Tariana Turia thinks I’m grandstanding, but last week we saw another example of the Maori Party not being listened to in Government.
The gap between what the Maori primary healthcare workforce can earn compared with their counterparts working for GPs or in DHBs is significant and is making life hard for their employers who are bleeding staff on a daily basis.
When negotiations started between the Nurses Organisation and the employers, Tariana had plenty to say. When they joined forces and petitioned Parliament, Tariana had plenty to say. When they made their submission to the Health Select Committee Tariana (by then a Minister) still had plenty to say (only this time attacking DHBs for not doing enough to address the problem).
But when the Government announced last week that they refused to even investigate the problem, Tariana was silent – until contacted by the media, when she decided to have a crack at me rather than addressing the issue.
I’m sure she is working hard to lobby the Nats on this and other issues. But if Ryall isn’t listening, what good does it do her or her constituents?
Haven’t you got the memo? Silence is the new mana enhancement Iain.
How many dead Kiore can one person swallow?
No Maori seats on the Auckland Council will be one really big fat hairy rat to swallow.
she’s achieved more goals already with the Nats than she ever did with you [Edited, final warning - admin].
What is in the offing that makes this bearable for the Maori Party? The motivation used to be a virulent anti-Labour view by some, but there must be something coming that will compensate for all this marginalisation.
When the maori party unveils our flag…everything will be alright…lol
National don’t listen to Maori, neither do Labour. Nothing new here.
Patrick A says:
National don’t listen to Maori, neither do Labour. Nothing new here.
Explain your comment Patrick A.
Self explanatory Galeandra.
Separatist party. Should have as much influence as the National Front in my view.
I was referring to Labour’s relationship with Maori post Seabed and Foreshore Act.
Patrick A, I don’t believe one decision, no matter how important, should sum up a Party’s entire relationship with Maori.
Seabed and Foreshore does not completely undermine all Labour has done and will do for Maori. I remember having a discussion with a teacher at my school who teaches Te Reo, and she summed it up pretty well, saying something along the lines of this: “Seabed and Foreshore hurt us. It made us angry. But it was a sacrifice that we were willing to take to try and keep Labour in government, because everything they’ve done and their core intent and values are so strongly in our best interests”
And flying the Maori flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge most certainly doesn’t excuse all the instances in which National have ignored Maori.
MMP has allowed Maori to take a stand on this issue by forming a separate party and siding with Labour’s opposition.
If I was the Maori Party I would do the same thing. Labour has taken Maori for granted and it was a mistake. Until Labour confronts some of these demons the situation will not change.
Tariana is showing all the leadership qualities that finally got Helen Clark so pissed of and sidelined her.
Under pressure she is a waste of space and is incapable of standing up for what she believes in.
I predict that if the Maori Party continue in their own ineffectual way, they will be dog tucker at the next elections as they have nothing to offer Maori.
Tariana is being exposed as being political helium – lightweight with a squeaky voice in goverment. Sharples is smarter but is trying to play a long game he will never win. But it’s Hone you gotta feel for. Talk about emasculated! When angry is your thing, this kind of passive emasculation is frankly pathetic.