I've kept quiet publicly about Tariana out of respect for her passing and her whanau. But remember she and Pita Sharples (and Flavell) kept John Key in power for nine years. Their support for John Key’s government helped pass a whole lot of shit that impacted on workers, and Maori workers in particular and they voted for budget after budget. They argued it was better to be at the table, but truthfully, they got crumbs. Yes, she was a brave wahine toa. Yes, the Foreshore & Seabed legislation was difficult and you have correctly pointed out the political circumstances, I always remember the poll soon after Brash's Orewa speech where he had zoomed out in front But also remember that many Maori saw TPM's support for National as a betrayal, resulting in a clean sweep of the Maori seats for Labour in 2017. And, all of these years later, here we are with the CoC undoing anything and everything. I agree with you about today's TPM because I think at least they are prepared to acknowledge Labour and the things they have done/are doing and work together. And here we are, all of these years later, still fighting. Somehow it doesn’t feel that different! Well, maybe quite a lot worse. Trying to write my submission on the Treaty Principles Bill, but I agree : Tariana's passing must be treated with the respect she deserved. This is worth a read :
Well said, Darien. I too felt the TPM support for the right-wing neoliberal Key government that did so much damage to NZ was a betrayal. To go further, the naive Kiwis who believed the retric of both Key & Luxon and voted for them, has and will continue to harm so many Kiwis needs to be called out too.
Well put Darien. I too feel that the Seabed & Foreshore fiasco warped her thinking as to political realities and find it difficult to reconcile her undoubted strengths and principled stands with her cosying up to the National party. Politicians like to talk about leaving a legacy (well. the journos do!) but Tariana's will always be slightly tarnished by that Key Govt. liaison.
Absolutely agree Darien. The support for the Key govt always gave me grief as well because like all National lead govts the outcomes for workers and the “ordinary” person were less than stellar.
It is a great loss. I like the way you have covered the challenges as well as the celebrations. While I admire her for her strength, I was always disappointed she didn't acknowledge Helen Clark's support for her. It was as if the Seashore/Foreshore thing completely overwhelmed her. She was human. Disappointing her alliance with National especially Brash. But in my memory Labour gave her a lot of support (and Helen Clark indeed did that). She had remarkable achievements.
👍💯👏 Outstanding treatment of this 😢 passing of a wahine toa who was amazing but flawed (as we all are).
🙋 Agree with ALL of your analysis of her choices & achievements - the establishment of Whanau Ora & Smokefree Aotearoa have to go some way to justifying her being aligned with the John Key govt, but unfortunately despite a reputation for achieving for Maori by being able to "compromise" she seemed unable to do so subsequently with Labour political leaders who at least had Maori health & welfare aims at heart, while managing to do so with John Key et al - and now we have ended up with the 3-headed-Taniwha which is the worst in decades for Maori intentionally, & all the people's of Aotearoa by unintended (intended ⁉️) consequences. I certainly would not suggest than Tariana INTENDED this to happen, but unintended consequences are still consequences, and should be a lesson for everyone 😱.
My direct whanau had a lot to do with Tariana at the time of The Foreshore & Seabed legislation - at the time they agreed with Tariana & total opposition, where I saw the WHY as you explain, but still admired Tariana for being principled about it, because I also saw the WHY of her stance & the need for a Maori Party then and now. 💪
💜I hope for part of her legacy the majority in Aotearoa can ensure that the Treaty Principles Bill is opposed in such overwhelming terms that it is consigned to a dusty shelf in history, partly because of Dame Tariana Turia inspiring & encouraging & enabling the Maori whanui to recognise that they have a voice, & should use it, & take the rest of Aotearoa along with them 🙏🫂
Māoridom and Aotearoa have lost, in the words of Chris Hipkins, a wāhine toa who was brave and incredibly strong in her beliefs, and the belief that whānau, hapu and iwi are best to make decisions for themselves.
Kahurangi Dame Tariana was a wāhine of quiet strength who stood up for what she believed to be right, and when she spoke in her quiet and gentle voice, people took notice.
Although, I didn't understand much at that time, it took incredible guts to cross the floor over the Foreshore and Seabed Legislation, but she did what wax right in her heart and for that I'm proud.
When Kahurangi Dame Tariana founded the Māori Party and became co-leader with Tā (sir) Pita Sharples it filled me with great pride, but like you Nick, I wax disappointed with their decision to enter into an agreement with the National Party.
Te Pāti Māori has always been a heart vote for me and I voted for them twice giving them a second chance, but I felt and incredible betrayal from them, and although, I don't always agree with things that Whāea Debbie and Mātua Rawiri say my trust in Te Pāti Māori has returned.
I wasn't aware of her feelings towards the Labour Party and I hadn't been aware that she had harboured so much resentment to Labour and especially Dame Jacinda Ardern and this disappoints me for so many reasons.
In saying all that, I do mourn the passing of this great wāhine toa, a wife, māmā, kuia and great-kuia to her 80 mokopuna.
E moe Kahurangi Dame Tariana. Your mahi on this earth is now complete.
Go forth and rest in the arms of your husband George and those other whānau who are waiting for you.
Well writ young man. Her principles will stand proud for a long while, and her integrity must make sell-outs like Reti and Potaka squirm something wicked.
Well written Nick, I found this very interesting as I was out of the country until 2007 and the fourth estate in Australia was extremely parochial especially when it came to any reporting about NZ, your comments helped me understand much about Tariana Turia that I found puzzling, may she rest peacefully. Your song choice is lovely.
Thanks for such a balanced write up Nick. I must admit I've been increasingly disappointed with Dame Tariana over the past few years, not in the least because of her attitude towards Jacinda. I've since heard she'd been suffering from Alzheimer's for the past year or so, so have softened my stance somewhat. Still a sad loss for many. RIP Dame Tariana Turia.
rest in peace tariana you surely do deserve it... i too could never understand why te pati maori seemed to suck up to cur shonkeys tatty little party especially given their racist history and wanton desecration of aotearoa..a seat at the table didnt appear to give them any advantages or benefits..it just propped up the mangy teflon hair puller who i wish would piss off to exist in the orange anus's murikkka...by the way what has happened to the investigation of corruption and insider trading that i heard about quite a few months ago? or like all rich pricks crimes is that now firmly in the rear view mirror safely under the axtminster? sad innit?
Beautifully written, Nick. She leaves an impressive legacy and, while we might not agree with some of her actions, she was always clear about her motivations. Last year's doco "Hikoi: speaking our truth" provides some good insights into the political machinations around the Foreshore and Seabed legislation and her role/motivations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8-ONQZueGU
A wonderful person who I had the pleasure of meeting several times. I've only ever belonged to on political party, Dame Tari's Maori Party. I changed rolls and proudly voted for her.
Thank you for a very perceptive post about a very special person Nick. Like you I have also had times when Dame Turia’s actions did not meet my positions around govt policy. However Aotearoa has lost a leader of courage and tenacity. What a contrast to the so called leadership the country currently endures.
Thank-you for an honest appraisal of Dame Tariana Turia Nick. She had her faults as well as courage and tenacity, but over-all she was a woman of stature who will be remembered in the history books.
I do think she ended up losing the plot a bit over the Foreshore and Seabed debacle. The Clark government were on a hiding to nothing whichever way they went. My understanding is: they chose in the end to run with the legal advice given them. I don't recall the details.
I remember the sad spectacle of Tariana Turia hiding in the back seat and a cameraman rushing up to the moving car and taking a photo of her. Turia blamed Helen Clark for that embarrassment which was unfair. She had been desperate to avoid the press as she left Premier House and it was Helen Clark who had suggested she get down on the floor. Clark was not to know a cameraman would do such a risky thing and dash up to the car. It was all downhill for the Labour Party from that point on....
I had some completely random but inspiring meetings with Dame Tariana and George in cafes in Ohakune and (the recently correctly named) Waimarino. Despite her stature, her mana was powerful. I was initially surprised she would talk with an old, grey, white male and our discussions were little more than pleasantries but I thanked her for what she had done for me in helping to understand Aotearoa.
But our last meeting, in a ward in Whanganui Hospital during Covid, completely destroyed my admiration for her as a politician. Two layers of hospital curtain could not filter the deep and bitter hatred for Labour and Prime Ministers Clark and Ardern that was expressed between Dame Tariana and her visitors, some of whom you mention. I still do not understand what the real trigger was nor what the enticement was, if any, to go with Key but I will always remember her as a warm and friendly person rather than a politician.
Just listening to the broadcast of her tangihanga affirms the support Te Pati Māori has in this corner of Aotearoa at least. I hope we all make the effort to work together.
I mention the trigger in my comment further up the page. Tariana Turia was convinced Helen Clark deliberately set her up for embarrassment after she had attended a meeting with Clark at Premier house. It was nonsense. Helen Clark wasn't clairvoyant. I also suspect someone got to Tariana and poisoned her against Labour.
I've kept quiet publicly about Tariana out of respect for her passing and her whanau. But remember she and Pita Sharples (and Flavell) kept John Key in power for nine years. Their support for John Key’s government helped pass a whole lot of shit that impacted on workers, and Maori workers in particular and they voted for budget after budget. They argued it was better to be at the table, but truthfully, they got crumbs. Yes, she was a brave wahine toa. Yes, the Foreshore & Seabed legislation was difficult and you have correctly pointed out the political circumstances, I always remember the poll soon after Brash's Orewa speech where he had zoomed out in front But also remember that many Maori saw TPM's support for National as a betrayal, resulting in a clean sweep of the Maori seats for Labour in 2017. And, all of these years later, here we are with the CoC undoing anything and everything. I agree with you about today's TPM because I think at least they are prepared to acknowledge Labour and the things they have done/are doing and work together. And here we are, all of these years later, still fighting. Somehow it doesn’t feel that different! Well, maybe quite a lot worse. Trying to write my submission on the Treaty Principles Bill, but I agree : Tariana's passing must be treated with the respect she deserved. This is worth a read :
https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/did-the-maori-electorates-decide-the-2017-election/
Well said, Darien. I too felt the TPM support for the right-wing neoliberal Key government that did so much damage to NZ was a betrayal. To go further, the naive Kiwis who believed the retric of both Key & Luxon and voted for them, has and will continue to harm so many Kiwis needs to be called out too.
Well put Darien. I too feel that the Seabed & Foreshore fiasco warped her thinking as to political realities and find it difficult to reconcile her undoubted strengths and principled stands with her cosying up to the National party. Politicians like to talk about leaving a legacy (well. the journos do!) but Tariana's will always be slightly tarnished by that Key Govt. liaison.
Absolutely agree Darien. The support for the Key govt always gave me grief as well because like all National lead govts the outcomes for workers and the “ordinary” person were less than stellar.
It is a great loss. I like the way you have covered the challenges as well as the celebrations. While I admire her for her strength, I was always disappointed she didn't acknowledge Helen Clark's support for her. It was as if the Seashore/Foreshore thing completely overwhelmed her. She was human. Disappointing her alliance with National especially Brash. But in my memory Labour gave her a lot of support (and Helen Clark indeed did that). She had remarkable achievements.
👍💯👏 Outstanding treatment of this 😢 passing of a wahine toa who was amazing but flawed (as we all are).
🙋 Agree with ALL of your analysis of her choices & achievements - the establishment of Whanau Ora & Smokefree Aotearoa have to go some way to justifying her being aligned with the John Key govt, but unfortunately despite a reputation for achieving for Maori by being able to "compromise" she seemed unable to do so subsequently with Labour political leaders who at least had Maori health & welfare aims at heart, while managing to do so with John Key et al - and now we have ended up with the 3-headed-Taniwha which is the worst in decades for Maori intentionally, & all the people's of Aotearoa by unintended (intended ⁉️) consequences. I certainly would not suggest than Tariana INTENDED this to happen, but unintended consequences are still consequences, and should be a lesson for everyone 😱.
My direct whanau had a lot to do with Tariana at the time of The Foreshore & Seabed legislation - at the time they agreed with Tariana & total opposition, where I saw the WHY as you explain, but still admired Tariana for being principled about it, because I also saw the WHY of her stance & the need for a Maori Party then and now. 💪
💜I hope for part of her legacy the majority in Aotearoa can ensure that the Treaty Principles Bill is opposed in such overwhelming terms that it is consigned to a dusty shelf in history, partly because of Dame Tariana Turia inspiring & encouraging & enabling the Maori whanui to recognise that they have a voice, & should use it, & take the rest of Aotearoa along with them 🙏🫂
Māoridom and Aotearoa have lost, in the words of Chris Hipkins, a wāhine toa who was brave and incredibly strong in her beliefs, and the belief that whānau, hapu and iwi are best to make decisions for themselves.
Kahurangi Dame Tariana was a wāhine of quiet strength who stood up for what she believed to be right, and when she spoke in her quiet and gentle voice, people took notice.
Although, I didn't understand much at that time, it took incredible guts to cross the floor over the Foreshore and Seabed Legislation, but she did what wax right in her heart and for that I'm proud.
When Kahurangi Dame Tariana founded the Māori Party and became co-leader with Tā (sir) Pita Sharples it filled me with great pride, but like you Nick, I wax disappointed with their decision to enter into an agreement with the National Party.
Te Pāti Māori has always been a heart vote for me and I voted for them twice giving them a second chance, but I felt and incredible betrayal from them, and although, I don't always agree with things that Whāea Debbie and Mātua Rawiri say my trust in Te Pāti Māori has returned.
I wasn't aware of her feelings towards the Labour Party and I hadn't been aware that she had harboured so much resentment to Labour and especially Dame Jacinda Ardern and this disappoints me for so many reasons.
In saying all that, I do mourn the passing of this great wāhine toa, a wife, māmā, kuia and great-kuia to her 80 mokopuna.
E moe Kahurangi Dame Tariana. Your mahi on this earth is now complete.
Go forth and rest in the arms of your husband George and those other whānau who are waiting for you.
Well writ young man. Her principles will stand proud for a long while, and her integrity must make sell-outs like Reti and Potaka squirm something wicked.
It reminds me that there are no perfect politicians, only ones who are good enough. And Tariana certainly was good enough.
Moe mai ra Tariana.
Nicely balanced piece Nick
Well written Nick, I found this very interesting as I was out of the country until 2007 and the fourth estate in Australia was extremely parochial especially when it came to any reporting about NZ, your comments helped me understand much about Tariana Turia that I found puzzling, may she rest peacefully. Your song choice is lovely.
Thanks for such a balanced write up Nick. I must admit I've been increasingly disappointed with Dame Tariana over the past few years, not in the least because of her attitude towards Jacinda. I've since heard she'd been suffering from Alzheimer's for the past year or so, so have softened my stance somewhat. Still a sad loss for many. RIP Dame Tariana Turia.
rest in peace tariana you surely do deserve it... i too could never understand why te pati maori seemed to suck up to cur shonkeys tatty little party especially given their racist history and wanton desecration of aotearoa..a seat at the table didnt appear to give them any advantages or benefits..it just propped up the mangy teflon hair puller who i wish would piss off to exist in the orange anus's murikkka...by the way what has happened to the investigation of corruption and insider trading that i heard about quite a few months ago? or like all rich pricks crimes is that now firmly in the rear view mirror safely under the axtminster? sad innit?
Beautifully written, Nick. She leaves an impressive legacy and, while we might not agree with some of her actions, she was always clear about her motivations. Last year's doco "Hikoi: speaking our truth" provides some good insights into the political machinations around the Foreshore and Seabed legislation and her role/motivations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8-ONQZueGU
A wonderful person who I had the pleasure of meeting several times. I've only ever belonged to on political party, Dame Tari's Maori Party. I changed rolls and proudly voted for her.
Thank you for a very perceptive post about a very special person Nick. Like you I have also had times when Dame Turia’s actions did not meet my positions around govt policy. However Aotearoa has lost a leader of courage and tenacity. What a contrast to the so called leadership the country currently endures.
Thank-you for an honest appraisal of Dame Tariana Turia Nick. She had her faults as well as courage and tenacity, but over-all she was a woman of stature who will be remembered in the history books.
I do think she ended up losing the plot a bit over the Foreshore and Seabed debacle. The Clark government were on a hiding to nothing whichever way they went. My understanding is: they chose in the end to run with the legal advice given them. I don't recall the details.
I remember the sad spectacle of Tariana Turia hiding in the back seat and a cameraman rushing up to the moving car and taking a photo of her. Turia blamed Helen Clark for that embarrassment which was unfair. She had been desperate to avoid the press as she left Premier House and it was Helen Clark who had suggested she get down on the floor. Clark was not to know a cameraman would do such a risky thing and dash up to the car. It was all downhill for the Labour Party from that point on....
Thank you Nick. A very considered newsletter.
I had some completely random but inspiring meetings with Dame Tariana and George in cafes in Ohakune and (the recently correctly named) Waimarino. Despite her stature, her mana was powerful. I was initially surprised she would talk with an old, grey, white male and our discussions were little more than pleasantries but I thanked her for what she had done for me in helping to understand Aotearoa.
But our last meeting, in a ward in Whanganui Hospital during Covid, completely destroyed my admiration for her as a politician. Two layers of hospital curtain could not filter the deep and bitter hatred for Labour and Prime Ministers Clark and Ardern that was expressed between Dame Tariana and her visitors, some of whom you mention. I still do not understand what the real trigger was nor what the enticement was, if any, to go with Key but I will always remember her as a warm and friendly person rather than a politician.
Just listening to the broadcast of her tangihanga affirms the support Te Pati Māori has in this corner of Aotearoa at least. I hope we all make the effort to work together.
Hi Bill,
I mention the trigger in my comment further up the page. Tariana Turia was convinced Helen Clark deliberately set her up for embarrassment after she had attended a meeting with Clark at Premier house. It was nonsense. Helen Clark wasn't clairvoyant. I also suspect someone got to Tariana and poisoned her against Labour.
Yes, I was left with the impression there was a lot more to events than is publicly aired.
Very, very sad.