Flag day for Goff
Hear that sound of pattering feet? That's the sound of Phil Goff running away from the race debate.
After making inroads in the latest TV3 poll, Goff has clearly taken fright after the reaction to his nationhood speech.
How else to explain his perplexing decision not to comment on the announcement by Prime Minister John Key that the Maori tino rangatiratanga flag will fly on Waitangi Day?
This decision by Key will be controversial, and it was a gift for Goff to get stuck into. Instead he's run and hid, saying only there are more important things to worry about.
That left the door wide open for leadership aspirant Shane Jones to go on radio this morning and slate the flag as the "flag of division, of protest...it's Hone's flag".
Winston Peters, love him or loathe him, also has a more accurate political radar and realises that older New Zealanders in particular - and those who fought under the New Zealand flag - will be angered by this decision.
Personally, I agree with Key, who said yesterday that it would be nice if race relations had reached the point where two flags could fly on Waitangi Day.
And actually, I rather like the tino rangatiratanga flag - it's a nice design, and a hell of a lot more pretty than the rather awful NZ flag.
But there's no getting away from the fact that it's flown by the Maori separatist movement and that it does represent division and protest as well as Maori pride and aspiration.
It flew at the hikoi on Parliament over the foreshore and seabed. It flew outside the treaty grounds at Waitangi when John Key was assaulted by Hone Harawira's nephews and when Don Brash was pelted with mud.
It flew when protesters blocked the harbour bridge and it flew during the occupation of Moutoa Gardens.
There's another cold, hard, political reality and that is you muck about with the NZ flag at your peril. Helen Clark refused to entertain allowing any other flag on Waitangi Day for this very reason.
It also raises the question of what the status of this flag is. Key claims it has no official status whatsoever but that seems hard to reconcile with the fact that it is going to fly from all government buildings including Parliament and Premier House. That must give it some official status. And that is going to annoy some people, no two ways about it.
It's also far from clear that all Maori support this particular flag. Judging by the early reaction, they don't.
I think Key has been charmed by that nice Pita Sharples into going all warm and fuzzy on this one, but I reckon the reaction in provincial New Zealand is not going to be anywhere near as receptive.
And Goff has missed a golden chance to put the boot into this Government and win some valuable political points.
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It seems Key really wants to give Winston Peters a platform, maybe he feels guilty for getting him booted out the last election.
But seriously, I don't really care. It's just a flag.
Fly the Maori Swastika. Show the world who the real racists are in New Zealand.
It will be good to see the Maori flag flying and I agree with Rangi that it is tokenism but a move in the right direction towards a more inclusive New Zealand. Let's be bold and rename the country Aeotearoa New Zealand at the same time.
Fill-In and Shane Jones need to talk on where the Labour Party stands on this issue as we already see two different stories. What's will Fill-In one week Maori bashing and now being inclusive? I thought his ratings had risen, this may be the turning point with open disatisfaction showing in the ranks. Buy Buy Fill.
So the national nannies have stifled Goff's move to the right, exposing the lack of authority he seemingly has within caucus.
I looove MMP....not
Black flag, silver fern, end of debate. What say Rangi? Each side ditches theirs and we end up with one that'll be the most striking in the world!
Gerry #3: Thats right Gerry, you have definitely shown who the real racists are in New Zealand by posting your mind shrinking comment. Thanks for letting us know.
I don't see a problem with flying the flag. Goff obviously sees problems with commenting on it.
Which just shows what a mess his party is.
Last month it was the exaggerated ACC levies for motorcyclists, now it's the official Maori flag when we're not having an official Maori flag. I wonder what the next distraction will be? It'll need to be good to keep the Min of Ed out of the public eye.
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Im smiling so large right now, we have always been a seperatist nation with divisiveness first demonstrated by Pakeha with the insertion of Laws with no modification or input by Maori and that has always been the case since before 1840 to roughly 20 years ago. The tokenism of flying this flag will hopefully serve to make Pakeha aware of 1. Maori Tikanga, 2. The need to move away from colonialism toward a united front in partnership. In news just to hand....Michael Laws decision regarding the "H" issue is due on Friday, you'd have to think that Pita & Tariana have John Key's ear, John Key most certainly has Maurice Williamson's ear (its a discretionary decision BTW), the result will be the "H" will be added! The best bit is, Michael Laws will look like a fool & Ken Mair will look like he has won even though Mr Laws of far superior intellect!! AND Goff will be a churchmouse leaving Jones to do the complaining either way - all the while Mr Key is off saving the world in Copenhagen happily dodging the inevitable backlash!! I just love this country!! Rangi...