Christopher Luxon may have survived the latest challenge to his leadership, but Te Pāti Māori says National’s internal turmoil has exposed a government more concerned with its own survival than the pressures facing whānau.
National MPs gathered for a crucial caucus meeting amid intense speculation over Luxon’s future as Prime Minister and party leader.
Luxon emerged with his leadership intact, but Te Pāti Māori says the outcome does little to address what it sees as a deeper crisis of confidence in the National-led Government.
Co-leader Rawiri Waititi says while National has spent days focused on its leadership, whānau across Aotearoa have continued dealing with rising living costs, job losses and economic uncertainty.
Waititi says Luxon keeping his job does not mean National has regained the confidence of the country, accusing the Government of losing touch with the people it was elected to serve.
Te Pāti Māori is also sharpening its attack on the Government’s record ahead of the November 7 election.
Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says Luxon will be remembered for leading what Te Pāti Māori considers an anti-Māori, anti-worker and anti-environment government.
The party argues decisions made during the term have inflicted damage on Māori communities, workers and te taiao that could continue to be felt well beyond the election.
Those criticisms reflect the increasingly bitter political battle over the Government’s record on Māori issues, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te reo Māori, Māori health, public services and environmental policy.
Te Pāti Māori says the leadership drama has distracted attention from the issues it believes should be dominating political debate, including poverty, employment, housing, the cost of living and environmental protection.
Waititi says another term under the current coalition risks entrenching poverty and environmental damage as accepted features of life in Aotearoa.
The party is now making removing the National-led Government on November 7 a central part of its election campaign.
For Luxon, surviving the caucus challenge may provide an opportunity to turn National’s attention back towards the election.
But Te Pāti Māori says the political damage cannot be undone simply by confirming the Prime Minister remains in charge.
With election day approaching, voters will ultimately decide whether National’s leadership crisis was an internal political storm that has now passed — or evidence of a Government that has lost its way.
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