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Download AudioA Māori political scientist says Grant Robertson’s sixth Budget can help align Labour with the Greens and the Māori Party.
University of Auckland associate professor Lara Greaves says the Government has several competing interests to deal with – including Maori – and the Finance Minister Grant deftly navigating between dealing with a cost of living crisis and funding cyclone recovery.
The huge funding boost for Te Matatini, and a further $1.9 billion dollars for climate change issues, has helped cement the relationship with its closest political allies.
“The reality is – where we have that mixed member proportional system – and the way that the polls are going, basically the way voting is going to go is Labour, Greens, Te Paati Maori and some kind of an arrangement. Or National, Act. That’s the two posible choices ahead of voters,” Dr Greaves says.
She says the $825 million dollars for Maori spending has also helped Labour keep its strong Maori caucus on side – and that will be vital heading into the general elections.
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