Politics Blog - January 23
Chris Hipkins addresses Rātana: ‘We didn’t bring non-Māori New Zealanders along with us'
The Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins, has told Māori leaders gathered at Rātana that now is not the time to turn back on progress made.
“This is a government with an agenda that wants to take New Zealand backwards with the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority.”
He went on to outline other policies which target Māori such as reducing the use of te reo Māori in the public service, and rolling back the smoke free legislation.
“The policies of this current government encourage, foster and enable racism in New Zealand and we should call it out for what it is.”
He said he remains committed to policies his government as a part of, but said his government had failed to get support from non-Māori for its policies.
“I also do want to acknowledge that we didn't get everything right. And one of the things that we didn't get right was making sure that we were bringing non-Māori New Zealanders along with us on that journey.”
“This is a government with an agenda that wants to take New Zealand backwards with the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority.”
He went on to outline other policies which target Māori such as reducing the use of te reo Māori in the public service, and rolling back the smoke free legislation.
“The policies of this current government encourage, foster and enable racism in New Zealand and we should call it out for what it is.”
He said he remains committed to policies his government as a part of, but said his government had failed to get support from non-Māori for its policies.
“I also do want to acknowledge that we didn't get everything right. And one of the things that we didn't get right was making sure that we were bringing non-Māori New Zealanders along with us on that journey.”