Best political debates are the Māori debates says Claudette Hauiti.

Waateanews.com

Best political debates are the Māori debates says Claudette Hauiti.

Congratulations to all the Māori media organisations and production companies for their respective coverage of the elections. Mihi Forbes has presided over several Māori electorate debates on The Hui TV3. While Miriama Kamo and Scotty Morrison have managed to pack in double the electorates per half hour on Marae on TV1. Māori Television has brought in a raft of new faces and opinions to critique candidates which is refreshing.

The standout for me was this weekend’s online RNZ-PMN Māori Policy debate. Facilitated by veteran broadcaster Julian Wilcox, NZF Leader Winston Peters, battled, Greens co-leader Marama Davidson, National’s Heath spokesperson Shane Reti and Labour Māori caucus co-leader Willie Jackson. Unfortunately, the Māori Party was unable to attend because of unavoidable circumstances. A pity because they would have completed the battle royal. I say battle because they not only went head to head with each other on policy, but they also had to tackle Wilcox’s drilling down on detail, continuously seeking clarification on tired political rhetoric.

Wilcox played devil’s advocate, straight off the bat first question up to Shane Reti, “Why would Māori support National when your Leader has said in response to Treaty of Waitangi issues and government procurement, oh Jesus Christ what a stupid question”. To Green’s Marama Davidson, “How is a line from Timaru to Christchurch going to help Māori inequities given the (low) number of Māori along that trainline?” To Labour’s Willie Jackson, “You ignored most of the recommendations from the high-profile group working on welfare.” To Winston Peters, “You rail against Māori who deliver to people on the ground.”

This RNZ-PMN debate was 55mins long. Long enough to give each panelist a good chunk of time to answer questions. Housing had a good 5 minutes, while Ihumatao got 6 minutes.

Winston Peters gave the most coherent statement to date of any Leader on any debate Pākehā or Māori on employment and business. When Wilcox asked him how you pivot Māori out of agribusiness. Peter’s response is you don’t, you pivot the industry into becoming more value added. Too many times we have heard how individual companies, businesses and individuals need to pivot in or out of their respective industries. But this is the first time we’ve heard a politician demand accountability and innovation from the industry-whole including government agencies MPi, MBIE, TPK, TradeNZ.

A lot was learnt from this debate on issues important to wider New Zealand like the impact the Resource Management Act has on Housing. Both Shane Reti and Winston Peters called for scrapping of the RMA as an outdated no longer fit for purpose legislation. But Peters also emphasised that ‘ahi kaa’ and mana whenua should be consulted on and listened to in respect to changes.

This debate was invaluable. It showed whose policies were similar and whose were diametrically opposite. This is important because it gives voters a glimpse of what MMP discussions might or not look like post elections. In the no-way camp, Marama Davidson was clear the Greens will never collaborate with National because they are heading in completely different directions. While National says the door remains open to all Parties. NZF and National seem policy aligned, and Labour seem tolerant rather than embracing of its allies NZF and Greens. It is a pity the Māori Party were absent their tunnel vision would have showed-up the comprises being made by Māori caucus of the other Parties.

The quote of the debate goes to NZF Leader Winston Peters, “There are some Māori out there who know what poverty, smells, tastes and feels like and these narratives promising this that and the other will run us broke one day, and those Māori understand that.”

Look for the RNZ-PMN debate online.

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