ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

The Huddle: All political parties criticised after racism claims in Parliament

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 12 May 2021, 7:32PM
Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi stopped for a haka as he departed from the chamber with co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. (Photo / Michael Neilson)

The Huddle: All political parties criticised after racism claims in Parliament

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 12 May 2021, 7:32PM

The question of racism's been thrown into the spotlight at Parliament.

Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi's been kicked out today - after interrupting others to claim racist rhetoric and propaganda in the Debating Chamber.

Fellow co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says National leader Judith Collins started this - but it's up to the House to rein in the behaviour.

Speaking on The Huddle, political commentator Neale Jones told Heather du Plessis-Allan that John Key's Government tried to appeal to Māori - but now Collins has picked up on this thread to try and jump back in the polls.

"She's picked up a couple of things and is alleging some vast conspiracy and trying to scare people.

"It is not a genuine discussion. It is a dishonest attempt to whip up fear for political ends."

Māori Council Matthew Tukaki says that politics is descending into a case of two sides facing off.

He says what Collins has been doing is not helping anybody. 

"Judith, you don't speak for Maori, you don't speak for Polynesian people, and you're so low in the polls, you're hardly speaking for anyone." 

On the other side, he says that no side is covering themselves in glory. 

"The brutal reality is that we've got some big issues to deal with. Let's have a debate and a contest of ideas, let's not use the race card against each other. Let's just get on with the job."

LISTEN ABOVE

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you