In the last debate before voters head to the polls in the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection, there were some good moments but more that would make you sigh ‘auē’. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith assesses the performances.
In a dimly lit marae-turned-studio, broadcaster Julian Wilcox did what he does best: kōrero at the speed of light. The Hui presenter, alongside Te Ao Māori’s senior political reporter Māni Dunlop, hosted the last televised debate ahead of the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection on September 6. It’s a five candidate race, but there are two obvious frontrunners: Labour MP Peeni Henare (who previously held the seat for two terms) and Te Pāti Māori candidate Oriini Kaipara.
Henare and Kaipara were the only speakers at Ōrākei Marae on Monday night to lay out their visions for Tāmaki Makaurau. Te Pāti Māori has a lot to lose in this race, with the seat formerly held by its late MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp – and against the backdrop of the Toitū Te Tiriti movement, it’ll be the party’s first chance to see whether feet on the ground will translate into votes in the ballot.
But those hoping for a fiery stand-off akin to the likes of Tau Henare or Hone Harawira would’ve been sorely disappointed. Some sparks flew between pātai, but on the whole, it was a relatively well behaved affair – though there were still enough good and bad moments (and times to sigh “auē”) to keep things interesting.
Good fits, no notes
Good: Candidates with steeze
Before we say anything serious, we have to mihi Kaipara’s incredible outfit. Nothing says “I’m about the kaupapa” like a red beret and a tartan paraikete. Henare cleaned up pretty nice too.
Bad: Who’s keeping track of the time around here?
The first sign of the differences between the candidates’ skill sets was how well they could adhere to a time limit. It felt like Kaipara had more air time than Henare, and though her answers were very impassioned, they could’ve been more succinct. There were moments where you could hear a hurried “kia ora” from the presenters trying to keep things moving, but no one was quite brave enough to stand in front of the Kaipara train once it left the station. Wilcox did, however, instruct the crowd to refrain from clapping – albeit in vain.
Auē: Wilcox talks faster than ever
Obviously hyper-aware that the candidates were dragging out their answers – and perhaps already knowing their answers since he’s interviewed them both multiple times on the campaign trail – Wilcox broke his record for how quickly he can deliver a sentence multiple times during the debate. Congratulations, matua.
What would we do without you, Julian?
Bad: Listening and being a “thought leader”
Kaipara reckons Tāmaki Makaurau needs a “thought leader”, whatever that means. Asked what she’d accomplish on the first day of the job, Kaipara replied that she’s committed to listening and learning. “What is instrumental is actually not coming and telling you how I’m going to fix your problems, it’s actually coming in and genuinely listening,” she said. Sometimes it’s also helpful to have something concrete to offer.
Auē: “The worst government the world has seen in a long time”
“We are faced by the worst government this world – and this country – has seen in a long time,” Henare boldly declared just five minutes into the debate. He obviously meant to just say “country”, but why not set the bar so low that the only way is up? There are some people who may disagree with him, though – like those who lived in Germany (read: Europe) in the 40s or those currently living in Gaza.
New Zealand is reaching new lows.
Good: Henare fact checks Kaipara
After Kaipara threw out some dodgy numbers on current and previous government spending for Māori development (such as Whānau Ora and areas in health), Henare set the record straight. The last Labour government didn’t spend only $500m to support Māori development – actually, $750m was spent on Māori housing alone.
Kaipara also wanted to bring back free school lunches (they never left, they just got a bit cheaper) and reckoned the Regulatory Standards Bill was already “entrenched” in law (the law will be passed, but it hasn’t happened yet). Henare was quick to correct Kaipara, reminding her that they had just finished talking about repealing that very bill, which would be nigh on impossible if it had been entrenched. “It’s on its way there,” Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer chimed in from the audience, which was echoed by Kaipara. It is unknown if Te Pāti Māori has reason to believe its claim.
Bad: Kaipara looks to leaders for support
Sitting front row at the debate was Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, who were helpfully available to answer Kaipara’s questions for her. When Wilcox asked Kaipara whether she supported the new Whānau Ora contract holders, she replied “let me look to my left” and glanced at her leaders for approval, to which Wilcox immediately called her out. “No, this is not deflecting, this is actually leadership,” Kaipara told him.
‘Let me look to my left.’
“I’m asking the leaders of Te Pāti Māori, ‘is this actually, firmly, something [we support]’? And this is actually how Māori work. You don’t just put your neck out on the line, hang it there, and hope that someone will help you,” she said, having just put her neck out on the line and hoped someone would help her. And she might’ve gotten away with it, if the camera didn’t catch her doing it several more times – at least it protects you from promising a reversal on a ban that isn’t going to happen.
Bad: No pakipaki for Henare
It must have been lonely to be Henare, standing solemnly while your opponent receives applause after every other answer. If Waatea News’ questionable online poll featuring Peeni and “Penni” leading the race wasn’t enough, it seemed at least 90% of those at Ōrākei Marae were in camp Kaipara.
Auē: Leaders butt in
Every now and then, you could hear voices which sounded suspiciously like Ngarewa-Packer and Waititi popping off from the sidelines. Were they the same people who kept clapping for Kaipara? All signs point to yes.
I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want.
Good: Spice Girls mentioned
In her news presenter voice, Kaipara said she “really, really, really” wants to fight for pay equity. Somewhere in the background, Merania C and P nodded approvingly.
Auē: They’re kinda just the same candidate
At the end of the day, Henare and Kaipara largely want the same things for Tāmaki Makaurau, just dressed up in different ways. They agreed on the need for iwi-led supermarkets and investment in Māori development, both want to tackle online gambling and remove boot camps, and in Kaipara’s own words, they do stand for the same things – it’s just that Te Pāti Māori put Māori at the forefront of their decision-making.
It’s a good thing to point out if you’re running in a Māori electorate. But voters might end up siding with the veteran with skin in the game, rather than the newbie who needs to check her notes.