I’ve known Hone Harawira for about a decade. Classic case of where one should judge an individual and not the family.
He did great work with a kura in his home patch. Chaired the board. They had some financial issues and there were some honest but unusual approaches. Always done in the interest of kids but sometimes caused trouble with the Ministry.
I always knew where he stood.
Still the case. Don’t always agree with him but never in doubt as to his views. That is one of the things about being an MP, you are elected exresssing opinions and while it is good to develop and learn it is also important not to pretend that you agree with things when they are rubbish.
Hone made it clear last night that he agrees with the Labour Party that putting up GST is an attack on the poor.
It is happenning so John Key and people of similar wealth and income can get a tax cut of over $1,000 a week.
Some loopholes in property taxation law are being closed to neutralise the effects and finance some softening for low income earners.
But the real benefits are not going to the core National supporters who earn $70 – $120k – but to Key’s very high income mates.
I think the Nats will regret changing the top rate rather than doing a big increase to the threshold.
Because as Hone says it is poor people Maori and Pakeha who will finance the tax cuts for the rich. And thats not the Kiwi way.
I suppose that’s something, still doesn’t shift the dark cloud of the day
What do you think would happen if Labour said that it would not run candidates against any Maori Party MPs that crossed the floor for this budget or the next?
Yeah, but they could turn coat on other things.
I’m not that impressed. Hone gets to have his cake and eat it too.
He spoke out becasue “Maori Party supporters would expect it.” Surely they expect more than that?
Maori Party MPs (excluding Hone to be fair – he’s not here) gave English a standing ovation. They really do support the GST increase.
The government broke its promise not to increase GST.
The government broke its promise to offer a tax neutral budget change. Their tax changes increased the deficit by $460M a year. That’s $9M a week.
They have effectively cut the health budget over the next 4 years as the $500M allocated is insufficient to cope with demographic change and the introduction of new technology/medicine.
The increase in education is less than inflation, etc.
I must say I concur. I was impressed. Hone does have balls and conviction.
Hone has always had balls, no shrinking violet is our Hone.
@ Spud – Balls yes, Brains – not so much.
I have a different spin on this than my mate Trevor.! Hone should now put his money where his mouth is. He has postured around like this before – beating his chest and bleating to anyone who will listen. Well, now is the time for action. If he has courage of his convictions, then he should vote against the budget, leave the Maori party and seek a mandate from his electorate. He won’t of course. Maori would be much better served by having Kelvin Davis as their MP up north. He would be a fantastic electorate MP, as he is a man with the courage of conviction – unlike Hone, who will sit in his seat in parliament, beside the National party, like a little lap dog that barks every now and again. Go home Hone.!
I don’t think Hone is going to get too much support on the noise he is trying to create here. Even the poorest are going to be better off. I so so pleased to see Cullen’s envy tax finally abolished. Shame we had to put up with it for the past decade
Northland could do with both Kelvin and Hone, at the moment Northland is real national party territory.
Yeah, some lucky people by $2
Wow, I wonder what you can buy for $2? 
Monty – you falsely claim that the poor will be better off.
Another broken promise is that there would be no losers with the GST change. Well there are losers.
Anyone on a benefit or on Super who spends more than this income (using income from investments or running down their savings) will spend more because of the GST increase than they receive in payment adjustment – the adjustment is made on the assumption that people are living within their benfit and Super income.
Thus a demonstrable group of people – those on UB, DPB, SB, IB and those on Super who resort to other income – who will be worse off. Another broken promise.
“Northland could do with both Kelvin and Hone, at the moment Northland is real national party territory.”
I can understand Hone’s reluctance to ‘cross the floor’ on the budget legislation. It’s easier said than done, and you only have to look at what happened to earlier MPs (especially Marilyn Waring) who crossed the floor in a past National government.
But there is nothing to stop him working with Kelvin Davis over matters of mutual concern. Indeed, his mana would increase significantly if he was to do so, and it would show that his views are indeed genuine.
Monty, by poor do you mean beneficiaries or people in jobs on low incomes? If you mean the later, I’m not so convinced they will be better off.
Contrary to how it may seem sometimes I do actually want to be impressed by a Govt in this country, one that proposes innovation, new ideas, new thinking… I’ve waited 18 months and two budgets and the change this Govt has brought has been hollow. It also appears if people like someone, Clark or Key, then they are strong likeable leaders, if you dont like them, they are dictators. For over 3 years I watched and listened as Clark was villified for being a control freak, a dictator etc… the people doing the vilifying are alarmingly quiet on Key, who is displaying those very traits much much earlier in his reign… just how many portfolios does he have? he seems to speak on everything… unless it’s bad news, and he leaves that to Bill.
Well the question is not just whether the poor will be better off or not, but that 1% of income earners will get 15% of the tax cuts.
ALSO NACT HAS NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE COUNTRY.
All they can do is figure out how to slice the same pie differently.
They’re frakin’ bereft of clues to go forward with.
Because they are not economic builders, merely economic gamers.
Well said Loota
Trev, What are you thinking?
Danyl says it well:
http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/7135/#comments
‘I’m not a Maori Party supporter but I think they’d be getting pretty tired of this constant refrain: they’re really unhappy with the government – they almost left the coalition! – but they thought about it and they’re actually not going to do anything. What’s more irritating is that these complaints are great politics FOR the government. National voters probably hate Harawira more than any other politician in the country: if he’s opposed to Key’s policies then great! Everybody wins!’