When I first read about David Ruck's Facebook-page Pakeha Party, I checked the date thinking maybe it was April Fool's but, no, it was July 9.
If it is a joke then I think it may be on him. He clearly thinks he is mirroring the Maori Party in claiming
to speak for a section of the population but there is much he could learn from the rise and decline of what he considers to represent ethnic separatism.
In naming a political idea after a section of the population, on the assumption that this will garner support, he is flying in the face of reality. Maori (just like Pakeha) are as diverse in their interests, situations and aspirations as any other section of society. This is immediately evident when you look at Parliament. A number of ministers are Maori. Across the political divide they do not agree on policy and reflect a diverse range of opinion.
The dimming of the Maori Party's light can in part be attributed to this diversity, alongside the decision to align with National for reasons of political expediency. The Pakeha Party propagators should reflect on this and realise their view that they speak for Pakeha is folly.
It would be like a Five Foot Five political movement that felt it represented all those under this specific height description. Some of those people may feel short-changed by the tall orders of those above this height but others would say, "I may be short but they do not speak for me as my stature is only my outward appearance. My political inclinations are deeper than that."
