February 07, 2024
No sell out on treaty allowed says Tamihere
Māori Party president John Tamihere says the Government has brought Māori together – by attacking them.
Te Pāti Māori made its entrance to Waitangi alongside Ratana, the Kiingitanga and many of the tribes.
Mr Tamahere says by holding six of the seven Māori seats, his party is constitutionally the mouthpiece for 80 percent of Māori.
He says the show of kotahitanga should serve as a warning to Māori in Government.
“So this Government on one level is one of the most dangerous ones and on another it has forced us to have this discussion among ourselves and it’s a long time coming. The catalyst for it is when our very essence is threatened and when that happens no one should be able to step out of line and sell out,” Mr Tamihere says.
He says Winston Peters and Shane Jones are helping to put the boot in to their own people, which is unforgivable.