Brandkit.com

The following are quotes from John Tamihere, current President of The Māori Party, from a speech he made in parliament in 2005. The irony and hypocrisy are palpable. “It is Kiwi-centred because significant decisions have been made and implemented that we are driving right in, right now, as a baseline to a nationhood concept that gives them, regardless of race and creed, a sense of belonging as Kiwis in this great country. Our challenge is in moving forward.” “The rise of the Māori Party is unfortunate and frustrating. It is not Māori; Māori is a generic term. The group of people who have supported the rise of the Māori Party are actually tribal fundamentalists.” “The problem with the Māori Party is that it is led by a bunch of people who have done extraordinarily well out of protest activism, so they can tell their children why they should vote against things, why they should march against things, and why they should dislike others.” “It is quite clear. The Māori Party is built around new-age educationalists, reconstructionists in terms of history, and the academics and the new elite around the Treaty of Waitangi chequebooks. There is no case and no space in this country for separatists. I am very proud of my Ngāti Porou tānga—very proud of that tribal background. We do not ram it down other people’s throats, but we are very proud of it. Our being proud of it does not mean to say that we can coerce others into our way of thinking. We have to acknowledge that this is a great land of diversity, difference, and opportunity.” “The days when people could stand up and scream “treaty” and believe that they would get special rights have gone.”