Post by Kiwi Frontline on Aug 9, 2019 17:16:58 GMT 12
MAORI NATIONALIST PARTIES EXPLOIT IHUMĀTAO PROTEST
In recent weeks the New Zealand media has given intense media coverage to an occupation led by Maori activists protesting against a proposed property development at a historic archaeological site on the Ihumātao Peninsula in South Auckland.
While it is legitimate to oppose the destruction of an important archeological site, the protest organisers have exploited the issue to promote Maori nationalism. This in turn has been taken up by the media right at the point when major struggles of workers and young people have erupted.
The latter two Maori nationalist parties are seeking to use the protest to make a political comeback after failing to win a single seat in the 2017 election. Their program, based on demands for increased government payments to tribal capitalists, and discrimination against immigrants, is deeply unpopular in the Maori working class.
Harawira entered the Ihumātao protest campsite on July 28 accompanying Brian and Hannah Tamaki, leaders of the fundamentalist Destiny Church. The Tamakis recently founded a far-right, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant party, with support from Mana.
Matthew Tukaki from the Maori Council, a state-funded organisation representing tribal business interests, openly declared that the proposed housing development showed the need to slash immigration.
Tukaki has also pointed to one of the underlying mercenary aims of Maori nationalist leaders. Speaking on Radio NZ on August 6, he warned of more protests and occupations, unless the law is changed so that privately-owned land can be acquired by the government and given to Maori tribes.....
pacific.scoop.co.nz/2019/08/maori-nationalist-parties-exploit-ihumatao-protest/
In recent weeks the New Zealand media has given intense media coverage to an occupation led by Maori activists protesting against a proposed property development at a historic archaeological site on the Ihumātao Peninsula in South Auckland.
While it is legitimate to oppose the destruction of an important archeological site, the protest organisers have exploited the issue to promote Maori nationalism. This in turn has been taken up by the media right at the point when major struggles of workers and young people have erupted.
The latter two Maori nationalist parties are seeking to use the protest to make a political comeback after failing to win a single seat in the 2017 election. Their program, based on demands for increased government payments to tribal capitalists, and discrimination against immigrants, is deeply unpopular in the Maori working class.
Harawira entered the Ihumātao protest campsite on July 28 accompanying Brian and Hannah Tamaki, leaders of the fundamentalist Destiny Church. The Tamakis recently founded a far-right, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant party, with support from Mana.
Matthew Tukaki from the Maori Council, a state-funded organisation representing tribal business interests, openly declared that the proposed housing development showed the need to slash immigration.
Tukaki has also pointed to one of the underlying mercenary aims of Maori nationalist leaders. Speaking on Radio NZ on August 6, he warned of more protests and occupations, unless the law is changed so that privately-owned land can be acquired by the government and given to Maori tribes.....
pacific.scoop.co.nz/2019/08/maori-nationalist-parties-exploit-ihumatao-protest/