November 12, 2020
No free lunch for National Maori spokesperson
New Zealand Māori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki says the National Party shadow line-up exposes its lack of diversity and especially its shortage of Māori.
He says National’s policy of not standing in the Māori seats, introduced when Don Brash was its leader, costs it credibility in the Māori world.
Its new deputy, Shane Reti, is only still in parliament because leadership ructions close the election boosted him up the list, and major Māori-related positions have been delegated to low-ranking Pākehā MPs.
Mr Tukaki has a warning for its Māori development spokesperson, new MP and former Air New Zealand boss Christopher Luxon.
"We've already had a toe to toe on you trying to trademark the words 'kia ora' during your tenure as chief executive and I have a long memory and haven't forgotten that. So know you've got the portfolio of Māori development I expect you to learn tikanga, to learn culture and to better understand and engage with Māori. Don't just turn up at hui and hope to be fed," he says.
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