I still don’t get it. How can Hone begin to get away with suggesting that his comments weren’t racist?
And even more amazing is that the editor of the Herald has become an apologist for the Maori Party. You can almost see John Key’s spin team dictating the editorial. At least the Dompost can spot bullshit.
The Herald should not be buying into John Key’s special treatment for his Maori Party support team.
If a Pakeha used the term brown mofos it would be racist. That standard should apply both ways.
I fully agree with you Trevor. The special treatment Mr. Harawira received was totally out of order.
At least the DomPost is having a go.
Because Joris de Bres says so. Who employed him?
Cough, double standards, cough. I’m sick of spin in favour of the government.
John Key and the Race Relations Commisioner, not a pair of testacles between them.
When you said ~ to stir things up ~ you were indigenous… there were those who claimed you were being racist, personally, I thought you were quite funny.
Be that as it may, there is an awful amount of skewed tollerance in this country and particularly through the media for the Maori Party. Media need not be scared, the Maori Party does not represent that emorphous group we call “Maori”.
If what Harawira said isn’t racist, then let’s all have a go. Why can what he said be defended? Yet when Phil says white New Zealanders shouldn’t be called “Mo Fo’s” – He’s the racist?? Please.
the Harawira racist outburst was condemed by John Key. The issue is with the Maori Party Leadership and the Race Relations Commissioner. What do you expect Key to do expecially now that Hawawiri hasn’t broken any laws?
I made an official complaint to the Commissioner and what a waste of time that was .. I got a pretty lame letter “thanking” me .. woweee. Mind you, I did make an offical complaint against the Commissioner himself over his appalling attack on the Mayor of Wanganui and that got nowhere as well.
Back to thread .. Hone is racist and the MOFO description is possibly the most insulting description one race can say about another.
I think considering the issue we’re facing here, the title of the post should have been a tiny bit more conservative.
J abba please give me a reference for Key describing Hone’s outburst as racist and condemning it within a week of it happening ie pre focus group.
Trevor, I may have the day off (cost saving for the company) but I don’t have the skills to go through thousands of media or MP statements. I saw him on telly saying how inappropiate etc it was .. I must say that in the early days he did take it lightly which was wrong of him .. REALLY wrong (stupid even). It also took Phil a long time to hit the airwaves with his withering attack. I agreed with what he (Goff) said BUT I found him saying it like he did a little dangerous politicaly.
What should Key have done? Again, it seems that what Hawaria said was not illegal or racist so???? I did all I could, apart from laying a complaint waith the Police, I hope you guys did as well .. but only if you really are serious about what he said of course.
Trevor,
J abba said Key condemned the statement not that Key said it was racist.
It was on TVNZ.
Inappropriate = condemns = Tui billboard
I read/heard somewhere that a minority race can not make racist comments against a majority .. I know Harawira said it BUT I’m sure it came from a more official source. I think that is rubbish but who am I? In fact, I consider that statement racist. We have had MP’s on all sides of the house commit offences against the law and they get a slight slapping (poor old silly R Worth an exception) and as I have said .. HH has done/said nothing illegal .. what can John Key do to him .. NOTHING.
“I read/heard somewhere that a minority race can not make racist comments against a majority” LOL
Okay, so if causcasian new zealanders are eventually outnumbered by asians then nothing derogatory that we ever say about them eill even be racist!!
So what would happen if the proportion of the races was gridlocked and then a baby was born to say an Indian, then two Indian men died the next day, would that mean that for one day, Indian jokes would be in full flight?
And how is this proportionality metered out? Is it done by country, town, or the number of people in a room? Or the whole planet? If it’s the whole planet then all Maori and Caucasians and Pacific Islanders can make as many comments as they like because we’re minority races, therefore I have to concede that Harawira isn’t a racist afterall and that Clinton did not in fact have sexual relations with that woman.
Personally I’m less concerned with whether Harawira is racist or not and more disappointed with the mute acceptance of his hypocritical latest apology. We all know he doesn’t mean it. It is dishonest. It is worthless. I would have had far more respect if he’d stood up and been counted. Instead he’s allowed himself to be spun. The apology is an embarrassment to us and himself. I used to rate Harawira. He’s lost all credibility for me.
haha spud. I think that you’re taking things abit of topic lol!
I agree, but j, abba made an interesting point – I mean where does common sense get a look in?
Fully agreed Tigger. He’s put the Maori party into shame, and he’s been totally ridiculous in the way hes acted about standing for, and only caring about the people of Te Tai Tokerau. Maybe considering that he is so passionate about the area, but quite the opposite about New Zeland as a whole, he shoul look at standing for local government in the area?!?!
I think the worse thing about this whole situation is that it focuses on the Mofo, and avoids the real issue. In the published email Harawira clearly stated that he refuses to work within the confines of his job.
Like all other employed New Zealanders, MPs get paid to turn up to work. If they don’t turn up to work they have to explain why. That is all MPs except, apparently, Hone Harawira, who stated such expectations was “…puritanical bullshit.” And he claimed the right to do whatever he prefered based on Post-Colonial guilt.
Harawira was paid to be in a day of meetings, instead he went to Paris. He did not feel any obligation to clear his actions even with his own party. That’s what he should be appologising for.
Trevor, for once I am in agreement with you. Can you try something please, in parliament, during question time call hone a black mofo, as according to Hone’s definition on racism, you can’t be a racist.
@Travor.
Hi Trevor, A bit of topic… but I am curious. In this article http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/3125705/Labour-plans-to-scrap-national-education-standards-Mallard, it says, “Mallard will today revive his email newsletter to teachers and principals. The newsletter floats an alternative to the national standards.”
Is this newsletter publically avaliable, if so, where can it be found?
Thanks
Trevor – is caucus as divided over Goff’s speech as Vernon Small’s article suggests?
Kaine T – are you suggesting that the media is the last bastion of political correctness when it comes to fair, balanced and accurate reporting of the Maori Party?
@ Banksie – never comment on caucus stuff.
@James send email with request to me trevor.mallard@parliament.govt.nz and I will add you to the list.
Trevor, good approach. Do you think it might catch on with your colleagues?
Okay, will do in two secs. Thanks very much.
Trevor – Fair enough. I hope that there will be a formal complaint about the inaccuracy of Vernon’s article.
Sorry, I’ve missed something. What was the inaccuracy?
@jennifer – I agree, it’s not a good look and it will only put the public off the party.
James – if it is inaccurate then there are no divisions in the Caucus and Vernon made the whole thing up.
sweetd .. I don’t think Trevor can do anything about HH in the same as Key can’t.
Spud .. what I said about minorities not being racists is crazy eh .. but there you go. Common sense is a rare commodity these days.
Of course its racist/stupid/distracting.
I think the point the nation seems to have missed is that come election time this incident will have no negative effect for the Maori party (as many supporters have similar ideas, see how quick they jumped to NZ first anti Asian stance). Likewise for Hone’s electorate.
In fact it may restore some of the mana they lost when going to the Nats, at least now they will have the street creed from a firebrand who will stand up for what he believes in, not what party tells him.
Can we all remember this is a party based on race who does not want votes from middle NZ.
How many of the much offended white Mofos voted for the Maori party last time but will change their vote next time?
P.S. I was fully supportive for Hone throwing a sickie and taking off to Paris rather than a waste of time talkfeast, at least we knows his family is a priority, and if anyone in parliament is entitled to bunk the boss (taxpayer) as most other MPs have (is RH listening) it would be the poor boy from the sticks who likely would not have had a lot of chances to take the wife through Europe. (Awesome.. soc it to ‘the man’) But the ideas floating around his head are just inexcusable & the apology was crap too.
I didn’t really care about missing the meeting either .. the rest, well I have to agree with Winston .. shudder .. Hone should join a gang, they are pretty up front as well so he would fit in well.
Jeremy, if your employer sent you to a conference and paid your expenses but you didn’t go, and lied about it, would you be in trouble?
Why should MPs be any different? They need to get it – that they are not above the rules the rest of us have to abide by.
Surely the dude will have some time off in Janauary along with other MPs, he could’ve taken his wife then.
Dorothy,
No I would have been more sophisticated than Hone. I would have asked Bill English for his lawyers phone number, then arranged a sick note from his wife, all paid via the trust account to avoid any suggestion of impropriety.
P.S.
I thought most of these trips for an insignificant backbencher were actually just an excuse for a free holiday. Same as John keys 6 weeks in Hawaii to check out his apartment, a tax expense for the company that owns it.
I too am more concerned about the skiving off, lying about it and effectively stealing taxpayer money than the email.
It shows corruptness. I had hoped that, given this is taxpayer money, Parliament would have wielded a bigger stick than they have. Corrupt behaviour with taxpayer money is not just the concern of the Maori Party. It is the concern of Parliament. Pay attention, Lockwood. Having him contribute to the costs is a wet bus ticket.
And not the first time he has done it. He should not be there. He, Philip Field and Donna Awatere belong in the same basket.
@ banksie – I said “Be that as it may, there is an awful amount of skewed tollerance in this country and particularly through the media for the Maori Party.”
Think my point is more that people, and particularly the media through which most people gain their perceptions of politics, are afraid to ask the Maori Party tough questions. It’s a frustrating confusion that the Maori Party represents Maori, it doesn’t.
If your question were should it be? The fairness and balance, yes… the PC stuff… depends what you call PC.
Wouldn’t it be disastrous if we had seperate Maori seats on the Auckland SuperCity Council. Reported on http://www.stuff.co.nz yesterday,
“Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples attended a hui in Auckland today and later said the board was insufficient to represent Maori interests.
He said if the Maori Party decided to launch a public campaign for Maori seats, MP Hone Harawira would lead it…
…Dr Sharples told Radio New Zealand it was unlikely the cabinet would reverse its decision, and another option was for Maori to support a mayoral candidate who favoured dedicated seats for Maori.
It is some consolation that Dr. Pita Sharples has acknowledged that Cainet would most likely not reverse its decision, but my concern is the bit before that. It says, “if the Maori Party decides to launch a public campaign for Maori seats, MP Hone Harawira would lead it. Would it not just be sensible to keep Harawira out of these controversial issues for a bit. The last thing we need is another slipped racist comment and all this mess and unnecessary media focus again.
The link to this artile is: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3128894/Maori-Party-still-pushing-for-Maori-seats-on-council
and titled, ‘Maori Party still pushing for Maori seats on council’.
By the way, does anyone know how to put italics on the comments?
Bea,
Just wondering why you didn’t mention any of the others – Bill English? And super perk buster Rodney Hide??
In fact it would probably be easier to mention those who didn’t cheat the system. These ’scandals’ have come and gone through all parties since I have been alive.
I can only think of one politician, that would be our multi millionaire Prime Minister who is willing to dip into his own pocket to keep his image clean.
In Trans Tasman’s annual rating of politicians:
“At the other end of the scale, embattled Maori Party MP Hone Harawira scored a rare 0, along with the comment: “Has no respect for Parliament and shouldn’t be there.”"
(From here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3134210/Lockwood-Smith-tops-in-Parliament )
I totally agree
When’s someone going to put a thread up about the flag?
Done Anton