Labour MP Willie Jackson has weighed in on Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi’s decision to speak exclusively in te reo Māori during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, calling it a calculated move that suits their kaupapa, but warning the party’s handling of the fallout has been poor.
Waititi spoke exclusively in te reo Māori to reporters at Parliament yesterday, saying it was appropriate for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Supporters, including Greens co-leader Marama Davidson, defended the move as appropriate for Māori Language Week.
Jackson says Waititi’s reo-only stance sparked national debate, with critics calling it performative and exclusionary.
“I thought it was quite cagey of Rawiri to do that in the wiki o te reo Māori. Let’s be honest, it certainly suited their kaupapa for him to go into the reo because it was Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. So, you can blame mainstream, or they can blame themselves, because people say, Oh, look, let’s just quieten this kaupapa, you know,” says Jackson.
Jackson also addressed the ongoing backlash from Tākuta Ferris’ controversial comments during the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, where Ferris criticised non-Māori campaigning for Labour.
“Their strategy has been not the greatest over the last week or so. The good thing was that they apologised, and it was good, but then it just keeps rearing its head, you know, because Doc decides to double down, triple down. Then El presidento jumps in with a nonsensical kōrero he has with you, making no sense. And he’s much better than that,” says Jackson.
Jackson says he’s looking forward to debating Māori Party president John Tamihere on Monday with Julian Wilcox on The Hui, where the fallout and broader Māori political strategy will be front and center.
