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THE? MAORI? PARTY
HUI A TAU
13 Hurae 2013
Te Whare Wananga O Awanuiarangi
Whakatane
Matariki? Whakataerangahia! Whakanuitia!
M? t?tou,? M? t?tou, e ai ki ? t?tou!
It is no coincidence I believe that we are holding one of the most important Annual General Meetings in our ten year history as we enter the first month of our new year.
Matariki is the perfect time for us to refresh and reinvigorate ourselves after a year of hard toil, of ups and downs, just as our tipuna did back in the day.? But as we look to the year ahead we must do so with hope in our hearts and an indomitable will to continue to live our lives as they did.
Let Matariki 2013 be the defining point for us when we begin the fight back into the conscious thinking of the M?ori voter and all other voters in fact.? Let Matariki be the event that marks a watershed in our development as the party of choice for M?ori and of increasing preference for all other New Zealanders.
We will renew our commitment.? We will refresh and recharge our batteries.? We will restore our faith and hope in our destiny.? There is a morbid fascination brought on by a forced fed perception that we are a spent force, a bunch of 'has beens' on our last legs.? Whatever!? Our destiny in fact is in our own hands. We just need to reaffirm who we are and what we stand for in the first instance and look forward to the new year and beyond with renewed vigor, enthusiasm and a reinvigorated sense of purpose and direction.? As Uri of our tipuna of yesteryear we will be inspired as they were by our obligations and duties to each other as whanaunga with Matariki as the launching pad of promise of better things to come, of good fortune built on a solid foundation of past successes and challenges.
Matariki is about us! Matariki is for us! Matariki is about doing things our way! So lets just get on as they did with faith hope and the driving imperative of survival as M?ori.? First and foremost we are as our t?puna were sourcing our inspiration and aspiration from kaupapa tukuiho the legacy that enables us to live as M?ori a unique and distinctive group of people who are of the land as the land is of the people hence, we are tangata whenua.? We have our own reo, our whakapapa that connects us to one another and all living things.? We live for one another cherishing our relationships that bind us into the collective whole.? We acknowledge the mana we each have and strive to enhance that mana through acts of selfless generosity and hearts of compassion.? We take great pride in being who we are as Wh?nau Hap? and Iwi revelling in those cultural icons that give us identity.?
We know that we are part of a continuum that extends back into the eons of time to Rangiatea through to we the living kakano of the present time.? We recognise that there is a purpose and a design to all things, that there is integrity to our ao.? It is complete and it is authentic.? N? reira ar? te kupu whakataki i a t?tou m? t?tou m? t?tou e ai ki ? t?tou!
Therefore in keeping with the wairua of our new year I am not going to rake over the coals nor beat up on ourselves for not making our mark the way we wanted, particularly in relation to the recent Ikaroa Rawhiti Bi-election and its associated issues.? Suffice to say that as your President I accept without qualification my culpability in failing to meet our expectations.
Pita as a rangatira would, has accepted the blame for our performance.? I admire and respect Pita for his stance but know it is not his responsibility alone to shoulder.? I am there with him.? However enough of that for now!? I will come back to the associated issues previously mentioned.? Let us instead reaffirm that we are THE M?ori Party! That we do things our way.? That we are different because we are M?ori, M?ori in essence and in modus operandi.?? We are not a mainstream party and will not be judged as such.
Over our short ten year lifespan we have grown a resilience and a resoluteness about ourselves around our purpose and mission in life that will come to the fore when we need it most.? Right now!? Let us instead reaffirm that Matariki first and foremost is about newness.? Another new year is upon us with its promise of new hope and aspiration and of Reaffirmation!? Let us reaffirm first of all our kaupapa tukuiho but extend our thinking about the different possibilities of applying them as we go through the process of Refreshment, Renewal and Reinvigoration.
The doomsday merchants, soothsayers and armchair critics are predicting our demise.? Pita's, Tariana's and now my departure is being 'heralded' in some quarters as further irrefutable evidence of a sinking ship.? Whaea Tariana however declared last year that her leaving was an emphatic statement about her confidence, faith and trust in the capacity of her beloved party to deliver up on the Tika and Pono people to sustain and build on the movement she was instrumental in creating.? I too hold firmly to the same belief as does Pita.
Today we will have new leaders, good leaders because they are Tika and Pono people.? Shortly we will have a team of similarly gifted people who will be flying our colours in our rohe AND we will be hoisting our flag again in Te Tai Hauauru, Tamaki and Waiariki just for starters in the forthcoming General Elections!? We need a critical mass of MPs to ensure we in fact remain in contention to be at the table.? Three did it for us last time but four would make it safe.?
The challenge remains identical to that our tipuna faced up to 'Hinga atu he t?t?kura, ara ake he t?t?kura'.?? We are staunch about our capacity to raise up he t?t?kura as our tipuna were down through the ages.? A coincidence that we are refreshing our leadership at this time, at just the right moment for us, Matariki!? But in doing so let me first of all acknowledge the leadership that brought us from out of the wilderness of political? nothingness, our historical plight as a First Nation's people to the forefront of Aotearoa's political consciousness as a force to be? reckoned with in our own right. We are proud that we have been at the Mura o te? ahi where it matters most,? forging a way forward against formidable odds and fashioning an outstanding track record of advancement of M?ori? best interests.
The biggest gains have been in long term kaupapa of structural and cultural change aimed at transforming us into a dynamic, self determining people unshackled from the chains of dependency and from the bondage of self serving ethnocentric government agencies.
The full benefits of Wh?nau Ora will not be seen for several years yet, but reap the rewards we surely will in time. Similarly with the kaupapa of Tataiako in the ultimate arena of challenge the mainstream schooling system where Principal's Associations and other groups are of their own volition picking up our cultural competency standards. A culturally inclusive and empowering system is bound to make a difference for our M?ori learners as the Kotahitanga and the more recent Te K?kano at secondary level have shown.
This is a clear illustration of a turnaround in a previously unresponsive and unsympathetic Mainstream which augurs well for the long term future of T?taiako. The ultimate circuit breaker for M?ori is education and we must continue to make the necessary inroads there.
I mention but a few kaupapa that will liberate and bring about true emancipation for Maori over time to illustrate the dramatic impact that our two leaders have had in such a short time. I have been privileged to have worked alongside the greatest M?ori leaders over the past five decades since the legendary T? Apirana Ngata the now retired Co Leader Dr Pita Sharples and his comrade in arms,? the impending retiree Whaea Tariana Turia.? What a legacy to leave behind and build on it we must. This is the wero for the new leaders and the party at large.
N? reira e ng? Rangatira k?re rawa e pau atu ng? mihi maioha ki a k?rua e whakarangatira mai ai t?tou, kia t?tara pakaua t?tou, p? mai? ao mai ko te oranga ? Ngai M?ori m? te take m?n? e wawata wh?nui ana kia t? mana motuhake mai ai t?tou!? Ko te maringa nui ka noho mai tonu k?rua m? te k?tahi tau tonu hai Pouwhirinaki tonu.
T?n? korua , t?n? k?rua ? tae atu ki ? koe Te Ururoa o te Roopu T?rangap? M?ori
E whakamihi ana, e whakamihi ana.
Reaffirmation is about faith in that living kaupapa tukuiho will get us to where we want to go, to the front.? The ongoing challenge will always be not how we transfer them from part one of our constitution into part two the ture section of it but how we transfer them into the pages of our heart and live them instinctively and ?naturally.? When we fail or fall it is because we have deserted kaupapa tukuiho and when we get it right it is because we are at the top of our game as personas of K?tahitanga, Manaakitanga, Kaitiakitanga and the rest of this tight whanau.?
A useful exercise in considering a relationship with the Mana Party is to place that relationship within the framework of kaupapa tukuiho.? I am clear in my own mind that the key driver should not be about expediency because our very survival is being touted by many political commentators, armchair critics and talkback hosts as being reliant to a large extent on an accommodation with Mana.? On the surface of things our kaupapa tukuiho may indeed suggest a full on relationship in which blissful absorption occurs and we live happily ever after! A marriage made in heaven?
Kaupapa tukuiho importantly however is also about reciprocity.? A call would need to be made on the basis of mutual reciprocity without condition. Conditions have already been imposed by the other party and criticisms leveled before talks have even begun.? Our potential new leader has been dissed!? I would have thought that the lowering of the weaponry and a cessation of hostilities as a precursor to building a new relationship/ Whakawhanaunga would have been a tangible sign of Manaakitanga by the Mana Leader.
What price mutual respect and ng?kau whakaiti?? Having said this a talk with Mana would be reasonable inasmuch that the ideal of kotahitanga resonates with M?ori in general but again I come back to the point of reciprocity.? How far we go would of course be dependent on what we as a party want.? Obviously we will need to canvass the views of our wider membership.
Another critical take I want to tackle head on is our relationship with the National government again through the lens of our kaupapa tukuiho?? We have been accused of betraying our people, of deserting them and forgetting about their welfare because of the baubles of office and sheer? lack of guts.? We have lost our way so the story goes.? Will we then jump ship at some opportune time before the 2014 General Elections to put some distance between ourselves and them thus giving our Party a fighting chance of survival.? In coming to a position the exercise we ought to engage in, in the first instance is one of reaffirmation but in doing so keeping sight of our soul which is not up for grabs under any circumstances whatsoever.
1.??? An emphatic reaffirmation about the M?ori Party being neither pro Labour or pro National BUT pro M?ori self determination!
2.??? An emphatic reaffirmation that in order to secure any chance of self determination then we must be at the ultimate decision making table with whoever is in power.
3.??? An emphatic reaffirmation that we stand unapologetically by the advancements that we have gained with the government who were put there by the people of Aotearoa? and decisively so.??
4.??? An emphatic reaffirmation that our word is our mana and our mana is our word.? We? signed on the dotted line willingly to ensure confidence and supply.? It matters to us that we can be trusted.? This means taking it to the National government on many issues that we have had major disagreements over.? In fact the record shows that we have agreed with Labour more than we have with National.
5.??? An emphatic reaffirmation that we have the guts to take the bad with the good no matter how tough.? And there have been many ugly moments for us but in all of this we have continued to be inspired by the glimmers of hope we also see to offset that other stuff.
6.??? And finally an emphatic reaffirmation that you our ahi kaa are it for us.? We have and will always continue to serve your very best interest.? What you say matters most and we will do what you want us to do.
From me on a personal note quite frankly I couldn't care less or give a damn about what? people from other parties say and what? critics say.?? The thing is we didn't get it wrong!? What we've got to get better at is the communication of our messages about our gains.?
The lesson we've got to learn is not about logic combined with the head and a gun wordsmith. My predecessor Whatarangi Winiata the ultimate arbiter of kaupapa tukuiho founded and grounded the relationship with National in manaakitanga-mana enhancement and so be it.? It is what it is. Us!? What is needed is a heartsmith to complement the other!
It is vital to our success that we launch a major offensive in terms of the fundamental concern around infrastructure.? At the heart of our Party is the branch.? The branch is at the interface with the community.? It is the point of access for members and potential members.? It operates at the grassroots level driving the fundamentals of recruiting/renewal of members, fundraising and pushing ideas through via their delegates to our electorate councils.?
A measure of our health and wellbeing and consequently of our preparedness to do the core business of winning elections is related to a critical mass of branches across the nation in each electorate.??? There is surely a correlation between performance and healthy functional branches.? Therefore we need a focused and sustained strategy on reinvigorating existing and lapsed branches and establishing new ones beginning now.? Time is a precious commodity and we are running out of it.
This is also the time to refresh our policy.? I believe we need to have policy that is aimed at our core constituency as per usual but also another genre of broad appeal to the wider constituency.? For example a refreshment of and expansion of educational policy that is inclusive of the aspirations of tangata Pasifika for their culture.? We ought to champion the policy of a living wage because it is the Tika thing to do to lift people above the breadline.? I have recently increased my kura support staff wage to $18.50 per hour following on from the fine example set by a school in Dunedin.?
How about addressing the sacred cow of the burdensome issue of superannuation with a sixty five year eligibility for M?ori and Pasifika because we're the ones who die younger and don't get to enjoy the fruits of our earlier labour and sweat as a consequence.? The age of eligibility for those blessed with superior longevity and thus the benefits of Super that go with longevity should be lifted to seventy five years of age.? Fair and reasonable?? In terms of the rationale Yes!
Kaati kua rahi tenei let me conclude by saying that I have been privileged to have served our Party as your president.? I have enjoyed every single day of my time.? Sure I have been tested and stretched but my philosophy? of a new day holding the promise of good and better things for us has kept me strong. Besides this is the nature of the beast, it was never going to be easy anytime in the past and in the future.
?I have been grateful for the support of my two Co- Vice Presidents Ken Mair and Donna Gardiner who whilst at times in disagreement with one another and me not a bad thing, all being strong willed people but we complemented one another.? They were pillars of strength for myself and the Party.? It is comforting to know that both will remain on until the next election at least to support our new President into what I know will be a fascinating era of re-growth for us.? Watch this space, ka nui te mihi ki a korua.?
It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge our back office in Parliament. Nui? noa te mihi ki a koutou Helen,? toka t? moana, ko to r?p? puku mahi ko Chris Tooley t?r?, ko Andrew Robb t?r?, ko Chris McKenzie t?r?, ko Kaapua Smith t?r?, ko Makere Edwards t?r?,ko Te Kere Davey tera, ?? wai, ? ake, wai ake, tae atu ki a Waiti Richards, kai tiaki putea.? I have particularly enjoyed being in the company of our dedicated devoted National Council whose enthusiasm and apetite for the hard yards has never waned, e aku Rangatira t?n? rawa atu koutou katoa.?
Finally I wish my successor well, may your time be enjoyable and satisfying for you.? My only advice is that a job description for you would be a good idea.? It would give clear purpose and direction to the role of president and you would be in a position to better manage your time and monitor your own performance accordingly.?
The Party needs to make clear what the presidents office means in reality in terms of its functions and resources.? It is also high time that we had a paid general secretary.? We have big aspirations and an oily rag that doesn't match those big aspirations.? It just keeps us on the back foot.? I hope you gain some traction on this pretty basic elementary stuff.
I am reasonably optimistic that we have just turned a corner with an entity that we are populating with good people to deal with the issue of money.? Kia kaha kia uu kia manawanui ki a koe.
Ki t? t?tou Kaihautu hou mo te taha ki te Whare Paremata kua eke te w? m?u Te Ururoa. kua ara ake koe hai t?t?kura ar? te huarahi hou me ?na wawata hai takahi m?u heoi ko te mea nui ko te tangata tonu ?tir? ko m?tou ng? ahi kaa e tiaki ana i ng? w? kainga hai nohoanga t?turutanga m? te Paati M?ori.?
Rarangatia mai o tira tui ai i runga tui ai i raro tui ai i roto tui ai i waho tuia tuia tuia.? Ka rongo te p? ka rongo te ao,? tui tui tuia,?? M? reira t?tou ora ai.? Ko t?ku ko te hoki ki taku roopu o Murupara tautokona ai k?tahi ko te aronganui m?u kia toa ano a Te Ururoa mo Te Waiariki. Tuarua ko te awatea tonu in? te pooti m?u.? T?n? koe.? t?n? k?rua Pita ko Tariana,? tae atu ra ki a k?rua Ken ko Donna, a, t?n?? rawa atu t?tou katoa.
Noho Ora Mai,
Na Pem Bird
Maori Party President, 13 H?rae 2013
ENDS
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