Minister: Muller ‘blind to Māori’
Whanau Ora Minister Peeni Henare has attacked new National leader Todd Muller as ‘‘blind to Ma¯ ori’’ in a blistering parliamentary speech.
His comments come following the controversy over Muller’s new 14-MP front bench, which features just one Ma¯ ori person – Paula Bennett. This has earned Muller criticism from many quarters, including National MP Jo Hayes and former National MP Tau Henare.
Muller told Q+A on Monday evening that he picked his MPs solely on merit, not race.
‘‘I don’t look at it through that lens. Dr Shane Reti is an amazing MP who also happens to be Ma¯ ori,’’ Muller said.
Henare took issue with this comment. ‘‘In that one reply, he told Maori he does not see them, that National is blind to who we are and what we stand for,’’ Henare said. ‘‘The Leader of the Opposition doesn’t understand our world, in his own words, he doesn’t see our world.’’
He also criticised National MP Judith Collins, who asked yesterday whether there was any problem with being white. ‘‘Judith Collins . . . announced that she was sick and tired of being demonised for her culture. When Ms Collins is more likely to live in poverty, to end up in prison, to be stopped to have her bags checked in a shop . . . then, maybe she can claim to be demonised for her culture.’’
Henare said having Māori ministers at ‘‘the decision-making table’’ meant wins for Māori.
‘‘The Leader of the Opposition claims that my Māori ministerial colleagues Willie Jackson and Kelvin Davis are weak. The same ministers that delivered . . . millions of dollars to Māori education, kōhanga reo, employment and Māori trades training.’’
Muller said on RNZ that across his 20-member shadow cabinet and 55-member caucus, there were many strong Māori voices.
He told The AM Show that National had delivered for Māori .