Good statement Hone but with the budget today it is too little too late.
From Stuff
"Hone Harawira has broken ranks with the Maori Party to speak out against a GST rise in today's Budget as an attack on the poor.
"...the GST decision had also put it in an impossible position with its supporters who would expect the party to challenge any tax hitting the poorest New Zealanders hardest."
The Maori Party is bound by its coalition agreement to support the Budget. Mr Harawira made it clear that a decision on opposing the GST rise had been taken out of his hands by the caucus so he would still vote to support the Budget.
But he said he could not do so without speaking out – comments that could put him on a collision course with the party. He was having difficulty supporting a tax increase that made things easier for the wealthy "at the expense of those in need".
"GST hits poor people the hardest because nearly all of their money is spent on things that you pay GST on – food, petrol, electricity – so any increase is going to really hurt them."
It was an issue that affected not just Maori New Zealanders but "poor people generally".
Yes today the day when GST is raised to 15% will be a difficult day for many people. Of course the well off won't even notice but most are not well off - most are not well off at all.
So the maori party will vote for the government. It is a sad day when pragmatisim beats conviction.
What can I say about this - apart from - maybe pita has lost the plot. The maori party are behaving like bunnies and it is embarrasing. And not only that - it is destructive for maori and our aspirations. How about just shutting up for a while before we lose all hope. What a disgrace.
Stuff
"The Maori Party has made it clear it won't sacrifice its coalition with National over a rise in GST.
Co-leader Pita Sharples reportedly said yesterday a rise in GST was not a deal breaker and the Maori Party's relationship with National could survive a difference of opinion over the issue.
His comments followed a suggestion by Prime Minister John Key that he did not want to "blow up the Government" over GST, which National wants to raise to 15 per cent.
Mr Key suggested yesterday the Maori Party's opposition was one of the potential "trip wires" ahead of the Government before it made a final decision on GST – sparking speculation that the Government was getting cold feet over the potential backlash to its proposal.
Maybe you have got used to the baubles of office. I'm disgusted by this - it's poor politics and a bloody disgrace for all of maori who will be driven to desperation by increases to GST. Where has your mana gone pita - how can you even look at yourself?
