Summarised by Centrist
Advantage (a pseudonym) writes “The left do not own Māori”. The “super-liberal state-owned media” often frame Māori political representation within the Labour, Greens, or Māori Party, neglecting Māori members in New Zealand First, ACT, or National.
Labour and the Greens cannot presume to represent Māori better than the current government. Māori roll voters turned their backs on them. Māori engagement with the Government is a rational and pragmatic understanding of political power, leadership, and public funding.
Turning to the makeup of the new Government, the author states that out of the 20 Cabinet members, 7 are Māori. At 35% of the cabinet, this is double the proportion of the nation’s Māori population of 17%. Māori have also been appointed to several public boards including TVNZ, RNZ, ACC, Pharmac, Reserve Bank and many others.
Māori interests are not synonymous with the left’s interests, and the left must figure this distinction out to regain power.
“The left have to get over themselves.”
