Hereora Dave: General Debates 
Hereora Dave: General Debates 
[Volume:606;Page:3796] 
DAVE HEREORA (NZ Labour) 
: 
 Before I start I just want to comment on some of the statements made by Mr Power in terms of the list of illusions. He was unclear about the principles and in my view that lack of clarity may be due to the divisions concerning support of the leadership in his party. Maybe if they sorted that out he might find his path forward.  
I want to refer to various statements made by the Opposition leader Bill English and particularly those surrounding National’s Maori policies. We learnt of his keynote speech to Gore Rotary where he spoke of his concerns about the Treaty of Waitangi and raised the issue of the so-called fourth article. I find it odd that he has referred to that issue as a “Trojan Horse” for Maori indigenous beliefs. I am also mindful that it was backed up by a statement from him that the Waitangi Tribunal had received such a claim. I find that odd but not out of character for the Opposition leader because the tribunal manager Ian Shearer—a former National Minister I might add—said he did not know what the heck Mr English was talking about. 
It is my view therefore that that was just another feeble attempt to grab the limelight knowing that every day that passes his leadership is in question. It also shows the Opposition’s typical attempt to further undermine and attack Maori and we all know that it is because the National Party is absent in terms of genuine policy and structured pathways forward for Maori. Is it not easier to create a diversion from the true issue here? The true issue is that National has no policy no support and at this stage absolutely no leadership.  
If there were a genuine commitment to Maori issues would not the National Party best foster that commitment by elevating its Maori member from Tuwharetoa rather than demoting her in seniority? I look to the Opposition ranks and find it absolutely disappointing that although their leader pretends to promote Maori issues it has only one representative. I wonder how the National Party can represent Maori issues with only one Maori on its benches. I also wonder if its Maori representative has been featuring in the recent developments surrounding the question of leadership change or is National more concerned about elevating its European representation from the past? National’s Maori member has earned the opportunity to at least be associated with the rumours that are being bandied around this House in relation to the leadership change.  
I still recall the statement made by the Hon Bill English that the new voters will be young and brown and that if his party does not get their votes it will not get into Parliament again. I again wonder whether National members understand the true principles of partnership. The Opposition’s accountability and performance on treaty issues is very poor.  
Mr Brownlee has been in Bill English’s bad books ever since he gained public exposure at Mr English’s expense by writing newspaper articles advocating changes to Government policy on subjects outside his portfolio responsibilities. His Treaty of Waitangi article overshadowed coverage of Mr English’s visit to Waitangi. Is it not odd that political commentator Barry Gustafson pointed out that the treaty article in the  
New Zealand Herald  
suggested leadership aspirations because if the Christchurch MP wanted his constituents to know what he was talking about why would he not use his local newspaper—unless he was trying to raise his National profile? So we do see what is going on from this side of the benches. We understand that National is experiencing a problem and it is getting very close to the numbers coming down.  
I want to share with the Opposition members some commitment surrounding the principles of the treaty. There is one obvious visual example that I can share with them and that is the fact that the Labour Party has more—and we obviously know this—Maori representation.