MPs call for Maori to reclaim protocols

Maori should protect their protocols by taking them off the Government and bringing them home to their own settings, says National MPs Georgina te Heuheu and Tau Henare.

National's new lineup, revealed this week, handed the pair associate maori affairs spokesmanships, and both voiced concern at the Labour Government's use of Maori protocol.

The new lineup also included Wayne Mapp's appointment as spokesman for political correctness eradication. Among his targets are Government moves to put Maori spiritual values in legislation.

During the election campaign National leader Don Brash criticised the use of powhiri at official functions, saying a "half-naked man poking his tongue out" was not a particularly civilised way to greet foreign dignitaries.

Mrs te Heuheu, who fell out with Dr Brash over the 2004 Orewa race speech, yesterday cited the row between former probation officer Josie Bullock and the Corrections Department over the place of women in Maori ceremony.

The MP said when such controversies became public they could set back attempts by Maori businesspeople to develop long-term relationships with private sector organisations.

"I would imagine Maori might already be thinking that they should withdraw those protocols from those environments which are really not necessarily suited to our protocols, and maybe take those protocols back home to where they belong."

Mr Henare, a former NZ First MP, agreed with Mrs te Heuheu, saying Labour Governments had abused Maori protocol and half of Labour's ministers did not know what they were doing with it anyway.

He called for Maori leaders to end the "dial a kaumatua" culture promoted by the Labour Government when opening Foreign Ministry offices overseas.

Such performances perverted the integrity of the culture, he said, particularly in view of former Foreign Minister Phil Goff's recent comment that karakia were performed merely as promotional gimmicks to attract media attention in other countries.

But Mr Goff's spokesman rejected Mr Henare's assertions, and rubbished claims the only reason for karakia overseas was for exposure.

The spokesman called National hypocritical for making such comments when it had done the same thing during time in government.