December 13, 2023
Kahungunu warn Luxon of Māori backlash
Ngāti Kahungunu leader Bayden Barber says Prime Minister Christopher Luxton needs to calm the rhetoric over the Treaty of Waitangi rather than allow the narrative to be hijacked by his junior coalition partners.
Mr Barber says during their meeting last week, he told the Prime Minister attacks on things like the Māori language, Māori wards on councils, and Māori health initiatives will weaken the Government.
“And yet you’ve chosen to let this type of narrative come to the fore in this first week – it’s crazy, you don’t really want to have a fight with Te Ao Māori, because there’s bigger issues at play, and will be for the next three years,” he says.
Ngāti Kahungunu Incorporated has called a hui ā iwi for this Saturday at Waimārama Marae so members can discuss how the iwi can keep moving forward together, even if the Government is going backwards.