Māori Party

The Māori Party is a political party in New Zealand that is trying to implement the specific interests of Māori in practical politics. Originated the party is by Tariana Turia, 2004 her minister put in protest against the Foreshore and Seabed position of their Labour Party down, resigned from the party and the it would have become necessary by-election in the Māori Electorate Te Tai Hauāuru the establishment of the Māori Party her on the road. [Note 1]

Formation and establishment

Led by Whina Cooper - - Ever since the Māori land march of 1975, when thousands protested against the further sale of Māori land, a protest movement arose within the Māori population, who had the political enforcement of their interests to the target and as a result of their own identity and culture began to strengthen.

In 2003, then began the political debate over the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004, in which the then Labour government under Helen Clark wanted to move the Māori tribes to give up their claim to ownership of the Foreshore and Seabed and in return lucrative rights to marine farm economies to get. An idea that rejected Māori iwi as totally unacceptable, Helen Clark at Waitangi Day 2004 prepared a painful reception and its escalation and conflict between Tariana Turia on one side and Helen Clark and the Labour Party led to the other side.

Due to the Foreshore and Seabed controversy between the government and the Māori arrived on 24 May 2004 at the invitation of the Tainui iwi - about 1000 people at a hui (gathering ) in the Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia together, on the one hand of the political enforcement of their positions to consult and secondly, to decide on the establishment of a Māori Party. Representatives from all major Māori tribes were present, decided by resolution, the founding of the Party, Tariana Turia chose one of the Interim Co - Chair and spoke out in favor of a party to the by-election on 10 July 2004 in Te Tai Hauāuru - participate Māori electoral district. Other founding members were, among others beside Tariana Turia Pita Sharples and Hone Harawira.

Just a day before the election, the party was registered and approved, with the party logo did not exist and could be submitted. Tariana Turia was re-elected on 10 July 2004 with more than 90 % of the vote in their constituency Te Tai Hauāuru and was the first Member of Parliament of the Māori Party. Her first official act as a member of Parliament for the Māori Party was held on the steps of Parliament on 12 July 2004. There she received the inputs against the Foreshore and Seabed Bill ( Act).

Parliamentary elections in 2005 and 2008

In the parliamentary elections in 2005, reached the Māori Party 2.1 % of the vote nationally, but was about the four in the Electorates Māori Te Tai Hauāuru, Tamaki Makaurau, Te Tai Tokerau Waiariki and won direct seats with four seats strengthened into parliament.

In the parliamentary elections in 2008, the Māori Party nor the Māori Te Tai Tonga constituency gained additional and has been represented since the five members of parliament. The share of votes across the country, however, had increased only slightly by 2.39% compared to 2005.

Goals of the party

By saying " our people are our greatest wealth" ( Our people are our greatest wealth ) underlines the party, the value that the people they advocate for the party.

Although the Māori Party claims to be a party for all citizens of the country, but is pointed out in the statute that Kaupapa Māori - ( Māori ideology ) is the basis on which the party exists, acts and works.

Thus, the objectives of the party part of the promotion and strengthening of culture and the ethnic group of Māori, and part of improving the lives of disadvantaged people all in the country. Here is an excerpt of the objectives:

• Introduction of teaching in history of Māori and Pacific Islander in the Primary School and Secondary School,
• Duty of history lessons for naturalization in New Zealand history, including history of Māori and Pacific Islander,
• Equitable participation in political, economic and social processes that affect the interests of Māori,
• More representatives of Māori in key positions in companies and institutions of the state,
• Acceleration of the processes in the Waitangi Tribunal,
• Securing the ownership of the Foreshore and Seabed, and protection thereof, prior to sale or lease
• Promotion of Māori businesses,

• Nuclear Free New Zealand (see Treaty of Rarotonga ),
• No use of genetic engineering,
• Improvement of passenger transport to reduce emissions,
• No tax for income up to NZ $ 25,000,
• No Goods and Services Tax (GST ) on food,
• Ending child poverty by 2020,
• Increase the minimum wage to NZ $ 15, which in 2010 amounted to 12.75 NZ $.

Logo of the Party

The logo of the party is based on three ideas:

• Māori - the name as the basis for the country, for the values ​​of Māori, as aspiration for New Zealand and for the affirmation of tangata whenua as ( an indigenous people of the country).
• Colors - white, black, red - taken on the basis of the first Māori King Te Potatau Wherowhero, the white for the purity of New Zealand is to create the black for hard work and the recognition of progress a nation at different positions and visions based and the red color was taken as a sign of dignity, leadership and pride in the home country.
• Ao - says literally: the world and should be the world of Māori, te Ao Māori, Aotearoa.

The in the "o " together rolling arch symbolizes the offspring of a Silberfarnblattes, which is deployed and is considered a national symbol of New Zealand.

Government participation

With the victory of the National Party in the general election in 2008, John Key made ​​, though not necessarily by the majorities ago, the Māori Party, the offer to go with the government. The offer was discussed in great detail and controversy in the party and in many discussions in the iwi throughout the country. The five elected representatives of the party visited the communities across the country in order to seek their views and support for participation in government with the National Party. We finally decided, despite reservations about the National Party to perceive the opportunity to shape and change in terms of Māori politics. Result of the agreement with the National Party on 16 November 2008 was an eight-page agreement, in which both sides promised to act in the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi, to clarify not later than 2010 questions to the Constitution, in which concerns of Māori also a role play regarding the Māori seats to act in accordance with and be subject to the bill of an investigation in terms of Foreshore and Seabed. With the latter indeed was political dynamite, stuck in his bill, not eliminated, but at least the National Party had the Māori Party pulled on her side, the party that was new emerged from the Foreshore and Seabed conflict with the Labour Party in 2004.