Tākuta Ferris, left, and Willie Jackson
Photo: RNZ
Labour’s Willie Jackson has come out swinging at comments by a Te Pāti Māori MP he says are racist and “offside” with the party’s leadership.
Jackson told RNZ Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris needed to “grow up”.
Ferris posted on social media an image of Labour’s Arena Williams out campaigning with other Labour volunteers of different ethnicities for fellow MP Peeni Henare who is contesting the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.
Ferris has written in the post, “This blows my mind.”
“Indians, Asians, Black [sic] and Pakeha [sic] campaigning to take a Maori [sic] seat from Maori.”
Photo: Instagram / screenshot
Jackson told RNZ Māori have relationships with all races, and “all of Labour backs Peeni”.
Ferris needed to talk to his leader, Jackson said, “who said three days ago Te Pāti Māori cares for all New Zealanders not just Māori.”
TPM co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer told RNZ the leaders don’t agree with any sentiment that is anti- tangata Tiriti.
She said she expected these sorts of attacks on the eve of the election, but she hadn’t had a chance to talk to Ferris.
She said she and co-leader Rawiri Waititi would speak to him.
“We support all people supporting Maori in this campaign.”
Meanwhile, Ferris was at Koroneihana with other political representatives on Thursday.
Jackson pointed out the Māori Queen had just welcomed Pacific and Central American leaders to the marae.
He said Ferris had just spoken on the marae where the Kiingitanga was trying to “bring everyone together” and then “he comes out with that rubbish”.
“He seems to be offside not only with his leader but also with the new Queen.
“He needs to grow up.”
Jackson said it was totally unacceptable and showing huge disrespect to those people who all support Māori.
“We don’t apologise in Labour for working with our different electorates, some of them Pākehā, ethnic, Pasifika – we think it’s great.”
He reiterated it was not just about Māori, it was about Aotearoa.
“He should know better.”
Jackson said he should apologise.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.