Will's Word: Tākuta Ferris’ remarks must not divide communities

Let me first start by saying this: I am proud to be both Māori, as I am proud to be Pacific, and I deeply value and recognise the space that Te Pāti Māori holds in our political system.

We need an unapologetic indigenous voice in Parliament. But having said that, Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris' recent comments cannot and should not be excused.

Ferris' suggestion that Indians, Asians, black and Pākehā supporters of Peeni Henare, the Labour MP who stood in the Tāmaki by-election, were somehow undermining Māori by campaigning in Tāmaki Makaurau is frankly a careless remark.

It's a statement that sows division and, dare I say, even alienates communities who have stood in solidarity with Māori. Let's be clear, solidarity across communities has always been central to our shared struggles.

If you think of land marches, climate justice movements, Pacific, Asian and migrant communities have walked alongside Māori, just as Māori have stood with others.

So to dismiss or even diminish that support because of ethnicity is not only wrong, it's outrageous. It’s not often that I agree with Labour's Willie Jackson, but he's right.

Listen to Will’s Word below.

Those communities were not taking a Māori seat. They were standing alongside Māori in the democratic process and supporting a candidate they believed in. Isn't that kotahitanga (unity)?

When Ferris doubled down on his comments, with an eight-minute video, might I add, it looked as though he did more than just reject the criticism. He rejected any opportunity to actually show some humility.

So I really raised my eyebrows with the rhetoric that this man is throwing out there, and it's food for thought. But again, I do recognise and acknowledge the important role that Te Pāti Māori has, not only in Parliament, but in society as well.

We need a voice like Te Pāti Māori in Parliament. What we don't need are divisive comments from the likes of Ferris.

That's Will's Word.