Chadwick Steve: General Debate 
Chadwick Steve: General Debate 
[Volume:620;Page:16110] 
STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) 
: 
 I rise to demonstrate clearly that Dr Brash’s political posturing is driven purely by a poll drop—he is down in the polls trying desperately to raise his public profile. What does Dr Brash do? He comes to Rotorua which I proudly represent and holds a public meeting. But he keeps the location secret. “Flip-flop Dr Brash bellyflop Dr Brash and your merry men.” This posturing secretly with a small—a very small—group of supporters on our beautiful lake edge did nothing for the Opposition’s image. The leadership of the Opposition has clearly become a real concern. The rifts are already showing in the Opposition and it is very clear when Dr Brash uses such poor political judgment to come to Rotorua to make such a misguided statement as he did on the lakes that he did not seek Georgina te Heuheu’s very very valuable advice. 
Even Jane Clifton said: “From top of the polls to puny laggard. What has happened to the political athlete Dr Brash?”. Yes in our district of Rotorua we are concerned about the lakes but not the ownership of the lake beds. Dr Brash read that really wrong. We are concerned about the water quality of the lakes. It is a hot issue. Why did he not come and hold a good public meeting and come out with another of his second major public policy announcements? Ownership of the lakes is not one of those. 
Since he made that statement the press has run hot: “Rotorua leaders condemn Nat’s stance on lakes deal”. At home we do not like it and it has no traction whatsoever. An image of the doctor the old sort of colonial tea planter framed against Lake Rotorua—a tourism Mecca in the nation’s eyes—will not add any value to the iconic status of our lakes. Why did he not come and give his second major announcement on policy? Because he has gone feral on it and he has decided that that strategy was not working. Was this the No. 2 major policy roll-out that we all waited for? In July he was on a roll. Now he is flip-flop on policy yet again. This was we think the No. 2 major announcement 3 months too early or over a year too late. It shows yet another lack of political judgment and one would have to ask where he is getting his advice. 
The polls will not peak feverishly in Rotorua for National. The people see the lack of support for Te Arawa ownership as a worrying move to the far right. We are a proud moderate community—tatou tatou we together. At home we understand the issues of diplomacy and the generosity of NgatiWhakaue and Te Arawa. They gave the reserves Hospital Hill the very site that the city is built on. Who rose up most to speak against the National stance? It was yet another icon of Rotorua Sir Howard Morrison. He said “What I am really up in arms about is the fact that people like you do not trust the word of your bicultural partner—Maori; the bicultural ethos of this country is Maori and Pakeha and you as a treaty partner are just blaspheming and demeaning Maori to the worst degree.” It stinks. We hate it. 
Sir Howard Morrison also said: “My angst is with Mr Brash and all of them using Maori as a scapegoat to vent for their own opportunist ways to try and stir up another hit like Orewa. I guess our people are sick of being used as a political football.” That is the message from home Dr Brash. 
Let us talk about the deal that Dr Brash talked about when he said: “A deal’s a deal.” There has been a very very strong reaction to this deal. Margaret Wilson said that the deal was unfair and should be reversed. The 1922 agreement could not properly be described as a sale. It was a classic case where one party to the negotiation had considerable power to the detriment of another party. That is why there has been a sense of grievance in Te Arawa ever since. Our Government will get that right. I say ask Georgina Te Heuheu. 
The previous Mayor of Rotorua Grahame Hall has spoken out. Paul East acknowledged the generosity of Te Arawa. So did Don Stafford a local historian and ArapetaTahana the previous chair and AnaruRangiheuea. The list goes on and on. The Opposition should be embarrassed.