August 16, 2017
Government view of Maori stuck in past
The Green's Te Tai Tonga candidate Metiria Turei says government still looks at iwi as if they were dealing with a 19th century people.
Ms Turei is still campaigning for the party vote in the electorate, despite stepping down as leader becasue of the backlash over her revelations of breaking the rules around her domestic purposes benefit in the 1990s.
She says talking with senior Ngai Tahu members about trying to provide services for members without replacing what should be done by government.
There was frustration that politicians and officials don't understand the post-settlement environment.
"That was a really interesting conversation because any government from this point on is going to have to deal with iwi and hapu who are highly educated, really well resourced, really economically engaged, and furious at the inability for government to take care of their people like it is suppose to – that was part of the treaty deal," Ms Turei says.
Te Tai Tonga voters are concerned about poverty, housing, and they are also keen to see te reo Maori as a base subject in all schools.
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