Māori still central to Labour’s election hopes

Peter Verschaffelt Peeni Henare | Māori still central to Labour's election hopes

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Labour MP Peeni Henare says leader Chris Hipkins confirmation of the party’s commitment to by-Māori, for-Māori initiatives was a brave move.

Mr Hipkins told the party’s northern region conference at the weekend the Government is taking the country backwards when it comes to outcomes for Māori, ignoring and in some cases reversing the huge progress have made as a nation to right the wrongs of the past.

“Because we’ve heard korero from some because it was because of that we lost the election. I disagree and we’re clear our commitment to Maori must continue to build off the work of the last six years which was why that speech was important,” Mr Henare says.

He says Mr Hipkins’ vision for the future contrasts with Prime Minister Chris Luxon’s inflammatory rhetoric at National’s regional conference.

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