The beginning of independent Maori Party

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 4, 18 May 1978, Page 3

The beginning of independent Maori Party

A proposal to set up an Independent Maori Party to contest the four Maori seats was discussed at a gathering of Te Matakite o Aotearoa members at Bastion Point on May 5. Emphasis was placed on the dissatisfaction that everyone felt with the existing parties and on the importance of the younger voters. It was felt that this situation favoured the launching of an Independant Maori Party. Opposition came from members who felt that standing for Parliament would indicate support for a system which was suppressing the people, and what was needed was a complete “revolution.”

The supporters of the proposal however, felt that the “revolution”-was still some time away, and what was needed was immediate action. The Independant Maori Party was an answer for the immediate situation.

Another point made by an objector was that once the Party got into Parliament, compromises would be forced on them. This was also discounted as representatives would have no ambitions outside of what was needed for the Maori People. Any compromise would therefore be something that would be to the advantage of the people and not the individual and therefore not something to cause concern.

Perhaps the best rason for having such a party was given by the President, Dr Doug Sinclair, when he pointed out that if such a party was launched then for the first time in the history of New Zealand politics, a Maori presence, totally free of foreign influence, would be felt. All previous movements, whether through the church, political parties or trade unions, were within pakeha constraints and

overall pakeha leadership. The new movement would be Maori orientated and Maori dominated. The proposed party, would not have an overall philosophy. Instead it would be aimed at two things. Firstly it would be so broad that it would be acceptable to Maori people as a whole and so bring about unity, and secondly after this unity had been achieved, an E.D.C. (Educational Development Conference) type structure, starting at local marae level and working up to a National hui would be set up to ascertain what exactly the Maori people as a whole wanted. Once a complete picture had been obtained the representatives, ambassadors for the Maori people, would push for official sanction, where it was needed. The main point is that Maoris must have a basic legal right to their situation. At present

Parliament, in which Maoris are hopelessly outnumbered or worse still, Government caucus, where we are without representation, is deciding what happens to us. As things are, our four M.P.s are powerless. Even if they are in the Government caucus, their influence is light. As Independants, they would have more power, especially in the field of Maori Affairs. If they use this power to ensure Maori rights and these rights are embodied in a statute, then at least, we have the protection of the courts. The proposers of the scheme felt that this was worth trying for. After a lengthy discussion in which views were freely expressed, it was decided that delegates should take the proposals to their members and come back with decisions to their next hui which is being held in Hamilton in June.