Ixnay on the tino talk Tari

Tucked away in an otherwise non-descript speech by Tariana Turia was this quote;

And our goal must be firmly on taking control of our destiny, achieving tino rangatiratanga in economic development, in cultural revitalization, in social opportunities.

Crucial to our self-determination must be the knowledge that this requires our own leadership and initiative.

Could someone please tell her that tino rangatiratanga is a non-starter, full stop. Not going to happen, shouldn't happen and despite the best of motives and intentions - immediately cast the speaker as a seperatist radical.

Later in the same speech, she adds;

We are coming to the last month of the campaign to promote the Maori Electoral Option and have been trying to talk to as many people as possible about doing exactly that. Taking the stand, making sure their whanau are all enrolled, being on the roll to take charge of our destiny. If every Maori person enrolled on the Maori roll we could have thirteen seats in Parliament -tino rangatiratanga becoming a reality in our lifetimes.

The Maori Party are never going to court the mainstream Pakeha vote, nor should they. But this sort of outmoded senstimentalism will have only one result - driving many people to National and Act, or any party, that backs axing the race based seats.

Many times since their formation I hae praised the Maori Party for working constructively within the system to advance their causes. Driving a wedge through that system, or cherry picking what suits and refusing to recognise what does not, from the fringes within ain't going to get you far.