More misery doled out to Maori Party by National

Again today the Maori Party says it was not consulted on government policy changes that will hit Maori people hard, Labour’s Maori Affairs spokesperson Parekura Horomia says.

Associate Social Development Minister and Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said today her party had only been consulted on the government’s Future Focus “at the last minute” and had not had the chance to provide feedback.

“This lack of consultation on a policy which will have a damaging effect on Maori is just the latest in a long line of snubs towards its coalition partner that shows a total lack of respect,” Parekura Horomia said.

“How long will the Maori Party put up with humiliation at the hands of John Key’s National Party and simply stand by while the government enacts policies that hurt the very people it purports to represent?

“This latest slight follows admissions by the Maori Party that it was not consulted over the three strikes bill, when Pita Sharples is Associate Corrections Minister; National Standards, which Mr Sharples admits will stigmatise Maori children; the cutting of Hamilton’s Te Hurihanga youth offending programme, and the 90 day fire at will Bill.

“The Maori Party also rolled over on the ETS by supporting corporate elites over families, will vote for an increase to GST, which will hurt Maori families, and supported last year’s decision to give 30 per cent of tax cuts to the top few per cent of incomes earners.

“If it is waiting for substantial changes to the Foreshore and Seabed Act as its big win in government, it looks like being disappointed there too.

“Just yesterday John Key admitted that he doesn’t ‘think people will notice a lot of change’ between what is in place now and the new Act National is proposing.

“The Maori Party must be outraged by this. After fighting to repeal the act, and promising supporters a big change John Key has come out and confirmed that after the Foreshore and Seabed Act is repealed, it will be replaced by the same bill - just dressed up a bit.

“How long will the Maori Party continue to accept National throwing sand in their faces while Maori people suffer as a result of policies enacted by a government it supports?”

ENDS

© Scoop Media