Last week in Parliament she was forced to distance herself and Labour from the highly toxic He Puapua report as if it was not of her making, simply an aspirational expression of Maori plans for future development - one commissioned by others who were supposedly only floating ideas. In response to repeated questioning from the Leader of the Opposition, she claimed that it would be going nowhere during this parliamentary term.
No matter that the ideas included in the report sounded
very much like they had the backing of not only Iwi throughout the country who
had been engaged with senior government officials on this and other topics at
hui in recent months, but also those at the highest level in this
administration.
Are we to believe that those talks were not sanctioned by this government and it was all a waste of time. If that is not the case then the PM has some work to do convincing voters that she is not a liar that would put Baron Munchausen in the shade.
I suspect that this whole fiasco is the result of being
forced to own up when the reality of the government’s clandestine operations
are exposed ahead of time.
It all looks too much like what appears to be the case
explaining the origins of the Corona virus. It wasn’t supposed to happen that
way but now that the truth is emerging, those involved in the creation of the
monster are running for cover as fast as their little legs will carry them.
Unfortunately for the Prime Minister, no amount of
distancing herself and her colleagues from the prematurely disclosed
revelations will save her from the Frankenstein that is laying waste to her own
and her party’s credibility. They will all undoubtedly reap what they have
sown.
It will not be enough to pretend that it never happened
and what we are reading is a figment of our imagination. It is in front of us
in black and white.
We are able to see clearly what is meant by the term
“power sharing” with our Treaty Partners - at least that is the interpretation
we are asked to accept as the definitive term promoted in the He Puapua doctrine.
The really sad thing about this whole sorry saga is that
much of the aspirations expressed by Maori in this report would be shared by a
majority of pakeha as reasonable concerns for the environment and natural
resources that we all depend on.
But because of the deceitful way it has been handled,
much of the potential opportunities for a shared future based on some of the
report’s suggestions will become collateral damage of the push back from those
who can only see it as a attempt to promote something that lacks legitimacy.
And unfortunately those negative views of the report are likely to become
mainstream.
I suppose the best we can expect from this botched coup
attempt is that it is back to the drawing boards. But the damage to the good will
that existed will be hard to overlook. The repairs will take time.
I hope l am wrong, but history suggests otherwise.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
3 comments:
Labour governments have a history of appeasement of various factions, Maori are at the top of the list followed closely by welfare dependents. The latest gifts from the recent budget suggests that softening up of dependents will continue through to the next election.
Keeping supporter base happy enough that they ignore what's happening around them is a well tried and proven strategy.
As mentioned in recent posts here, the proverbial will hit the fan at some time soon, but wont be until more people are aware of the direction Labour is taking us and or affected at a personal level.
Ray, I think you will find National, under Key, was also good at appeasing the Maori party to gain support and power. In fact it was entirely his fault that NZ signed up to the UN indigenous ideas. Then followed it up by agreeing to come up with a plan on how to follow through. Something Helen had refused to do.
Easy for him to throw the rest of us under the bus then just walk away. Money allows you to ignore the trials and tribulations of those without.
Thank you CXH, for pointing out what so many people refuse to see.
The MAJOR problem that the country now has, is the fact that the millennial vote will outnumber the baby boomers at the next election. Consequently the indoctrinated will outnumber the educated. We will lead the Western world when it comes to 'The Great Reset'
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