New Maori Party to be launched

A  new Maori-based political party – established to challenge the Maori Party – has been launched this week, and intends to have candidates in all Maori seats within the next eight weeks.

The "Hapu Party" believes that the Maori Party has achieved nothing for the Maori electorate and wants to bring about more change for Maori communities through Parliament. 

It's leader, David Rankin, will be challenging Hone Harawira in the Te Tai Tokerau seat. Mr. Rankin's biggest concern is with Treaty settlements: "We are living in the period of the biggest payouts in the history of the Tribunal, and our people are not even seeing a cent of that money.  We want all settlement money allocated directly to the hapu and the marae – let them manage it, not some corporate trust board or runanga.  Let the people be accountable".

Mr. Rankin says the Hapu Party has been working hard behind the scenes for over a year now, and is ready for a vigorous election campaign.

The Hapu Party will unveil its policies over the next twelve weeks, but has already announced three major objectives:

§ To have Maori eligible for the pension at age 56, because of the lower life-expectancy of Maori

§ To introduce a flat rate 18% personal tax and GST rate.  "This will incentivise everyone in the country to earn more" says Mr Rankin.

§ To immediately allocate all treaty settlement money directly to hapu and marae

Mr Rankin is also concerned over the quality of leadership in the Maori Party.  "I am aware of some serious allegations being levelled at one of its MPs concerning financial irregularities" says Mr Rankin, "and in the near future, I will be presenting these details to the Serious Fraud Office.  Our people need to have leaders whose financial practices are impeccable.  We are tired of having Maoridom dragged trough the mud because of leaders who have mismanaged money".

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