt even get a chance to talk yesterday or celebrate Waitangi day so what was the point in going up. If it wasnt for the fact that the regular rent-an-activist would get so precious over it i wouldnt even bother going next year if i was him. have a ceremony at parliament or something. im sure there is another Marae somewhere who would love to host a national waitangi day celebration for what it is and not use it as a protest.