Helen Clark's 'mistakes of the past” is making it impossible for the Maori Party to support her bid for the United Nation's top job.
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says her party 'unequivocally do not support” her big for the Secretary-General role at the UN.
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says her party is against Helen Clark's bid for the top UN job. Photo: David White/FAIRFAX NZ.
The co-leader says apologising for her 'mistakes of the past” will not change their position but it will go a long way to fixing her relationship with Maori.
"She didn't want to sign up to the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People under the United Nations, she resisted that strongly.
'Also with the foreshore and seabed we saw that as the largest modern day confiscation of land for Maori. And then there was her support in the Tuhoe raids. "Based on her record of dealing with indigenous rights, we feel we can not support her nomination," Marama told Stuff.
No other party has publicly opposed Helen's nomination and despite her being a former Labour Party leader, even Prime Minister John Key fully endorses her bid.
While the Maori Party is a Government support partner, Marama says the party is independent and often votes against the Government.
"This doesn't put us in an awkward position with the Government. They know we're able to voice our opinions as we see fit."
"I'm speaking on behalf of the Maori Party but the thing that happened to Maori happened across the whole of Maoridom."
Marama says the only way Maori will know Clark has learnt from her mistakes is if she "apologises to the people she's adversely affected".
It was the Labour Party lead by Helen that passed the controversial 2005 Foreshore and Seabed Act, declaring the land in question was owned by the Crown.
Also during Helen's leadership Maori criticised the handling of the 2007 Urewera raids, where about 300 police descended on the Urewera mountain range near the town of Ruatoki and arrested 17 people.
Tina Ngata, an environmentalist and indigenous rights advocate from Gisborne, spoke at the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues in May, where she questioned Helen's ability to stand up for indigenous rights.
Tina also highlighted the Urewera raids and Foreshore and Seabed Act as examples of Helen's past mistakes.
Marama says there are many Maori who "applaud Tina's comments and would hold the same view".
While the Maori Party isn't backing anyone else for the UN job, Marama says she has watched some of the interviews and described Helen as coming across as a "forthright leader".
Currently Helen is in the middle of a huge international lobbying quest to secure the top job at the United Nations with the next straw poll scheduled for August 5, in New York.
The first poll, held last month, saw Helen trailing the top contenders in a shock result where she emerged in the middle of the pack of 12 contenders for the job.
The two leading contenders going into the next poll are former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Gueterres and former Slovenian President Danilo Turk.
Helen's chances looked to be growing bleaker last week when the Australian Cabinet held a meeting to decide whether to endorse former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for the position.
After a split vote by Cabinet, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was left to decide and opted not to back him.
17 comments
And with that..
Posted on 06-08-2016 08:04 | By Me again
Maori will not move forward. They might like to look a bit closer to home and in their own backyards. The maori people have not been looking after their either, especially those with the position to do so. Hand out for settle treaties, but the one on the bottom of the barrel are still trying to get up. Their own. Mind you someone has got to be blamed, Eh Marama Fox!!
Helen Clark's Support
Posted on 06-08-2016 08:29 | By Denny G
Does Marama speak for the whole of the Maori party or is this the opinion of a few ?
helen
Posted on 06-08-2016 08:44 | By dumbkof2
of course the seabed and foreshore is owned by the crown. if it was owned by the moyoris you would be paying a toll to go to the beach by now. i fully supported helen in this act
What's that?
Posted on 06-08-2016 08:56 | By Gigilo
Nobodies listening.
Sour
Posted on 06-08-2016 09:18 | By overit
Marama Fox is a bitter, twisted woman. Quite dangerous I would say. Theres no moving forward with Pakeha into the future-just Maori interests. Watch this space.
white
Posted on 06-08-2016 11:12 | By thebrad
How is this woman making calls for the Maori party she has an english last name, i am so sick to death of these people holding up pregression.
Compulsive Blamers
Posted on 06-08-2016 13:41 | By xenasdad
When these folk leave their imaginary world of "We own everything", and join the rest of all NZs in reality, then I will listen to their opinions !!
Shes as Mad as a Magot
Posted on 06-08-2016 13:50 | By Dazed and Confused
Keep your stupid ideas to yourself Marama
Maori
Posted on 06-08-2016 15:01 | By Kenworthlogger
Will there ever be a day where they dont whinge???
No respect for Fox
Posted on 06-08-2016 15:28 | By Bay Citizen
Fox has no intellect or leadership skills at all. Clarke was quite right to confirm the ownership of the foreshore and seabed. Since then, National has fudged the issue with a "no ownership" model. Whilst I think this model is logically flawed, it does seem to be working. I guess we shall see in the coming years.
Whoa
Posted on 06-08-2016 15:39 | By Kaimai
Bring back Te Ureroa and Tiriana - those two made progress for Maori and New Zealand.
Limelight
Posted on 06-08-2016 15:48 | By Taffy
Do or say anything to get attention perhaps she should apply to work for Donald Trump,s campaign.
no to both
Posted on 06-08-2016 18:47 | By Captain Sensible
Nasty and vindictive bullying style is the MO of that Party. But Clark does not deserve to be put in charge of a bicycle, never mind the UN.
Goodbye
Posted on 06-08-2016 18:49 | By mickey mouse
This will be the end of the Maori Party.Labour hold 6 out of the seven Maori seats. So why does the media even bother getting the opinion of a party that doesnt exist.Keep digging ya grave Marama.
Listen to yourselves
Posted on 06-08-2016 18:54 | By awaroa
All the comments you make about Marama or iwi Maori in general seem to be describing yourselves.. Obstructive, Bitter and Twisted, Dangerous, Dreamers, Whingers, Stupid.. Well guess what, nobody is listening..
@ awaroa
Posted on 06-08-2016 21:24 | By Captain Sensible
A lone voice in 15 so far. Of course, the Maori Party only represents 1.3 lone voices in a hundred. Yeah, not much is it?
Nothing Good
Posted on 07-08-2016 08:36 | By Jitter
I'm afraid Marama Fox has nothing good to say ever about anything or anyone which is not Maori. You only have to watch Parliament on TV to see this. She appears to be a very bitter and twisted person.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.