May 19, 2013
Claudette can step up to MP role
Opinion: It might seem strange but a strong and passionate advocate for Maori is about to go to Parliament as a National MP.
Yes my good friend Claudette Hauiti is National's latest addition. Claudette and I worked together for many years on radio and television. And currently she works for me on Waatea as a talkback host. Between 2004 and 2010 we produced our best work on TVNZ with the current affairs show Eye to Eye.
I was the presenter and Claudette was my executive producer. Our show was about a Māori perspective on current affairs and for six years we brought politicians and movers and groovers in and debated the issues of the week.
Claudette always wanted me to make people accountable for their actions and we developed a "take no prisoners approach" with our guests and encouraged them to express their views. This sometimes led to some of the most robust debates ever seen on TV and we even had to stop taping the show on the odd occasion because our guests got so out of control.
Claudette as EP received criticism for this. Our traditionalists said Māori shouldn't be running these types of shows where people were interrupting and yelling at each other and some said the show was demeaning to Māori. But Claudette handled the criticism brilliantly. She pointed out the entertainment value and the big ratings we achieved particularly in the early years.
Even more important she explained to our detractors that Māori issues were being profiled in a way they had never been profiled before. And Pakeha in particular were learning about our people more so than at any other time in the history of New Zealand television.
Claudette received a lot of kudos for the way she handled the criticism and that experience coupled with her grasp of Māori issues and her outstanding journalism qualifications should help her with the challenges she will have with her new job in government. Of course I still can't work out why she has joined National, a party that is committed to selling our assets, committed to the free market, and a party that seems intent on keeping to many Kiwis living close to the poverty level.
They do however believe that individuals can achieve anything no matter what their circumstances and on social issues they are more liberal these days so at that level I can see why Claudette is attracted to them. She is the first lesbian Māori National MP and will be another advocate for the gay community.
However, Māoridom needs as many advocates as possible in Parliament and that domain does not have to be solely the area of the Māori and Mana parties so look for Claudette to make her mark.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd