April 28, 2014
Critical loss a gain for the Pacific.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says the loss to parliament of one of the Maori Party’s strongest critics is parliament’s loss.
Mrs Turia says Labour MP Shane Jones, who resigned last week and could take up a new post helping Pacific Island nations develop their fisheries, is highly skilled and intelligent.
She says while he played hard politics with the Maori Party, he had similar aims for advancing Maori interests.
"I would say probably he was the person who could have taken Labour into the future. He had the intellect. He had the strength. He had the knowledge of the system, both internal and external. He’s a very bright man. So he will be a major loss to Labour I believe, and a big gain for the Pacific," Mrs Turia says.
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