Island Life: Re Joyce!
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While some refer to the Orewa speech as the most divisive thing to happen to NZ race relations in some time, I'd suggest that that would actually be the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
Might Labour's response to the F&S issue have been different if they hadn't been spooked by Orewa and its reaction? In other words, did the Orewa speech set up an enivornment in which the shameful aspects of the F&S legislation became politically expedient or even necessary?
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Might Labour's response to the F&S issue have been different if they hadn't been spooked by Orewa and its reaction?
No, Orewa came after the Appeal Court decision on the F&S, and aimed to take advantage of public disquiet. Although the final shape of the legislation was doubtless influenced by Orewa.
And, yes, Labour was seriously spooked, not least by the NZ Herald, which went mental over the issue and had to crawl its way back. (Can anybody think of a more recent case of the Herald losing the plot?)
The amazing thing about the F&S debate at the political level was how almost everyone seemed to change their stance at least once. Act had about five different stances, from offering its votes for the government to legislate over the court decision without further ado, to publicly supporting Treaty Tribes. Its supporters probably had a right to be confused.
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Thanks, I was trying to remember the timing. I knew that the court decision came before Orewa, but I'm not sure whether Labour had already decided not to let Maori "have their day in court" by the time of Orewa. It does sound like Orewa capitalised on and then inflamed a "mainstream" reaction that made Labour afraid of being seen as "soft on maori".
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Good point, but the timing is somewhat irrelevant. The fact is Labour denied the right to due course of the legal system to a group of people based on their ethnic identity. The NZ Herald and Brash were certainly culpable in the furore that eupted, but Labour betrayed Maori, yet again, and for many Maori it is the betrayl of trust that is the salient point.
Labour held the legislative power in that situation and chose to exercise it in a divisive and profoundly unjust manner, making Labour worse than National in the eyes of almost every Maori I know.
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I can't argue with that.
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Good point, but the timing is somewhat irrelevant. The fact is Labour denied the right to due course of the legal system to a group of people based on their ethnic identity. The NZ Herald and Brash were certainly culpable in the furore that eupted, but Labour betrayed Maori, yet again, and for many Maori it is the betrayl of trust that is the salient point.
Hear hear! If only a million more people saw it this way...
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__Trouble is, mostly their votes are party whipped. (ie: You are obliged to vote according to your party's position).__
Ah yes, Parliamentary induced conformity kills individualistic, nuanced democracy.
And that's a disgraceful pun, David. Wish I had thought of it.
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And that's a disgraceful pun, David. Wish I had thought of it.
Swelp me God, none intended. That's the usage.
Having said that, however, you are familiar with the roll call of Labour party members holding the office of Senior Whip in recent years?
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No, I'm not. Do I sense a crude DBP joke in the air?
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