‘You’re a long time dead’
John Tamihere launches new bid for Parliament in coming election
Former Cabinet minister and Auckland mayoralty hopeful John Tamihere is running for Parliament — and has started his campaign with a hit at the Government and Labour’s 13 Ma¯ori MPs.
Tamihere has been confirmed as the Ma¯ori Party’s candidate for the Ta¯maki Makaurau electorate in September’s general election. The seat is held by Wha¯nau Ora Minister Peeni Henare.
Tamihere was last in Parliament 15 years ago, when he lost the seat to then Ma¯ori Party co-leader Sir Pita Sharples.
The 61-year-old told the Herald on Sunday he decided to launch his political comeback because he believed the Labour Party’s 13 Ma¯ori MPs had been silenced over major issues facing Ma¯oridom; including Ihuma¯tao and Wha¯nau Ora funding.
“I did not anticipate them being assimilated so early and contained so much,” Tamihere said.
“The day that your advocates have been subjugated, their voice has been muffled into silence, then you no longer have any Ma¯ori advocacy.”
When told his former broadcasting colleague and Labour Party MP Willie Jackson would have a different take on Tamihere’s views, he responded: “Well we have ex-mates and excousins, and he [Jackson] is both.”
Tamihere was in Parliament between 1999-2005, including as Cabinet minister in Helen Clark’s Government; holding the portfolios of Small Business, Youth Affairs, Statistics and Land Information. He resigned those posts in late 2004 after facing allegations surrounding financial dealings. Investigations, including one by the Serious Fraud Office, cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Last year he unsuccessfully stood for the Auckland mayoralty, losing to incumbent Phil Goff by almost 100,000 votes.
When asked why he wanted to have another crack at becoming an MP, Tamihere said: “Because you are a long time dead.”
He vowed he would offer an
“unfettered, authentic Ma¯ori voice”.
Not only is Tamihere trying to resurrect his own political career, but so too is the party he is standing for.
The Ma¯ ori Party exited Parliament at the 2017 general election when it received just 1.2 per cent of the MMP party vote and failed to win an electorate seat.
Tamihere believed there would be enough support within Ma¯ori for the party to return to Parliament on September 19, saying there was increased frustration in the way the Government was addressing critical issues such as Wha¯nau Ora.
The Government gave it an $80 million funding boost over four years in the 2019 Budget. But late last year several respected Ma¯ ori leaders went public with their frustrations that some of that money was being used by non-Wha¯nau Ora bodies.
“Our negative social indicators need addressing and the only policy that works for that is Wha¯nau Ora,” Tamihere said.
“If this Government continues to destroy a programme that could lead to generational changes that mean we deliver positive and progressive
Ma¯ori citizens, well, then you have to fight. What Ma¯ ori want, like all people, is decent health, welfare, education and housing.
“We are not getting a fair shake on social housing and kids require a base.”
Tamihere said previous governments led by Norman Kirk, Sir Robert Muldoon, David Lange, Jim Bolger, Helen Clark and Sir John Key, had used their time wisely while in opposition and were well prepared when they took power.
But he said the same couldn’t be said for the Ardern-led Government.
“[They] have talked a big game. You look at this motley crew and you go to yourself, ‘You got put together in a pretty hasty marriage and are still working out the pre-nuptials’.”
What Ma¯ ori want, like all people, is decent health, welfare, education and housing.