26 August 2009
Media Statement

Te Heuheu disagrees with Key on Maori seats

The Associate Minister of Maori Affairs today broke rank with the Prime Minister by saying it was appropriate for Maori seats to be created on individual councils if it was deemed the right thing to do, says Labour MP Mita Ririnui.

“Georgina Te Heuheu, National’s most senior Maori MP, was defending her 2001 decision to cross the floor and vote for my Bill, which created seats on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

“She conceded there was disappointment within National about its decision not to support Maori seats on the new Auckland council,” Mita Ririnui said.

The Minister also told Parliament that she had crossed the floor on the Maori seats in 2001 because ‘it seemed it was the right thing to do for that area, for that area, at that time.’

“This contradicts what John Key said was the Cabinet’s view on the issue on Monday, which was that it would have been wrong to support Maori seats in Auckland and not the rest of the country,” Mita Ririnui says.

“John Key also said such a move would be inconsistent with National’s position on Maori seats, which is odd since its confidence and supply agreement with the Maori Party says it will support Maori seats for as long as Maori want them.

‘Thankfully my party allowed me to do that’ the Associate Minister went on to tell Parliament when explaining her 2001 actions, adding ‘The Bay of Plenty wanted it. That fact that it worked shows what a wise move that was.’

“Good on you Georgina, Labour couldn’t agree with you more. As with the Bay of Plenty Bill, submitters to the select committee on Auckland governance also made it clear that they believed Maori seats were appropriate for the new council.

“The Royal Commission, which consulted widely with Aucklanders, also found the same thing. In fact the only real opposition seems to be coming from John Banks and Rodney Hide,” Mita Ririnui said.

“I hope that you stick to your guns and convince your party to once again show the Maori MPs in your caucus the respect you deserve and allow you to vote for the seats. Today I lodged, on behalf of Labour’s Maori caucus, an amendment guaranteeing Maori seats on the new Auckland council. It’s not too late. “

ENDS

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