Maori MPs high and dry

By Richard Knight

The self-styled "tight five" Maori MPs have been punished three years on for their failure to get rid of the National Government in 1996.

New Zealand First made a clean sweep of the five Maori seats in the 1996 general election on a promise that the party would get rid of National.

But they failed to carry out that promise and on Saturday none of them survived a Labour Party rout of the Maori seats, extended to six in this election.

Tau Henare, Rana Waitai, Tutekawa Wyllie, Tukoroirangi Morgan and Tuariki Delamere got the message loud and clear from the ballot box how Maori felt.

Mauri Pacific leader and former Minister of Maori Affairs Tau Henare's 1996 majority of 8418 looked safe enough.

But an election- night majority to Dover Samuels of 4222 meant that Mr Henare was relegated to third place in Te Tai Tokerau, behind NZ First candidate Anaru George.

"The people have spoken and that's democracy," Mr Henare said. "I will not make a decision on my political career or whether to run again. It could be tomorrow or in 12 months."

The macho image of Dirty Dog sunglasses and long black coats put the Maori MPs offside with their colleagues and most of the public.

Mr Morgan, MP for Te Tai Hauauru, had a baptism of fire soon after he entered Parliament over the Aotearoa Television underpants affair.

After the election result he said he was a "casualty of democracy."

It was expected that Mr Delamere would give Mita Ririnui a close run for the Waiariki seat, but he never looked like challenging. Mr Waitai barely made a dent in Ikaroa-Rawhiti, and Mr Wyllie could manage only second in Te Tai Tonga.