Potaka's Private Universe.

“Te reo Māori is a taonga. It is fundamental to New Zealand’s past, present and future.”

And it's a pleasure that I have known
And it's a treasure that I have gained

Aotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them.

The risk from those parties will grow later in the cycle. Once Winston and Seymour fall out of love again, as surely they must, and focus shifts to the next election. Their concerns for this coalition, the goodwill to pull back from the ever present precipice of divorce, will become secondary.

“Little Luxon” Image: @CV_Nicks

But what of the dangers that lurk within National itself?

Christopher Luxon signed them up to numerous things which are not exactly National Party policy. That was understandable, he wanted to become PM, it’s the whole point of the exercise.

Those on the front bench will be happy with their roles, but what about those further back, in the less important seats? Those sharing the responsibility but having little in the way of authority to influence matters.

They didn’t sign up to some of these things when they ran for parliament. They have values, presumably. Yes they understand political expediency, but what do they gain from tarnishing their own reputations? From burning their own political capital, on things they don’t agree with, and don’t really have a say in?

In the old adage about Newspapers yesterday’s headlines become today’s Fish & Chip wrappings. Well not anymore.

As parents tells their children these days, everything is online and available forever.

Every headline, each interview, how you voted at the stages of a bill, or simply your smiling acquiescence as the people in the front seats did dire things. Forever more someone will be able to say - but you were there, you were part of it, and you did nothing.

Whether it was about having integrity to begin with, or was motivated by self preservation, at some point those National MPs further down the pecking order were always going to break ranks.

Still I didn’t see it with Tama Potaka, he seemed a most compliant member, despite the strong anti-Māori rhetoric coming from ACT and NZ First.

In this article from NZME, it says that despite the fact that the government opposes the use of te reo in government departments, Minister Potaka has encouraged DOC to use it “everywhere and anywhere”.

Which is great, although it’s a bit depressing to be celebrating something which ought to be happening as a matter of course, not as an act of defiance.