Ferris’ argument is laughable and dangerous at the same time. He claims that Labour’s commitment to “inclusivity” is actually a covert plan to wipe out Māori seats. He suggests that Labour contesting the Māori seats in 2026 would be a “disservice” to Māori. The sheer absurdity of this is staggering. Labour has contested Māori seats for decades, long before Te Pāti Māori even existed. To paint this as some sort of sinister plot is not only dishonest, it’s divisive race-baiting designed to pit Māori against anyone who doesn’t bow to Ferris’ worldview.
What Ferris and Te Pāti Māori fail to understand is that they don’t own the Māori seats. Those electorates belong to the people who vote in them. Suggesting Labour should stand aside is tantamount to saying Māori don’t deserve a choice. It is the very definition of political arrogance – deciding who is allowed to compete for votes, as if Māori are children who can’t think for themselves.
Meanwhile, Ferris’ attacks on Labour expose the deep dysfunction within Te Pāti Māori. Labour and maybe the Greens are the only mainstream parties that have ever worked seriously with them, and yet Ferris seems determined to torch the relationship with Labour at every turn. If this is how Te Pāti Māori treats its allies, why should anyone trust them? The idea of Labour trying to form a coalition with a party whose MPs openly accuse them of erasing Māori identity is laughable.
The media, for their part, should start asking Chris Hipkins some hard questions. Why would Labour even consider working with Te Pāti Māori in 2026, when one of its loudest voices is on a constant crusade to undermine and insult them? Ferris may think he’s a champion of his people, but in reality he’s a liability – not just to his own party, but to Māori voters who deserve better than angry videos and paranoid conspiracies dressed up as “advocacy.”
At some point, Te Pāti Māori needs to decide whether it wants to be a genuine political party, capable of building bridges and delivering for Māori, or whether it is content being a fringe protest movement that lashes out at everyone and alienates even its closest potential allies. Right now, with Takuta Ferris having access to a social media account and posting unhinged rants, it looks very much like the latter.
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
What Ferris and Te Pāti Māori fail to understand is that they don’t own the Māori seats. Those electorates belong to the people who vote in them. Suggesting Labour should stand aside is tantamount to saying Māori don’t deserve a choice. It is the very definition of political arrogance – deciding who is allowed to compete for votes, as if Māori are children who can’t think for themselves.
Meanwhile, Ferris’ attacks on Labour expose the deep dysfunction within Te Pāti Māori. Labour and maybe the Greens are the only mainstream parties that have ever worked seriously with them, and yet Ferris seems determined to torch the relationship with Labour at every turn. If this is how Te Pāti Māori treats its allies, why should anyone trust them? The idea of Labour trying to form a coalition with a party whose MPs openly accuse them of erasing Māori identity is laughable.
The media, for their part, should start asking Chris Hipkins some hard questions. Why would Labour even consider working with Te Pāti Māori in 2026, when one of its loudest voices is on a constant crusade to undermine and insult them? Ferris may think he’s a champion of his people, but in reality he’s a liability – not just to his own party, but to Māori voters who deserve better than angry videos and paranoid conspiracies dressed up as “advocacy.”
At some point, Te Pāti Māori needs to decide whether it wants to be a genuine political party, capable of building bridges and delivering for Māori, or whether it is content being a fringe protest movement that lashes out at everyone and alienates even its closest potential allies. Right now, with Takuta Ferris having access to a social media account and posting unhinged rants, it looks very much like the latter.
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
When you consider the antics of TPM politicians you need to consider the voterers who TPM are trying to impress. Intelligent Maori are not going to vote for them anyway. Chasing the vote of people with brains is like National chasing the vote of trade unionists. TPM appeals to gang members and those of a similar intelligence who will simply vote for them because they are a Maori party and are racist in their favour, regardless of whether their policies will do them and the country any good.
Or is it there a more simple reason. Ferris made what turned out to be a silly comment, one that could have easily been walked back. However, he has mana in a big way, just look at the size of the ornaments he wears. Probably has a walking stick to show his amazingness as well.
So for him to walk anything back would be an insult to his mana. Not going to happen. Ever. He would prefer to fight than lose mana by admitting his own faults.
This honky fellow Ferris destroying TMP by highlighting their credibility (or lack there-of) is great stuff.
Long may it continue!
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