Coalition cracks emerging already
It’s only 15 days into the New Year and the cracks papered over last year between National and the Maori Party are beginning to emerge, says Labour’s Deputy Leader and Social Development spokesperson Annette King.
“Today we’ve seen Tariana Turia angrily criticising Social Development Minister Paula Bennett’s plan to clamp down on beneficiaries without offering them support and opportunities to get into work.
“Given the disproportionate number of Maori beneficiaries, Tariana Turia is understandably annoyed that she was not consulted on the plan, despite the fact she is the Associate Social Development Minister,” Annette King says.
“This raises further questions about consultation between the parties on Paula Bennett’s plans for DPB mums, and exactly what’s in store for them.
“Today’s saga follows on from Prime Minister John Key’s criticisms of Hone Harawira’s latest grandstanding, which Tariana Turia had earlier defended – highlighting further disagreement.
“This is hardly surprising and heralds a year of increased division between the two parties,” Annette King says.
“2009 was a year of window-dressing as the two parties sought to paint a picture of harmonious hand-holding to disguise the yawning gap between them. But as the rubber hits the road and the talk translates into policy, 2010 will see the tensions continue to emerge.
“National and the Maori Party leadership have publicly remained silent on Hone Harawira’s call to place all foreshore and seabed in Maori title, which would fail under any common law test.
“But this will have inevitably caused behind-the-scenes ructions in National and we await the views of both parties on this with interest.”
