In 1975 the frail, though determined, figure of Whina Cooper hobbled the length of the North Island at the head of a slow-moving hikoi of many, predominantly Māori, people, to make a case at the highest political venue in this country.
Peter Carr
It was for a greater degree of justice with regard to the ownership and management of indigenous land. That the good lady was eventually knighted for her sterling effort was rightful justice.
What we witnessed last week was something entirely different.
Putting aside the alleged reason for a moment, the now-recognised ‘car hikoi’ was a far cry from what had transpired many years ago.
There were common themes in the physical sense as to banners, a flag adopted by Māori and occasional bursts of song and dance recognised as historical displays reaching back many years.
Watching the 40,000 or so people who surrounded the bottom end of Molesworth Street in the capital it was clear that there was a marked support for the cause of the mainly motorised ‘march’ by citizens other than Māori.
The target of their concern verging on anger was a strange display of unnecessary tilts at the 1840 founding document. That piece of history does not need revising nor being meddled with.
Witness the view of the Prime Minister of this proposal where he, caught between a rock and a hard place to affect a working coalition, cobbled together a triumvirate of parties to undertake the desired governance that the MMP mess created 30 years ago.
Peter Carr with Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro.
But there was something far more sinister than the ridiculous prancing on the floor of the House.
Where a very young MP commenced a show of deliberate dissatisfaction with the author of the proposed legislation. She later publicly admitted she was not the one planned to commence the proceedings.
Planned? Commence? Clearly that performance was very much planned even if the lead actor was to be someone else.
So, what degree of planning was there and just how deep and wide was it drawn up?
The subsequent parliamentary rhetoric of Winston Peters and Shane Jones revealed all. It was not only planned for a long time but also led by a family member of the Māori Party political leader with preparatory work undertaken by government paid staff who aided and abetted the whole sorry spectacle.
There is nothing wrong with well organised, peaceful and well managed demonstrations of a political nature where the cause is just and well balanced and where grievances can be displayed when proper means of gaining justice and ‘rights’ are being denied.
Witness the upcoming group thrust by the nurses coming up shortly. If ever there was injustice, political lies and cold-hearted pressure by senior government officials and politicians then the nurses cause is very just and proper.
Promises made (think Dunedin Hospital) were clearly broken at a very high level, yet those at the forefront in hospitals are working bravely on and becoming increasingly weary as the months pass.
This is a time for brave and sensible leadership of a type that the current three-year parliamentary term will never achieve. It’s time for all the parties to come together and find common ground for the sake of the nation and not for the retention of died-in-the-wool beliefs that are well out of date.
