Top tweets about Simon Bridges being Maori

This is a selection of some of the more interesting tweets about Simon Bridges becoming the first Maori leader of a major party in New Zealand. The most recent tweets are first.

Christian @CrikaRika

People who diminish someone for identifying as Māori because they don't fit a construct of what Māori should be - STOP. Whakapapa Māori? Then ya Māori!

Chris‏ @enchantedprune

I'm no fan at all of National or Bridges, but you don't get to determine how Māori he is. That's little different to going back to the ignorance of "people "only" being quarter or half Māori, so not really "properly" Māori".

Conan McKegg‏ @ConanMcKegg

Dear fellow white political commentators. Can we not have hot takes on what percentage Māori blood Bennett & Bridges are and whether that means they’re really Māori or not. That’s not our call to make. Focus on their work, not their ancestral legitimacy.

Workers' Commonwealth‏ @commonweal_nz

Denying that national party leaders are Maori is the purest ideological form of identity politics that relates a bunch of ethical and political traits to racial, gender, ethnic markers. Its extraordinarily reactionary

wabisabi‏ @wabisabist

Beyond disgusting racism/bigotry from @barrysoper to @simonjbridges @paulabennettmp discussing their Maori-ness. Never ever seen him measure a Labour MP’s blood. I saw @WillieJLabour on DNA Detectives. No comment there Barry !

jacindamaniac

Mike (Smiley) Low 🙂‏ @RVolutionaryAct

I'm sorry, but we've only found out recently that Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett are of "Maori Descent", now they're running with it to get voters, but remember, their party has never really represented Maori. #WakeUp people! #nzpol

Giovanni Tiso‏ @gtiso

The increasing thinkability of Māori and women leaders for our political parties is simply a good thing. Even if it says little about what PM Bridges or Bennet would be. We can hold both thoughts in our heads.

> Scott Hamilton RTM‏ @SikotiHamiltonR

I see what you mean. But it is striking how easily the NZ elite has been able to incorporate Maori individuals into its institutions, over many decades. I just don't think Bridges' elevation necessarily represents much of a change.

m ø n a 💫‏ @monatiresa

Ahh, and Simon Bridges is embracing his Maori heritage lmao. You've ignored your people's calls for years, particularly concerning the environment, and now you're all about them. Maori aren't stupid. They'll see right through you.

Boyd Broughton‏ @boydparatene

Bridges is Māori He is also annoying. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Scott Hamilton RTM‏ @SikotiHamiltonR

Pundits claim Bridges' elevation to leaders of the Nats is some sort of progressive leap for NZ. Do these folks know that, nearly 90 years ago, NZ had a Maori as acting PM? Was Apirana Ngata's role proof NZ was a bicultural paradise in 1930? Or is identity politics a bit silly?

Marxist-Leninist-Māoriist‏ @oriwa_

Nobody loves representational politics nearly as much as shady conservatives. Credulous rubes thinking Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett will do a single damn thing for Māori or the working class in this country are the types of people who would buy their stolen watch back twice.

Stephen Berry‏ @sjberrynz

Huge numbers on the left, Maori and Pakeha denegrating Bridges because either a) not pure enough Maori blood or b) he is plastic c) he betrays his own people. I thought we were passed the days of racial purity and I know we have stopped owning people.

Compassionative‏ @CompNativeBlog

Instead of talking about how Māori Simon Bridges is, let's judge him for what he does, or more importantly doesn't do, for Māori.

𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧‏ @deltablues_king

Simon Bridges: Don’t like his politics but I’m proud there’s a Māori leader of a major political party for 1st time. For those questioning his “legitimacy” as a Māori: Please don’t. I’ve struggled w/ belonging as a Māori and it sux. There are many ways to be Māori. #nzpol

paul le comte‏ @five15design

This all came about from a conversation with a Māori academic leader I respect a lot today. She called Bridges a 'Clayton's Māori', happy to use the badge, but display NONE of the leadership responsibilities that come with it. Her words not mine.

Rod Mullin @RodMullin

Not surprised. Look, I don’t have much time for either Bennett or Bridges, but to suggest they are not Maori enough is pretty offensive. Like there’s one way to be a proper Maori?

Bon‏ @galgonemild

My face when people shame Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett for not speaking Te Reo, all the while ignoring the whole urban Māori disengagement from Te Aō Māori thing

Scott Hamilton RTM‏ @SikotiHamiltonR

I think it'd be different if, say, Bridges had won a Maori seat, or had a substantial Maori base within the Nats, & then b/c leader. That really would represent something new & interesting. But he's become MP of p'haps the most prejudiced electorate in NZ, by pandering to it.

Moana Maniapoto‏ @moanatribe

I hear that so much on FB...more galling when it’s Māori on the attack. I find myself defending Bridges, Bennett & Seymour - even though I don’t like their policies.

Thom‏ @ThomedySci

Under 50 *and* Māori. It's great to see how far we've come, but is it... A Bridges Twofer?

Ngati Pakeha Kuia @carol_stirling

It's becoming apparent that the election of Bridges to National Party Leadership is more a PR exercise than anything else. Hoping to appeal to Working Class and Maori electorate. I think voters will see through this tactic.

Stephen Berry‏ @sjberrynz

Personally couldn’t care less about your race. Not interested in your category. Don’t think you’re oppressed because you tick lots of the appropriate boxes. Horrified if you want to dissect somebody’s heritage by their percentage of blood. In NZ u should be better than that.

Emma Espiner‏ @emmawehipeihana

Remember the "How Māori are you?" interview with Hekia Parata? Let's not do that again eh.

Sᴀᴍ Aᴘᴘᴌᴇᴛᴏɴ‏ @_nzaf

Today is the day Simon Bridges finally became Māori.

Maddy‏ @Madicattt

I'm cynical about how long it has taken for Bridges and Bennett to talk about being Māori MPs, but to be fair, there are many Māori around the country who hide their identity. Especially at work.

Kiri Allan‏ @KiriAllan

From this Māori, under 50, proud Westie (Swanson, Te Atatu, Waitakere), to you two Māori, u 50, Westies, congrats to the new leadership team for the @NZNationalParty. While our politics may differ significantly, kudos from this Westie (and Bay of Plenty) kid to my fellow kin.

paul le comte‏ @five15design

Yes, we get it Simon Bridges is Māori... but has anyone ever heard him kōrero or mihi? If this is a moniker he's proud to wear, walk the walk & talk the talk young man

Carrie Stoddart-Smith‏ @Ellipsister

Here’s what I won’t put up with: “Bridges isn’t a ‘real’ Māori” or variations of that. That kōrero is so belittling and reinforces the whole quantum bullshit argument.

> Carrie Stoddart-Smith‏ @Ellipsister

Similarly, the assumption that as Māori he will represent “all Māori”. Yeah, nah. That’s no one. No one person will ever have a mandate to do that.

Laura OC Rapira‏ @laura_oc_rapira

I think it's really great the National Party have two Māori leaders who come from relatively working class backgrounds with roots in West Auckland. Parliament should look like all of us. I also think Simon Bridges' track record on LGBT rights, abortion & climate is terrible.

Geoffrey Miller‏ @GeoffMillerNZ

Amazing to realise that the National Party not only gave New Zealand its first woman Prime Minister, but by 2020 could give the country its first Maori PM too #nzpol

Ria Hall‏ @RiaHallNZ

I detest white left wing media subscribing to talking about ‘how much Māori’ (percentage) someone is. You’re perpetuating an argument that is highly draconian and irrelevant. We don’t base our culture on blood quantum. That’s backwards. If you’re Māori then you’re Māori.

Jarrod Gilbert‏ @JarrodGilbertNZ

Two Maori being elected to lead the National Party makes for an historic day.

> Moana Maniapoto‏ @moanatribe

It does. Māori who are committed & experienced kaupapa-driven advocates for Māori...not so much.

Lizzie Marvelly‏ @LizzieMarvelly

He has to earn that privilege. Time to walk the walk and do the mahi.

Amy Hodgkinson‏ @aehodgkinson

This is seriously cool, looking at the four largest parliamentary parties (National, Labour, NZF + Greens) with their leader + deputy, five out of seven are Māori. Ka rawe!

Morgan Godfery‏ @MorganGodfery

Will their policies benefit Māori? No. But let's leave that debate for tomorrow. For now, let's acknowledge that this is momentous.

Morgan Godfery‏ @MorganGodfery

It should be to Labour's eternal shame that National beat them to it. You would hope the Greens don't make the same mistake too. Right now, New Zealand's classical liberal and conservative parties are led by Māori. And yet its left parties...

Lew‏ @LewSOS

The New Zealand National Party is now led by two working-class west Auckland Māori people under 50

Posted at 04:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cartoons about Judith Collins

Below are various cartoons published about Judith Collins over the last two years. For earlier cartoons, see: Cartoons about the comeback of Judith Collins.

Emmerson - NZ Herald 17 February 2018

Tremain - Dominion Post 19 February 2018

Collins - NZ Herald 19 February 2018 Judith Collins National

Body - NZ Herald 19 February 2018

Scott - Dominion Post 16 February 2018

Nisbet - The Press 19 February 2018

Chicane - Southland Times 16 February 2018

Hodgson - Dominion Post 6 November 2017

Emmerson - NZ Herald 20 September 2017

Hubbard - 7 July 2017

Bromhead - NZ Herald 5 March 2017

Hubbard - 6 March 2017

Chicane - Southland Times 4 March 2017

Moreu - The Press 4 March 2017

Emmerson - NZ Herald 22 December 2016

Emmerson - NZ Herald 9 December 2016

Nisbet - The Press 8 December 2016

Emmerson - NZ Herald 6 December 2016

Hubbard - 3 November 2016

Hubbard - 25 October 2016

Moreu - Timaru Herald 20 October 2016

Scott - Dominion Post 15 October 2016

Murdoch - The Press 15 October 2016 Collins poverty

Hubbard - 14 October 2016

Moreu - Timaru Herald 8 October 2016

Moreu - Timaru Herald 15 September 2016

Emmerson - NZ Herald 11 August 2016

Hubbard - 12 May 2016

Chicane - Southland Times 2 May 2016

Hubbard - 15 March 2016

Emmerson - NZ Herald 9 March 2016

Emmerson - NZ Herald 16 December 2015

Posted at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

John Moore: Labour ditches the iwi elite

Iwi establishment figures might be fuming at the snubbing they received from prime minister Jacinda Ardern at Waitangi. The up-to-now cosy relationship between iwi elite and government was symbolically broken at Waitangi Day events when Jacinda Ardern directly appealed to general Maori attendees over the heads of tribal leaders.

This break with protocol – of government elites cosying up to iwi leaders at Waitangi – was most sharply demonstrated with Ardern’s decision not to attend a breakfast function with Maori VIPs at the Copthorne Hotel. The tradition of the prime minister having breakfast, after the Waitangi service, with a small selection of Maori leaders was dropped, and Ardern chose instead to serve bacon butties to the masses at Waitangi event:

When her colleagues Peeni Henare and Kelvin Davis told her [Jacinda Ardern] it was traditional to have breakfast after the service, they said it was usually held at the Copthorne Hotel for a select group of people. Ardern told the crowd, "I said 'Nah, we're having bacon butties'." "We didn't want walls … we think this is a way to show in a really physical way that our job is service," she said.

It’s about the economy stupid

A bi-partisan consensus has existed for a long time on policy approaches towards Maori. But now Labour has made an about turn, with a jettisoning of the conventional cultural-centred and iwi-focussed approach of the state towards Maori. Instead, the Jacinda Ardern-led government is now taking a more traditional leftwing and economic-centred approach to concerns around Maori poverty, depravation and inequity.

The previous alignment of past governments with iwi elites – specifically the Iwi Leaders Forum – and a focus on encouraging and funding a Maori cultural renaissance, has been replaced with a focus on a universal and traditional social democratic approach to tackling economic inequality. Put another way, post-materialist approaches to dealing with Maori inequity are now out, and materialist solutions are now being promoted as the zeitgeist by this new government.

Labour’s new class-centred approach to Maori inequality

Jancinda Ardern showed her skills at combining style with substance when at the Waitangi events she not only immersed herself in the crowds, but also placed a focus on discussions around Maori policy. During her speech after the powhiri, Ardern announced how this government plans to tackle issues of Maori inequality. Tino rangatiratanga politics is out, and a universal and traditional leftwing approach will now be promoted to deal with issues of Maori poverty and inequality.

At Waitangi, Ardern emphasised that the Government would not be taking a “race-based approach” in terms of specifically targeting Maori poverty. Instead the government would tackle Maori inequality by addressing the wider issues of poverty and inequality that exists within all ethnic groups in New Zealand. Arden stated:

We are specifically targeting things like poverty. An actual by-product of that is it will positively impact Maori," she said when asked whether Maori should be targeted with affirmative action in an effort to level out rates of inequality.

Labour as “class war warriors”

Jacinda Ardern’s focus at Waitangi on the question of Maori poverty and inequality is aligned with Labour’s renewed focus on class issues in the Maori electorates. Labour gained a clean sweep of all seven of the Maori seats, and killed the Maori Party in the process, by pushing a leftwing economic programme.

Alongside promoting redistributive materialist policies – such as the Labour Party’s Families Package – Labour also led a campaign in the Maori electorates against the Maori iwi establishment. Labour Party campaigners Willie Jackson and Matt McCarten were the key political actors in devising this class-centred approach.

Willie Jackson made it clear himself that Labour’s campaign for the Maori vote would focus on material issues of inequality and poverty, and not on sovereignty issues to do with tino rangatiratanga: “We'll get to the foreshore and seabed and other stuff but those are not priorities for us, we were very clear in terms of our campaign don't talk about tino rangatiratanga or foreshore and seabed when you've got families that are sleeping in cars.”

The limits of Treaty-based politics

Labour’s strategy of taking on the Maori Establishment as a way to regain its position as the party of choice for Maori, points to a failure of iwi-endorsed Treaty-based government policies to uplift Maori materially. Polices such as support for te reo Maori, state funded Maori television, the compensation of iwi for past abuses of the Crown, and a legal recognition given to the Treaty, have all acted to raise levels of Maori pride in terms of their identity and their place as the indigenous people of Aotearoa-New Zealand. However, this focus on culture, race, and sovereignty issues has failed to uplift the majority of Maori in terms of their economic position in New Zealand. And in fact, the emphasis on Treaty and cultural polices has occurred alongside an actual growth in Maori poverty.

Maori academic Evan Poata Smith has pointed out that the Treaty settlement process has led to is the rise of a significant wealth gap between a new wealthy Maori class and the rest. Dr Evan Te Atu Poata-Smith has highlighted this new phenomenon in his research on the economic position of Maori in New Zealand:

Inequality between Maori and non-Maori has been an enduring feature of New Zealand society. But in recent decades, it has coincided with another unwelcomed development: the growth of income gaps within Maori communities (Poata-Smith, 2014).

Poata-Smith argues that this increasing income gap within Maoridom itself brings into question the very direction of Maori social and economic development over the last few years. He asks the question of which Maori are benefiting from current ideas of Maori development, and which Maori are becoming further disenfranchised and marginalised. Clearly Poata-Smith's critique is a damning indictment on Treaty politics, which has benefited only a few and left the majority of Maori economically disenfranchised and politically marginalised.

Maori class politics is the zeitgeist

Labour’s refocus on class and material politics in regards to Maori will be welcomed by many. But the question is still open as to what degree Labour will be able to transform the lives of poor and working class Maori. Nonetheless, class politics is back on the agenda, and Maori class politics is now part of the zeitgeist.

Posted at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)