In his maiden speech to parliament in 2020, te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told his fellow MPs:<\/p>\n
“You know what it feels like to have a pebble in your shoe? That will be my job here. A constant, annoying to those holding onto the colonial ways, a reminder and change agent for the recognition of our kahu M\u0101ori.”<\/p>\n
Three years later, most would agree that he and fellow co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have been just that – visible, critical, combative, prepared to be controversial.<\/p>\n
The question in 2023, however, is how does the party build on its current platform, grow its base, and become more than a pebble in the shoe of mainstream politics?<\/p>\n
Recent polls suggest te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori could win four seats in parliament in October. But its future doesn’t necessarily lie in formally joining either a government coalition or opposition bloc, even if this were an option.<\/p>\n
The National Party has already ruled out working with the party in government. And te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori has indicated partnership with either major party is not a priority.<\/p>\n
Such are the challenges for a political party based on kaupapa M\u0101ori (incorporating the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of M\u0101ori society) in a Westminster-style parliamentary system.<\/p>\n
Focusing on M\u0101ori values
\nThese tensions have existed since 2004, when then-Labour MP Tariana Turia and co-leader Pita Sharples established te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori in protest against Labour’s Foreshore and Seabed Act.<\/p>\n
Under that law, overturned in 2011, the Crown was made owner of much of New Zealand’s coastline. Turia and others argued the government was confiscating land and ignoring M\u0101ori customary ownership rights.<\/p>\n
As a kaupapa M\u0101ori party, te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori bases its policies and constitution on tikanga (M\u0101ori values), while advocating for mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga. That is, M\u0101ori self-determination and sovereignty, as defined by the M\u0101ori version of te Tiriti o Waitangi\/Treaty of Waitangi.<\/p>\n
A tikanga-based constitution has helped shape policies advocating for M\u0101ori rights. But it has also, at times, sat at odds with the rules of parliament. Waititi, for example, called pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II “distasteful”. He also refused to wear a tie, breaching parliamentary dress codes.<\/p>\n
Between left and right
\nOver the years, the party’s M\u0101ori-centred policies have enabled its leaders to move between left and right wing alliances.<\/p>\n
Under the original leadership of Turia and Sharples, te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori joined with the centre-right National Party to form governments in 2008, 2011 and 2014. This was a change from traditional M\u0101ori voting patterns that had long favoured Labour.<\/p>\n
During it’s time in coalition with National, te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori helped influence a number of important decisions. This included finally signing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the development of Whanau Ora (a M\u0101ori health initiative emphasising family and community as decision makers), and repealing the Foreshore and Seabed Act.<\/p>\n
However, internal fighting over the decision to align with National led to the resignation of the Te Tai Tokerau MP at the time, Hone Harawira. Harawira later formed the Mana Party.<\/p>\n
The relationship with National proved unsustainable when Labour won back all the M\u0101ori electorates at the 2017 election. Notably, Labour’s T\u0101mati Coffey beat te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell in the Waiariki electorate.<\/p>\n
Rebuilding te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori
\nWaiariki was front and centre again in the 2020 election, where despite Labour’s general dominance across the M\u0101ori electorates, new te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori co-leader Rawiri Waititi reclaimed the seat. The party also managed to win enough of the party vote to bring co-leader Ngarewa-Packer into parliament with him.<\/p>\n
Sitting in opposition this time, the current party leaders have been vocal across a range of issues. The party has called for the banning of seabed mining, removing taxes for low-income earners, higher taxes on wealth, and lowering the superannuation age for M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Some policies, such as 2020’s “Wh\u0101nau Build” have caused discomfort. Aimed largely at addressing the housing crisis, Wh\u0101nau Build identified immigration as the root of M\u0101ori homelessness.<\/p>\n
It was a sentiment more often associated with the extreme right, and the party has since apologised for that part of the policy.<\/p>\n
Rawiri WaititiPhoto: RNZ \/ Samuel Rillstone
\nContesting more seats in 2023
\nThose bumps and missteps notwithstanding, recent polls show just how competitive te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori has become in the M\u0101ori electorates.<\/p>\n
Ex-Labour MP Meka Whaitiri – an experienced politician who has held the Ikaroa-R\u0101whiti electorate since 2013 but left to join te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori this year – is in a tight race to regain her seat against new Labour candidate Cushla Tangaere-Manuel.<\/p>\n
Co-leader Ngarewa-Packer is also running a close race against Labour candidate Soraya Peke-Mason for the Te Tai Hau\u0101uru electorate – a Labour stronghold.<\/p>\n
But te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori has also shifted from its previous focus on the M\u0101ori electorates, with Merepeka Raukawa-Tait standing in the Rotorua general electorate.<\/p>\n
The M\u0101ori Electoral Option legislation, which came into effect this year, now allows M\u0101ori voters to change more easily between electoral rolls. In future, te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori may find it can best to serve M\u0101ori by standing candidates in general electorates.<\/p>\n
Broader social change across Aotearoa New Zealand has also likely been an important contributor to the success of te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, with greater understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga and te reo M\u0101ori among voters.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the current party vision of an “Aotearoa Hou” (New Aotearoa), includes reference to tangata tiriti, a phrase being popularised to refer to non-M\u0101ori who seek to honour partnerships based on te Tiriti o Waitangi.<\/p>\n
According to the most recent polling, te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori may not be the deciding factor in who gets to form the next government come October.<\/p>\n
But the party’s resilience and growth after its electoral disappointments in 2017 and 2020 show an ability to rebuild. In doing so, it is carving out its place in New Zealand’s political landscape.<\/p>\n
And if te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori is not the kingmaker in 2023, it is still on the path to influence – and potentially decide – elections in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n
* Annie Te One is a lecturer in M\u0101ori Studies at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
VIA RNZ<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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