by Metiria Turei
John Key’s unnecessary attack against Hone Harawira today was wrong on three accounts.
First, Key is incorrect, simply repeating media stories. Hone Harawira is not making money from the tino rangatiratanga flag. At the very worst there is a perception of a conflict of interest. MPs as part of their personal lives do find themselves in a similar situation of perceived conflict of interest and when they do they are expected to identify it and distance themselves. That is what Hone did. So why continue the attacks?
Second, attacking the families of MPs is outrageous. Every MP knows what an easy target the families of MPs are and it is widely acknowledged that families are off limits: Maori and Pakeha whanau alike. Key does not demand to know the interests of all the family members of his own caucus and make public declarations as to which of those interests are appropriate. The business of a MPs whanau is no business of his.
Third, it begs the question of what might be motivating Key. Is he trying to create conflict with the Maori Party? Is he trying to actively create division within it? Whatever, there is no justification for this foolishness. I am sure he will find no appetite at Waitangi for this behaviour.
Published in THE GAME by Metiria Turei on Thu, February 4th, 2010
More posts by Metiria Turei | more about Metiria Turei
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
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Thank you for this post. Your leadership qualities are impressive, your analysis and conclusions are accurate. The greens are the true left in this country at the moment – thank you again.
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When a Fijian or African does that we call them corrupt.
But then right and ethical thing to do doesn’t always align with party politics – does it?
Planet earth to Metiria – you say it’s no interest of the PM when an MP is trying to copyright what is nearly a National Flag – while AT THE SAME TIME using his position to have the flag adopted.
If you think that is no business of the country or PM, then your ethics are in the gutter – you clearly are protecting corrupt and unethical activities that are a clear breach of parlaiment.
Metiria – Your stand is a disgrace.
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Besides, this is not the biggest issue on the radar by far – in fact, one might go so far as to suggest it’s currently being inflated a bit by the Nats, in order to mask some rather nasty unemployment numbers. To fall upon it with the vigour you have done above is a little “tone deaf”, tbh.
Note: I’m a Green supporter and voter (at least for the last few elections), so please take this in the spirit it is intended.
And BP, yes, indeed you are right about the farce element. Tainted.
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I can’t help but feel that our Maorii ties to the Land are yet largely misunderstood – maybe cos it AIN’T all about the Money (except that monetary Value has been foisted on to their Culture, whereas with Euro’s the Money is evrything – a generalization I know).
I hope to live long enough to see the day where Kiwis are One People.
However I have here a most illuminating book by the journalist Bruce Chatwin, called “The Songlines”.
To anyone interested in Native ties to the Land (and ALL Kiwi’s are) it is a sackful of Diamonds – the similarities (it’s about the Aborigine) are powerfull, striking and this Book is held to be a Benchmark amongst Australian Academics.
It is not an exaggeration to term it a life-changing eye-opener (and a transfixing experience!)
Without understanding mistakes become unavoidable.
We have been kept from this understanding for far too long already.
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Metiria, go join the brown party, your allegiances lie more naturally there with the racists.
The Greenz have other battles, more important, I might add.
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For what it’s worth, would Key have made public statements about the dealings of one of his own MPs and particularly about that MPs wife?
Nope.
His actions aren’t accidental. They are calculated.
Where there is trouble that will damage National, Key eases the problem out of the public’s consciousness with a cheery grin.
That’s not happening here.
Quite the reverse in fact.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Spot on Greenfly! Hone’s in Tariana’s and John’s sights now and they’re going to take him out of the picture one way or the other.Yes the Harawira’s got greedy. So what ? That’s the dominant creed under neoliberalism. Everything is for sale folks!!! Doesn’t matter who thinks they own it. And the reptiles running the show like Key couldn’t give a rats arse about any of us native New Zealanders.
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big bro said: Stop defending the most disgusting racist in New Zealand.
That’s not fair or true bro. I have never read or heard Meyt say anything in defence of Michael Lhaws.
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Ah Mr Toad!
You make me laugh!
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10624317
Maori TV has to pay a higher coverage fee??
Not a good look.
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The problem with a number of these comments is that like Key’s comments they are based of factual inaccuracies. Whatever you prefer to believe about Hone Harawira, falsehoods repeated do not turn into truths.
Rainman, I take your point about the distraction, it certainly was. I wanted to comment to put out the actual story and to question the political motives of this attack. The destruction of the Maori Party might serve Nationals longer term interests but not ours. Cheers, Metiria
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If the “other” Mark appears without my crimson Gravatar hear this.
A Worm is a worm is a worm – do you know the Sentences for id theft???
I’m going to get the Police ID unit to track your post – hope you get a friendly cellmate
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Samiam: You are Entitled to Your opinion.
I would give your comment a thumbs down every day for a year
Gross and Offensive!!!
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Mark, anyone can put any name into the ‘name’ field when posting comments.
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Mark, The Crimson. My comment was put up to get a bite and it’s fascinating to see how evenly balanced the ticks and crosses are.
I always go by the rule …
Offense is something that cannot be given, it can only be taken.
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Fair enough….clear skies here
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samiam: Good One! I must say I was shocked to see your name on it and should have guessed…..you’ll beat me at Poker every time!
And you’re right – what really prompted me to comment was the shocking number of people who agreed (without adding their own monicker to it)!
On the question of offense one must remember that the Unconscious Mind has no sense of Humour!
I’m fairly thick-skinned myself, and would like to think people would Post if they found Offense in any comment of mine!
If you are interested in the Psychology of this; I did a study on Pauline Hanson in Australia using this ‘lancing the wound’ technique…..
It turned out to be a very healthy process – because there was a huge Groundswell of Support that soon disappeared, leaving the Conversation on a higher plane – as those concerned realized their Foundations could not support any sort of Gravity.
Mark (Crimson with embarrasmento)
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Mark – you lanced Pauline Hanson?
I’m not at all surprised (despite the question Mark)
Samiam is a Fisherman? The Fisherman???
Whoar! (It’s catching on!)
We’ve moved to a new level.
Embarrassmento? Is that an Italian hue?
Here in the South (look down) it’s hot, hot, hot!
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Flies make good bait..
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Trouble is, you have to catch them first Sam…..no offense(hee) but my money (parlous) is on that particular Fly (against anyone including me)…
Of course not Fly; I sat in the stands with my mouth shut and my eyes and ears wide open…..I learned a lot.
Embarrassmento is a red ironic pasta sauce – equal parts shame, foolishness, a piquant dash of fresh robbery victim – nailed to a cross and left to bake.
Watch out you don’t get a rash in all that heat down there…
regards
The Scarlet Fool
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Frog: Upon reflection – I would rather a million Marks here than just me – apologies to my Namesake – name your Price! (I can’t afford it…)
sincerely
Magenta Mark
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So Key exaggerated things to beat up on Hone. You get that in politics. If Hone grew up instead of behaving like a spoilt brat he might learn the discretion needed to avoid this kind of thing.
Metiria, there is a clear conflict of interest not just a perception, and the Harawiras deserve criticism regardless of Hone being an MP.
Either the flag has been gifted to Maori or it hasn’t. Any copyright could surely only be held by a pan-Maori entity or failing that the crown on behalf.
Is the New Zealand flag copywrited?
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great for luring frogs and toads too!
I see my score remains remarkably balanced and, no, I haven’t voted for myself.
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