Nats MP may go for Ma¯ori seat
National list MP Jo Hayes is keen to go home and represent her people in Te Tai Hauauru, one of seven Ma¯ ori electorates.
It’s an unusual stance for a National MP to take.
The last time National stood candidates in the Ma¯ ori seats was in 2002. Two years later, then leader Don Brash decided against it after criticising the electorates in his controversial Orewa speech. In 2004 Brash said: ‘‘We will remove the anachronism of the Ma¯ ori seats in Parliament.’’
But Hayes believed it was time for National to reconsider its Ma¯ ori vote. She said Labour had failed to deliver for Ma¯ ori despite boasting about having the largest ever Ma¯ ori caucus, including all seven Ma¯ ori seats.
‘‘How do I measure that?’’ said Hayes. ‘‘By the number of Ma¯ ori coming up to me saying: Where are those ministers? Why aren’t those ministers here? Where are they? Where is their voice?’’
Of Labour’s 13 Ma¯ ori MPs, four are ministers, one list MP Willie Jackson and three from the Ma¯ ori electorates, Labour’s deputy leader Kelvin Davis, Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare.
Last year, Labour’s fifth Ma¯ ori minister, Meka Whaitiri, lost her portfolio after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lost confidence in her following bullying claims.
‘‘It’s not how many they’ve got it’s actually their ability to influence policy,’’ said Hayes. ‘‘So far I haven’t seen any ability to influence any major policy.’’
Hayes believed coalition partner NZ First had a stronger influence on Ma¯ori policy than Labour’s 13 Ma¯ ori MPs.
NZ First has six Ma¯ori MPs, but four of them hold multiple ministerial positions: Tracey Martin, Shane Jones and Ron Mark, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
Hayes said NZ First had pushed for a universality funding regime rather than targeting Ma¯ ori and Labour has allowed it to happen.
‘‘I don’t think Winston is helping the plight of Ma¯ori, giving Ma¯ori the opportunity to move forward under this coalition government,’’ said Hayes.
‘‘We know the views of Winston when it came to Wha¯nau Ora, when it comes to targeting Ma¯ori. He says: Why should Ma¯ ori get special treatment?
‘‘Ma¯ ori need special treatment because colonisation actually occurred for them, now we are seeing the results of that and it needs to be fixed,’’ said Hayes.
‘‘The only way we can fix that is targets, certain types of funding. So key areas to lift outcomes in education and health. So we can foot it alongside non-Ma¯ ori who get everything. ’’
Currently, 25 per cent of the 120 MPs are Ma¯ori, which included Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, independent Jami-Lee Ross and ACT’s David Seymour. National has eight Ma¯ori MPs including leader Simon Bridges and deputy Paula Bennett although list MP Nuk Korako is retiring..
Hayes admitted there was an internal battle happening over what they’ll do about the Ma¯ ori vote. But she was clear about her position on the Ma¯ ori electorates.
‘‘Until a decision comes out we will continue to fight to have representation,’’ said Hayes.
‘‘It would be fair for our people in the Ma¯ ori seats, on the Ma¯ ori roll. I think we could do better with our Ma¯ ori vote by considering and looking at ways we can increase the party vote, getting closer with Ma¯ ori.’’
Hayes said National had targeted funding for Ma¯ ori while they were in government but admits policy was left mainly to coalition partner the Ma¯ ori Party.
She said it included programmes canned or put on hold by Labour, including partnership schools, changes to the Ma¯ ori Land Act and Wha¯ nau Ora.
Kelvin Davis responded angrily when asked if Labour’s Ma¯ori caucus was failing to deliver for Ma¯ori and was supporting universality funding.
‘‘We work as a coalition government, we make decisions together through Cabinet,’’ said Davis. ‘‘There are some things Ma¯ori are a part of and some things that are specific. So no, it’s not just universality.’’
The Budget is out in May. Hayes will watch to see if Labour meets promises for targeted Ma¯ ori funding.