Maori MPs fuel split on war

1 Nov, 2001 10:29 AM3 mins to read

By AUDREY YOUNG POLITICAL REPORTER

More dissent has emerged in the Government over support for the war in Afghanistan, this time among Labour's Maori MPs.

Prime Minister Helen Clark is understood to be furious that MPs have publicly aired their reservations, especially as they had not been raised in caucus first.

The coalition's junior partner, the Alliance, is deeply split over New Zealand's support for United States military strikes.

The divide is mainly between the Alliance's 10 MPs and its membership outside Parliament.

Now, Labour's Waiariki MP, Mita Ririnui, and Te Tai Hauauru MP Nanaia Mahuta have voiced concerns.

Mr Ririnui, a Ratana Church minister and chairman of the Maori caucus, said he opposed New Zealand's involvement and a peaceful resolution was needed.

"Aggression begets aggression," Mr Ririnui said. Survivors of the 28th Maori Battalion could not understand why New Zealand was getting involved in an international conflict, after their high casualties in the Second World War.

Nanaia Mahuta said she had concerns about sending soldiers to Afghanistan and about the families left behind.

She cited the anti-conscription work of Princess Te Puea during the Second World War.

Mr Ririnui said he had been speaking as an individual and was not not representing the Maori caucus view.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Dover Samuels, wearing an RSA badge yesterday, said the issue had never been raised at the Maori caucus or the ordinary caucus. He supported a deployment.

Mr Ririnui was yesterday seen receiving a dressing-down from Labour's chief whip, Rick Barker.

Helen Clark will not say whether the SAS has been deployed, only that it has been offered.

She would not comment on the comments of the two Maori MPs. A spokesman said she did want to discuss internal caucus business.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff insisted in Parliament that every Government MP had voted (on October 3) to support the offer of the SAS to help the United States war against terrorism.

Asked in the House by Green MP Keith Locke if New Zealand would replace its military assistance for the Afghanistan effort with aid, Mr Goff said: "I'm sure that providing only aid is not going to stop Osama bin Laden launching further terrorist attacks against the West.

"As well as the military effort, which is regrettably necessary, there will also need to be a huge humanitarian effort to stop the level of casualties."

The Alliance council held a special war meeting on Wednesday night after internal rebellion over its MPs' support for the US war effort.

Alliance leader Jim Anderton, who was picketed and heckled at an Auckland Alliance meeting last week, was travelling at the time and did not take part.

The row was largely deferred for a special war session at the party conference in Auckland on November 10 and 11.

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