we are doing good

I’ve been on a journey down south to support mum who suffered another small stroke. She is okay and doing well. The trip was eventful and overall the impression I have of the last few days is of kindness. From the start to the finish I was surrounded and supported by kindness – and I enjoyed it. The exchange of kindness via support creates obligations above and beyond any monetary value and those obligations feel natural and will be fulfilled because that is the way we do it, that is utu.

One of the unintended consequences was I really missed the by-election. Sure I heard some reports and have caught up a bit now, but I missed it. Although unintended it has been positive because I have had time to mull and consider what happened and what should happen now in regards to Mana.

It is great the Hone won and I am very pleased about that because it is the seed for the Mana Party – from this win a great tree will grow and that tree will supply shelter to those who need it. I also feel that the by-election result was a win for labour. The numbers tell the story and that majority is very slender now. I have zero time for goff – he is just a boneless weakling and his continued line about not working with Mana is idiotic and false – I don’t expect anything else from goff, but I do from labour and that hope is an illusion.

I had a number of chats with people on the road and often although they like Hone sortof they don’t like the impression that he can’t get on with people. This meme has gained traction especially amongst Ngāi Tahu I spoke to and shows the value of hitting a consistent message, albeit negative. Hone has contributed to this obviously and I think the ‘white motherfucker’ line has done more damage than anything. What to do. Hone is Hone and that will never change and I don’t want him to. Hone is quite statesmanlike when he wants to be and he is gracious too. But I think the challenge for Mana is to find a leader who is a Māori female a toa wahine. I think Hone is better and more effective when he has the room to move and he hasn’t got that as the leader of the Mana Party. Now is the time to sort this – before the election - as the list is announced and this will create media and the ability to put the message out to the people which definitely needs to be done as the by-election result shows. There is a danger that it could be perceived negatively but within the hailstorm of deliberate undermining of Mana it won’t make a difference in their messages but it would broaden the support base of Mana.

Anyway, just some thoughts.

I am with Sandra Lee on the olive branch to the maori party issue – no - we are following Hone because he is following a different kaupapa to the maori party. The people are investing Hone with mana to lead them with integrity. Of course working together is no problem but there can be no deal on the seats – that one is to be sorted in the ballot because otherwise they will not learn the lesson and they will always whinge on about how they were right – no - they will get smashed to bits and from those bits will again rise up and there will be a vehicle to represent them and it will be Mana.

So all good really. The big advantage of the by-election is to listen to the messages coming back and find the gaps and the areas where improvement can be made. People are crying out for a political party to represent them, the challenge is to show them how Mana is that Party. 

Kindness to others and to ourselves - we are doing good.

byelection valuable

I think there is value in having a byelection in Hone's electorate. The cost is irrelevant and a red herring - to be used as a weapon by baiters who don't like Hone or his Mana Party. The mandate recieved will be a blow to labour and the maori party and it will be interesting to see if the maori party stands a candidate, thus breaking their agreement with Hone. They will lose whichever way they go. It will be a good practice run for the main election and it will generate media exposure for the Mana Party.

NZH

Mr Harawira will launch his new Mana Party on Saturday and the Herald understands he and his strategists are considering forcing a byelection to seek a mandate for his new party from Te Tai Tokerau voters.

Classic lines from phil whatshisname

Labour leader Phil Goff said any such move by Mr Harawira so close to an election would be "irresponsible, farcical and a reckless waste of valuable taxpayers' money". "If Hone Harawira wanted to force a byelection, why didn't he do it at the time when he left the Maori Party? "Why would someone who claims to be concerned about people suffering because of the rising cost of living want to waste taxpayers' money on such an irresponsible political stunt?"

Lots of strong words there showing just how fearful goff is - too late for you goff, but feel free to bring labour down with you. The left will survive and regather - hopefully under the banner of the Mana Party.

budget view

One thing i noticed about the budget coverage was that john key was polished and professional. On TV1 he really was so relaxed and comfortable - like a man without too many problems, like a man whose plan had worked.

And labour fell into the trap. Labours line that this is the budget for the few was blown out the water by the announcments. All week we had goff and co telling us how the rich were going to get richer and that key and english were looking after their rich mates - that is all true but the public perception after this budget will be that labour were scaremongering, panicing, loose cannons and just trying to score political points. That is the dark art of managing public perception. Lower expectations and then beat them. Labour helped lower them and the gnats have reaped the rewards. I am not sure what else goff could have done - he really is out of his league with key.

So on close up we had the shock of hearing that all of the commenters liked the budget and no one was anti - where was goff? Why wasn't he on to counter the gnats? - because no one cares what he says, least of all the broadcasters.

The left need champions to fight the right. We need a leader, we need some inspiration because unless we focus the energy on OPPOSING we will get a few more years of Dim.B. Key

phil meet love

Song for goff

Rock on--gold dust woman
Take your silver spoon,
And dig your grave

Heartless challenge
Pick your path and I'll pray

Wake up in the morning
See your sunrise--loves--to go down
Lousy lovers--pick their prey
But they never cry out loud

Did she make you cry
Make you break down
Shatter your illusions of love
Is it over now--do you know how
Pick up the pieces and go home.

Rock on--ancient queen
Follow those who pale
In your shadow

Rulers make bad lovers
You better put your kingdom up for sale

Did she make you cry
Make you break down
Shatter your illusions of love
Is it over now--do you know how
Pick up the pieces and go home.