Is there a 'plastic' vs 'real' Maori divide?

In a NZ Herald article written by Yvonne Tahana dated 25/3/11, a wrangle between two Maori individuals seems to be brewing. The core of the issue wrests around a recent comment made by Human Rights Commission advisor Marama Davidson against David Rankin, a Maori activist who called the recent hikoi an embarrassment (I posted his views in my last post). Labelling him 'pokokohua' on tangatawhenua.com because of his comments, a huge insult in Te Reo, Rankin suggests that Davidson argues from a 'born again' Maori position that purports aroha and manaakitanga but any Maori who seems to think differently from this position has anything but love and care shown to them. An interesting read when thinking about issues of Maori identity and whether or not there is a 'right' or 'tika' Maori way, approach or solution when it is clearly evident that Maori individuals hold variant positions on a number of issues pertaining to Maori.

'Boiled head' curse sparks inquiry over rights adviser

By Yvonne Tahana

A Human Rights Commission adviser has allegedly cursed outspoken Ngapuhi man David Rankin in Maori on an online forum, raising the spectre of a "boiled head".
Mr Rankin has complained about employee Marama Davidson over a series of online posts - the latest of which allegedly included the word "pokokohua".
The term puts someone's head in the same category as food and is hugely insulting.
He alleges that over the past six months Ms Davidson has attacked him for his views which have included criticising Te Tii Marae for charging journalists at Waitangi and calling the hikoi to Parliament over the latest foreshore legislation an "embarrassment" to Maori.
"Considered cumulatively, I believe her comments amount to hate speech. In the latest example ... she wrote on tangatawhenua.com: 'David Rankin - pokokohua! I can't wait to tell him to his face!"'
Mr Rankin alleges Ms Davidson has also used Facebook during work hours to air her views about him.
The complaint was lodged with chief commissioner Rosslyn Noonan.
Mr Rankin draws the ire of some in Maoridom. He is outspoken and variously annoys Maori politicians, journalists and the intelligentsia who say he has no credibility but has mastered the art of the press release.
He also employed a few of his own swear words to criticise Ms Davidson - saying she had a problem with free thinkers who didn't toe a "born again" Maori line.
He had considered hiring a lawyer to start a defamation case. "If you're promoting yourself as part of the Human Rights Commission you do not say to a Maori 'go boil your head'.
"She's been going at me for six months, every time I open my mouth. Sometimes, these arseholes need to know, you open your mouth on Facebook and I'm going to punch you out.
"They feel tough behind a computer screen, but they're too frightened to say it to my face.
"We purport aroha and manaakitanga [love and care] but if someone puts a different point of view they want to kill ya.
Commission spokesman Gilbert Wong said an investigation was under way and would be complete before next Friday.
Part of the investigation would include determining if the comments were made during work hours.

Should the hikoi have gone ahead?

What are your views on the hikoi? Has Hone Harawira pulled his support from it? A fellow activist calls the hikoi an embarrassment...

Maori activist calls foreshore hikoi 'embarrassment'

A hikoi due to arrive at parliament today brings shame to Maori and leaders should call it off, a Ngapuhi activist says.
A hikoi opposed the Government's Marine and Coastal Area Bill left Northland in mid-March and was expected to arrive in Wellington today.
The bill repeals the previous law and gives iwi the ability to seek customary rights and customary title through negotiation with Government or the High Court - although they will still have to prove exclusive use and occupation since 1840.
David Rankin said the hikoi would have no impact on the passage of the bill and protesters should focus on helping quake-ravaged Christchurch instead.
Mr Rankin, chair of the Hone Heke Foundation, said the small hikoi of about 100 people was an embarrassment.
"To most sensible people, this would be a good reason to call the whole thing off but these protesters are not normal and they are bringing shame to Maori."
He said Hone Harawira, former Maori Party MP, had encouraged the hikoi only to withdraw his support when it looked likely to fail.
The bill removes the foreshore and seabed from Crown ownership and makes it a public place - essentially the same as a public domain - with access guaranteed and no one having the right to sell any of it.
- NZPA (22/3/2011)

Am wondering if the NZ Herald want the Maori Party to fracture

This report by NZ Herald reporter Claire Trevett is highly contentious. Where does she get her information from? It implies an internal leak from someone in the Maori Party. Who did the Herald pay off for this? What purpose does she have for writing this article? Despite I'm sure her clear calls for transparency to the public of the processes involved in this week's hearing, this article seems to do nothing more than add fuel to the fire without due respect to the process they wish to follow. Although I am not a Hone supporter and this article seems to argue against him I do feel that some parts of the media have played a hugely unjust role in fuelling unwarranted noise and ire over an issue that they really have no real aroha or care for. Leave the Maori Party to sort things out for themselves and out whoever was the person or persons responsible for breaking the party's own stance on not talking to the media or drop the 'investigative journalist' approach to your reporting that accesses (legally/illegally?) the confidential statements that are purportedly mentioned here. But I'm sure that doing this would be of little benefit to the NZ Herald. I am wondering if this is part of the plan of a media stalwart that would love nothing more than the Maori Party to be fractured even more than they already are.  

The Government's arch critic, Hone Harawira, wanted to become a minister when the Maori Party first went into coalition with National in 2008, according to a confidential statement by caucus colleague Te Ururoa Flavell.
In his submission to today's disciplinary committee hearing against Mr Harawira, obtained by the Herald, Mr Flavell said both he and the Te Tai Tokerau MP were prepared to take up ministerial positions - belying Mr Harawira's recent strong criticisms of his party for staying in the coalition.
"Put it this way: If he was to have received a ministerial position, would he still be writing to criticise the relationship? Answer: I doubt it."
Mr Flavell laid a complaint against Mr Harawira a month ago over a column the MP wrote in a Sunday newspaper in which he criticised the coalition and questioned the Maori Party's leadership and direction.
Mr Flavell revealed Mr Harawira's ministerial hopes to counter the MP's claims that the party had gone off the rails and sold its people out by dealing with National.
Mr Flavell was also scathing about Mr Harawira's criticism of National as "anti-worker" and "anti-environment," saying the MP had had difficulties with his own staff and once told the caucus he did not believe in climate change and nobody would tell him to drive a smaller car.
"So he champions the cause and yet abuses the cause as he feels."
Mr Flavell said Mr Harawira had backed the relationship with National at the time. He described the newspaper column as "lies, mistruths, misleading statements about everything but himself and his part in things".
In the often-emotional submission, Mr Flavell said it was not easy laying a complaint against his friend of more than 40 years and it had taken a toll on his whanau, the party and the other MPs, who had suffered personal abuse.
However, Mr Harawira appeared to have a deliberate strategy to cast the other Maori Party MPs in a bad light.
He depicted the maverick MP as "talking himself up" and "big-noting" by constantly painting himself as the only true voice of Maoridom. "That strategy is aimed at putting the rest of us down."
Mr Flavell also depicted brattish behaviour, saying Mr Harawira "spits the dummy" if he doesn't get his way and had a "Hone's view is right and everyone else is wrong" attitude.
He questioned Mr Harawira's conviction, saying co-leader Tariana Turia Rebel 'eyed minister's job'
left the Labour Party over the first Foreshore and Seabed Act.
"She is comfortable enough to support this [latest] bill. If it is that Hone is so vehemently opposed, then surely a belief in that principle would result in his walking as well."
Mr Flavell indicated things were past the point of no return, saying the other MPs "have lost any semblance of trust in Hone and clearly, he in us."
"I am clear that more hui with Hone or an electorate will not change things. He is his own man."
Last week, party president Pem Bird banned all of those involved in today's hearing from talking to the media, after Mr Harawira apparently breached an agreement by appearing on TV One's Marae.
Mr Bird did not return calls yesterday but has previously said the national council will meet tomorrow to decide on any disciplinary committee recommendation made today.
However, it is understood the Te Tai Tokerau electorate wants another extension, claiming many could not attend today's hui because of Waitangi Tribunal hearings in the Far North.
(Claire Trevett, NZ Herald online - 'Rebel MP wanted job as a minister' 21/02/2011)