A politics of grievance can explain yesterday, but it cannot build tomorrow.
Today, Māori politics is consumed by grievance, division and theatre.
Te Pāti Māori increasingly presents itself as the political voice of Māori. It’s not. There’s no doubt the party can organise a decent protest and knows how to create a good headline but beneath all that noise, what has it achieved for Māori? Māori don’t need another performance, we need practical leadership that delivers opportunities to get ahead.
The party’s president, John Tamihere, helped Te Pāti Māori back into Parliament, but his leadership has squandered much of the momentum he helped create. Tamihere had an opportunity to put the party ahead of himself and step aside and give his party an opportunity to recover – instead, he’s held on. Tamihere is one of many so-called Māori leaders financially benefiting from a culture of victimhood.
Our history gives us plenty of examples of real Māori leaders that deserve our respect. Leaders that made a difference and helped shape our values and our country.
The legacies of Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir James Carroll, Sir Peter Buck, Sir Maui Pomare, Sir Hemi Henare, Dame Whina Cooper, Sir Jerry Mateparae remind us that Māori leadership does not have to be about injustices of the past, division or political theatre. It can be confident, moderate, pragmatic and united – firmly grounded in whakapapa and culture while looking forward.
Their Māori identity was strengthened by their commitment to their country and their people. That is the Māori leadership I recognise.
Our politics shouldn’t be determined by who shouts the loudest. It should be guided by the enduring values that shaped us in the traditions of family, kinship, faith, community, service and duty.
These are the conservative values I was raised with and values I believe are worth conserving. For too long us conservative Māori have been made to feel ashamed by the left-wing Māori rhetoric dominating the media.
No Māori should feel pressured to hide traditional, moderate or conservative values simply because contemporary politics has become so much more confrontational.
To conserve is to protect what matters, use what we have wisely, preserve what works and pass something worthwhile on to the next generation.
You don’t stop being Māori because you vote differently. You don’t lose your whakapapa because you believe in personal responsibility, nor do you become less Māori because you believe in one New Zealand.
At the heart of this is our New Zealand citizenship.
The equal citizenship we share was secured at great cost. The many Māori men of the 28th Māori Battalion who fought and died alongside their fellow New Zealanders for our freedom and nationhood. Their sacrifice must remind us that democracy is both a privilege and a responsibility.
That’s why New Zealand First wants to restore pride in citizenship. Immigrants shouldn’t be able to use their New Zealand citizenship as a stepping stone to Australia. We want immigrants to seek citizenship because they value our country, want to make it their home and want all the rights and privileges associated with becoming a New Zealander.
The challenge facing our country is bigger than any single political argument. It is about whether we can remain a country confident enough to respect difference while staying united by our patriotism. We must honour our past but be prepared to embrace the future. That means being realistic enough to put our whanau/family ahead of political ideologies.
This election is one of the most important of our lifetime. New Zealand stands at a crossroads, not only over the cost of living and pressure it puts on our communities, but over the kind of country we choose to become.
So, this is my karanga, my call, to the many Māori who recognise themselves in these values.. Now is the time to reclaim the power of that moderate, ‘conservative’ voice.
Do not allow yourself to be subdued or shamed into silence!
I stand with NZ First as a progressive moderate ‘conservative’ Māori woman who votes not only with my hand, but also my head and heart.
Let’s stop dwelling on our past and recognise the potential of our future.
