Te Ururoa Flavell: Voice of Maoridom will not be silent

SUPPORT: Seeing the Black Caps' absolute commitment to the games, the whole nation has come in behind them.PHOTO/FILE

KIA ORA ana tatou.

Kei te rere tonu nga whakahe a etahi ki te hiahia o Ngai Maori mo etahi turu i te tepu o te Kaunihera a Rohe o Rotorua. Kei te putake o oku whakaaro, ko te rereketanga o nga tikanga mo nga turu Maori ki era o te ao Pakeha. Ko te hunga whakahe, e whakahe ana na to ratou whakatau, kua rereke tonu nga tikanga whakatau i raro i te 'Democracy' - engari kei te noho rereke nga tikanga i tenei wa tonu nei, a, ko wai kei raro iho? Ko te ao Maori. E hoa, me kaha tuku tatou i tetahi pepa whakahau i tenei wa tonu nei. Kia mohio mai nga kaki whero o te rohe, e kore, kore, kore rawa te reo o te Maori e noho wahangu nei.

I tenei marama tonu, Kaha rawa nga mahi o Winitana me ona hoa ki te rohe o Te Tai Tokerau. I a au e tuhi nei i tenei korero, ko te whakapae, ka puta te ihu o tera. He rereke ranei te noho o te whare Paremata. Ae, tona rereke nei. Kua hui ake etahi, kua pakari ake te tu o Te Paati Maori, ko taku, ae, tera pea. Ka puta ana he take ki roto i a Paremata, ka ata tirohia e matou ma ona painga ki te ao Maori, ahakoa he aha tana take.

Ka taea ranei e Winitana te takahuri i te waka o te Kawanatanga kare kau. Kei te taha ke tera o te Apitihana, no reira, e kore rawa tetahi e kite i tetahi painga.

E hia ke nei o ngai taua kua aro tonu atu ki te hakinakina nei, ki te "kirikiti" na nga mahi a te Tira Potae Pango? Kotahi tonu te Maori na, engari, na te upoko pakaru o te hunga na, kua whai tonu atu te motu i taua hunga. Ko wai te hoariri? Ko te warapi, a, kua tutuki te rae ki taua whenua. I a au e tuhi nei i tenei korero kei te noho tarewa tonu te korero mo te toa o te ao, heio ano, ki to tatou tima, pai tu, pai hinga, mena he tauira i tenei wa mo te whakapau werawera, mo te tohe i te tohe a mate noa, ko ratou tera. Kei mate wheke me mate ururoa, koia ra te korero.

Talks on the desire of Maori to have a seat at the Rotorua District Council table continue.

My focus has been on the difference in rules for Maori seats and those in large seats. The opponents of the Maori position disagree on the basis the distinctive seats fly in the face of democracy, but even now the rules are not equitable and who has to suffer? It is Maori. We need to make sure to put in submissions right now, so those in opposition realise the voice of Maoridom will not be silent.

This month Winston and his friends have been busy in the North. As I write this article, the prediction is Winston will win the byelection. Parliament will be configured differently. Some have said the position of the Maori Party will be strengthened, and that is probably right in this instance.

As issues arise in Parliament, however, we look carefully at the positive implication for Maori no matter what the issue.

Can Winston turn over the Government? No, not really. He is in opposition, so it's unlikely you will see any gains.

How many of us are followers of cricket following the deeds of the Black Caps? There is only one Maori maybe among the team, but it is in seeing their absolute commitment to the games that the whole nation has come in behind them.

Who are the opposition? The Australians - and the final is in Australia. As I write, the winner has not been decided, but no matter who it is, if there are role models for tenacity, giving it your all to the bitter end, that is us. As they say, it is better to die fighting like a shark, than giving up like an octopus.

I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz Phone 0508 924274

Te Ururoa Flavell is the co-leader of the Maori Party and the Waiariki MP.