Government’s failure to consult insults Maori Party

The Government’s failure to consult either Associate Corrections Minister Pita Sharples or the Maori Party on the three strikes policy is an insult to the Maori Party and proves how limited its influence is, says Labour MP Shane Jones.

“As Maori Party co-leader Dr Sharples led his party into a formal confidence and supply arrangement with National, but National has effectively sidelined him on an issue that threatens to have a major impact on Maori,” Shane Jones said.

“Where’s the mana in being Associate Corrections Minister, and at the same time being ignored by the very government of which you are supposed to be an integral part?

“National and ACT have constantly thumbed their noses at the Maori Party over issues like Maori seats in Auckland super city governance, but surely it should be a matter of common sense as well as partnership to get Maori input into the three strikes policy which threatens to have a disproportionate effect on Maori.”

Shane Jones said Dr Sharples had revealed to the Labour Party that he was receiving a minimal number of briefings from the Corrections Department in his roles as Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate Corrections Minister.

“Basically, National is ignoring him. That shows how ineffective the Maori Party is, but, more tragically, it underlines how little the party is achieving for Maori people in real issues of substance.

“In 2007, for example, 5680 Maori were convicted and sentenced for violent offences, compared with 4630 Europeans. That means Maori are more than three times over-represented on those statistics. Dr Sharples can’t tell us what impact three strikes will have because he’s not even in the loop.

“Theoretically, the Maori Party, and Dr Sharples in particular, have manoeuvred themselves into a position where they should have a real influence on law and order policy as it affects Maori,” Shane Jones said.

“Instead, what has happened? The Maori Party has become the also rans in a patronising National-ACT led coalition government. You could say they’re puffing to keep up, but the truth is that they have virtually given up trying.”

ENDS

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