Party backs Goff on Nationhood speech

Labour Party leader Phil Goff and president Andrew Little (L). Photo / Mark Mitchell

Labour leader Phil Goff has pleaded ignorance about how his "Nationhood" speech ended up with the same title as Don Brash's infamous Orewa address.

Mr Goff yesterday said that he did not attach the title "Nationhood" to the speech he delivered to Grey Power in Palmerston North last month.

The title now appears in capital letters on an image of a New Zealand beach scene beside a copy of the speech on the Labour website.

Mr Goff did not have the title on the copy of the speech he originally released to media.

He said the title was added in the process of publicising the speech, and although he had nothing to do with it, he had no particular objection as the themes touched on nationhood.

However, Mr Goff denied any other similarities to Dr Brash's effort, or that he was playing the race card in a similar way.

Mr Goff said his speech was firmly focused on Hone Harawira's outburst, the "shabby political deals" between National and the Maori Party and the uncertainty over what will replace the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

He said there was no hidden meaning: "what you see is what you get".

Mr Goff emerged from caucus saying he had the "unanimous support" of all its MPs for the speech.

He raised the speech for discussion but was expected to be questioned on it after it left some in the party uncomfortable.

There was not one dissenting voice, Mr Goff said, and the only concerns MPs had were with the way some media commentators had interpreted the speech.

This included Maori MPs, who Mr Goff said were "absolutely adamant" that they wanted to see transparency from the Government about what will replace the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

"Anyone who has read the speech has said: 'we agree with you on that'," he said.

Mr Goff said he had fully consulted a cross-section of MPs about the speech, and had a lengthy discussion with the caucus about the issues he was going to raise.

Mr Goff said Labour was still prepared to work with National on the foreshore and seabed issue, but did not have faith they would work with Labour after the breakdown of negotiations over the Emissions Trading Scheme.

He said the act appeared to be working, and the Government had to be clear about what was going to replace it before Labour supported it.

Labour Party president Andrew Little walked into the caucus meeting beside Mr Goff in a sign of support.

In Monday's Herald, Mr Little said he had some personal concerns about the speech. He refused to specify but indicated there were issues about how it had been received by Maori.

He subsequently clarified his position, saying he was comfortable with the speech.

Mr Little yesterday reiterated the party and its ruling council were supportive of the speech and Mr Goff.

Prime Minister John Key said: "The tragedy for Phil Goff is that he gave a speech he doesn't believe in, and now the Labour Party don't believe in him."