Andrew Dickens: It's been a remarkable week for Māori

Now seeing as I am a 60 year old white guy, some will consider my comments inherently racist, but I am allowed my opinion just as you are allowed yours.  Opinions are like bums - we all have one, so why fight it? Firstly, the coming out of the Māori Queen.  One thing is for sure, Māori do this customary and ceremonial stuff well. The attendees are seeing history, a young Queen about to take leadership.  But I’m always amazed at the one year silence thing. Sure you’re getting the lay of the land and forming your ideas for your reign and paying respect to your predecessor, but come on.  It seems to me that the year's silence gives the courtiers more power over affairs of state. When the cats away the mice will play.  Now to the Tamaki Makaurau by-election.  I couldn’t believe how many voters got the City Council Elections and the by-election to be a Member of Parliament confused.   One person on telly wondered if Oriini Kaipara was running for Mayor. And you wonder why we get strange governments and councils.  The candidates also ran chaotic campaigns.    Oriini Kaipara had a shocker. Claiming her party, who have not been in government since 2017, had repealed laws. No they did not - back then they were support partners and so not able to repeal laws.  Then she had to grab her phone to check policy while Jack Tame looked on quizzically.  Then she said her Labour opponent should be Prime Minister of New Zealand, which must have raised the eyebrows of Rawiri and Debbie. I understand Oriini's appeal. She’s young and smart. She was a respected journalist, and she has the Māori Party sartorial style. Fine alternative statement clothes - they always looked like they’ve been styled by Zambesi. But it’s not what you look like or seem, it’s what you say. She seems underdone and would get better with more time.  Then there’s Peeni Henare. A product of Māori's hierarchical society where a lot of weight is given to your family, your whakapapa, and your journey.  He’s always been mentioned as a future Prime Minister. It seems like it’s owed and not to be earned. If he loses this one it’s over, because you can’t be a Prime Minister if you couldn’t win a Māori electorate. Twice. He also had a shocker going against the gang patch law having to be corrected by Chippy. Also I didn’t need to see him working out with David Letele, I want to know what he thinks, not how he sweats  You know I don’t think I could vote for either if I could.  But I can’t. I’m not allowed to. And that seems to be how the electorate feel with indications of a terrible turnout this weekend.  And that’s a bad thing. If you respect the treaty, if you’ve chosen to be on a Māori roll, then you owe your people to use that privilege, or right if you prefer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.