Building bridge to freedom

My colleague Pita Sharples is stepping down as co-leader of the Maori Party and will not be standing again at the 2014 general election.

I know that decision was not easy for him. His heart has always been with the people, he has worked tirelessly and I commend him for his commitment to our people.

But both our retirements at the end of next year have not changed the direction or kaupapa of the Maori Party. We are committed to continue to stand candidates in the Maori electorates, and also the general electorates, because this is about the future of our people, not about individual MPs or candidates.

The Maori Party grew from an absolute need for an independent Maori voice in Parliament. We came here to make a difference for our people - to restore economic and social independence for tangata whenua. When we established the Maori Party we knew in order to make a difference we would need to be in government.

Former Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata always said to us that it would not be easy being in power but what would our people rather do? Sit outside the Government in opposition, complaining and protesting? Or sit at the table, making a difference and having some influence?

Our relationship with National has not always sat well with some of our people in the misbelief that the Labour Party would serve us better.

The reality is Labour has not always delivered on the aspirations of our people. In fact, they have implemented legislation that has been against our interests. It was a Labour Government that refused to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a decision overturned by the Maori Party. It was Labour that took away due access to the right to go to court through the Foreshore and Seabed Bill, a confiscation of opportunity that the Maori Party restored.

It was a Labour Government that mandated the raids upon Tuhoe and the people of Ruatoki. And I could go on.

There is often much made of the political spectrum which places Labour on the left and National on the right. The fact is, in terms of advancing kaupapa Maori interests, the two major parties actually sit very closely together on that spectrum. The Maori Party is neither a left- nor right-wing party. These are political leanings more suited to mainstream parties. We are a kaupapa Maori-based party and we will continue to build alliances with others who support our kaupapa and where we can see advancement for Maori.

Much has already been said about the Ikaroa Rawhiti by-election result by those keen to write the Maori Party off. The Ikaroa Rawhiti electorate was always going to be hard for any party other than Labour to win, because of the profound attachment that the people had to the late Parekura Horomia.

In fact, the results indicate there is clearly a call for an independent Maori voice. The Maori Party retained our 20 per cent share of the vote from the last election and, combined with the Mana Party, won a total of 45 per cent of the vote, while Labour captured 42 per cent of the total vote.

Congratulations must go to Meka Whaitiri and her supporters for retaining the seat for Labour. However, I do not think the Labour Party can crow about last Saturday's result. A key fact to remember is that while Labour won 42 per cent of the vote, actually, 56 per cent voted for alternative parties, including the Maori Party.

It is too simplistic to assume that if the Maori and Mana parties had combined they would have beat Labour. In fact, we have two different constituencies. The Mana Party is a class-based party that mobilises itself through activism. The Maori Party is a kaupapa Maori-based party that positions itself as progressive. We have all been protesters. Now we are working for change.

By-elections historically have a very low turnout and this one was no exception. Out of the potential 33,000 voters, only one-third turned out to vote. In fact, the biggest political party contesting the by-election was the party of no-voters. I put a lot of the low voter turnout and lack of interest in national politics to the fact that our people are already so committed in local and tribal affairs.

I think our people are bogged down with just living and surviving.

There are also major issues around how strongly Maori electoral participation is promoted. Whether it be the by-election, or the opportunity to go on to the Maori Roll (don't forget, whanau, the last date for the electoral option is July 24).

There is much work to be done to mobilise our people, to recapture the passion that we saw during the Foreshore and Seabed Act Hikoi in 2004.

That passion drove us all to a common goal of establishing an independent voice for Maori in Parliament.

The Maori Party's approach in Parliament has been about building a bridge for our people towards their freedom.

The only problem with a bridge is that there is a perception of being walked over.

Our greatest challenge has been to ensure our people see that bridge as a vital foundation from which to take up their own journey, strong and secure in the pathway they have embarked upon.