Monday, 3 November 2008

National confirm sell-out on Maori seats

What price power?  What price policies?

The National Party manifesto makes a firm commitment to abolishing the Maori seats. "At the conclusion of the settlement of historic Treaty claims," says National's policy, "National will begin a constitutional process to abolish the Maori seats. National wishes to see all New Zealanders on the same electoral roll."   They've abandoned last election's commitment to One Law For All, but the headline policy to abolish the Maori seats still remains.

Except it doesn't, does it.

We already know John Key was talking out of one side of his mouth to voters, and out of the other side to the Maori Party ("Don't worry Pita, we can drop that").

But now?  Far from abolishing the racist seats, Key confirmed this weekend he won't rule out entrenching them.  "I'm not ruling it out," says John Boy, "but I'm not ruling it in."

I know he wasn't interested in the Springbok tour twenty-seven years ago, or about apartheid in South Africa, but surely he's interested in apartheid right here and now?

Apparently not. Apparently his policy to abolish the Maori seats is just words without commitment.

Makes you wonder whether they have any real commitment to any of their policies, or whether they too would wither under multi-party scrutiny. 

Let all of you thinking about voting National because they might be promoting your favourite policy think about that.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good point PC!

So all you National acolytes, what are you going to say once your heros dump the principles you dream they stand for and deliver socialist policies instead?

Yes, I know. Most of you are going to keep supporting and believing. Pathetic.

LGM

Anonymous said...

FFS Peter

The problem isn't National. It is MMP.

It is oh so easy for minor parties like the Libs to be staunch on policy.

But if you want a change of government and I am sure you do, you need to cut the real power brokers a little more slack.

And look at it this way, if he needs to, Key might actualy be able to get the MP to the table based on his comments and still not have to give a commitment to entrenchment.

Anonymous said...

Showmethetaxcut

Yes. I'd like to see a change, but continuation of the Labour/National coalition is not going to improve matters.

Regarding what John Key might do, the ket word is "might." He might do what you want and he might not. He might do what he wants or his advisors or some bureaucrat or some special interest wants. You don't know. You don't count anyway. But, hey, keep believing. It's oh so easy to project your wants and needs on a hero.

If you want a real change you have to abandon faith.

LGM