A culture war? Te ao Māori is ready
“An excessive number of items on the coalition’s list buy a culture war that Pākehā New Zealand isn’t ready for. Believe me when I say that te ao Māori is prepared.” — Deb Te Kawa.
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Tag: 2023 election
Nanaia Mahuta: Ready for a new chapter
“While I get the fact that an Indigenous party is a positive reflection for New Zealand about how we’ve evolved, if that Indigenous party is never in a position to exercise influence over the way that the country can go, then what is the point?” — Nanaia Mahuta.
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Why Act’s Treaty referendum is disrespectful and arrogant
“I agree with Helen Clark that it would ‘rip us down the middle’, and with Jim Bolger that it’s a ‘bloody stupid’ idea.” — Dame Anne Salmond on Act’s proposed Treaty referendum.
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A kōrero with David Seymour
“There are always people who say I’m not a proper Māori because I don’t go to a marae. Well, the way I look at it, some people have a religious faith but don’t necessarily go to church every Sunday.” — David Seymour.
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The kōhanga reo generation is here
“The kōhanga reo generation, backed by an inexorable demographic change, and strong in their reo, whakapapa and identity, are ready to step up to the plate — defined by a uniting faith in Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a source of rectification and unity.” — Jamie Tahana.
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Nanaia Mahuta: Forward we must go
“I look at a number of politicians who are out of that place, and how relieved, relaxed and vibrant they look. So, you know, it’s all in front of me.” — Nanaia Mahuta.
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This is exactly who we are
“To defeat the rage, or at least tame it, we turn, as Abraham Lincoln once said, to ‘the better angels of our nature’. Those angels are everywhere, in spiritual beliefs, in tikanga, in simple notions of courtesy and civic pride.” — Tainui Stephens.
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Poverty, patterns and politics
“Reducing child poverty not only requires robust evidence of the kind provided by the Dunedin Study, but also a society that values such evidence and seeks a long, secure, and rewarding life for all its citizens.” — Jonathan Boston, John Kerr, Michael Baker, Russell Wills.
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Nicky Hager: Beware the smooth talker with a forked tongue
“Seventeen Māori leaders spoke up a week ago ‘calling for an end to race-baiting and racist comments in our countries’ election campaigns’. They pointed at New Zealand First, Act and National — but, in my opinion, Act is by far the worst.” — Nicky Hager.
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Tina Ngata: Our chance to reject hate
“This election is not just a battle of policies. On one level, this is our own Voice referendum. It is our own opportunity as a nation to reject the politics of anti-Māori hate.” — Tina Ngata.
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Circus, opera or rodeo?
“The promise is that, in the first 100 days of a National-led government, Aotearoa will see the scourge of gangs eliminated — or at least, gang members corralled in a feedlot at an annual fee of only $190,000 per head. Systemic labelling and prejudice come at a price.” — Denis O’Reilly.
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Are Māori Indigenous? That’s not the real question
“Arguing that Māori aren’t Indigenous is logical if you’re trying to appeal to voters who are concerned that Māori shouldn’t receive ‘special’ and ‘unfair’ treatment. Shorter life expectancy isn’t what I’d describe as special, but there you go.” — Professor Alice Te Punga Somerville.
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The power of three
“Tripling the vote has been giving us hope. It makes sense because many of us feel powerless in the face of skyrocketing prices, unlimited corporate profit, a horrific rental market, and a burning planet.” — Kassie Hartendorp on a campaign to get people voting.
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Winston Peters: Not his first rodeo
“Despite warning Māori of an ‘Asian invasion’ in the mid-‘90s, Winston is now suggesting that we share the same whakapapa and that the real enemy, particularly for young Māori, are those ‘fanciful radicals’ working towards co-governance.” — Moana Maniapoto on Winston Peters.
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Racism and democracy
“Racism — which is to discriminate on the basis of culture, racial or ethnic origin — means democracy can’t give everybody a fair go.” — Professor Dominic O’Sullivan, on challenging racism in political campaigns on both sides of the Tasman.
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Weave the people
“A rangatira is more than just a chief. The word ‘raranga’ means to weave. A ‘tira’ is a group of people who have a purpose. A rangatira is one who weaves together people who are on the move.” — Tainui Stephens.
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James Shaw: ‘I have a great deal of hope about the future’
“We’ve defied history because we’re the only support party, who, in a term of government, have increased our support. So I think that shows that we’ve kind of got it right.” — James Shaw, Greens co-leader.
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