Bob Jones: New party not good for Maori

Is the Maori Party divisive and therefore harmful? I think so, just as a European or Samoan party would be.

It's also selfish in the same way as, say, a Superannuitants Party would be in seeking to use the State solely to promote the welfare of a particular sector, moreso given the already intrinsic unfairness of Maori seats.

Political parties should aim to benefit the whole community. To do otherwise amounts to a manipulative exploitation of the MMP system, as opposed to perfectly acceptable special interest lobby groups.

A party can still be a single movement and fit that criterion, such as the Greens with their environment concerns, or Act with their economic restructuring policies. But the Maori Party implies the pursuit of political power solely to benefit Maori.

I suspect Maoridom's cause would be far better progressed by less garrulous male marae-babbling and a lot more individual action. But I have considerable admiration for Tariana Turia's quiet dignity, straight talking and courage.

She has been the victim of some outrageous news media misrepresentations, such as in the Labour Party days when all hell broke loose for her use of the word "holocaust" to describe the impact of the European arrival on Maoridom. History shows her use of the word was perfectly appropriate. But why carry on about it?

I'm in the John Tamihere camp on that issue; don't fruitlessly wallow in the past.

The Tamihere-Sharples contest is of huge symbolic importance. For all of his erratic behaviour, everything Tamihere is about is the future. It seems to me the opposite is true of his opponent, epitomised by the ludicrous spectacle he presented last year, prancing half naked down Wellington's Lambton Quay, his face painted, his tongue out and waving a spear.

It will be a test of Maori voters whether they opt for this backward approach or the stand-on-your-own feet alternative.

Polls say most New Zealanders are opposed to Maori seats. So there's a special irony in exploiting them by creating a Maori Party. This may sow seeds of the party's own destruction, given that the Nats have promised their abolition.


-HERALD ON SUNDAY