I caught this on the radio when a snippet of an interview with Tau Henare was broadcast about his ambitions and rekindled hopes to become Speaker of the House now that Labour are playing silly games about the selection of David Carter.
credit: guide2.co.nz
I do not have the exact quote, but Henare said (paraphrased)
Do you know that in the history of NZ Parliament we’ve only had one woman and one Maori speaker? It’s despicable.
That may be. But it is equally despicable to want one of the top jobs in the land based on your blood line and not because you are the right person for the job.
It makes me cringe that someone supposedly at the top of his game, pitching for a job that would be the pinnacle for his career can only come up with a “but it’s my turn based on my race”.
Luckily, he’s been cold shouldered, as NewstalkZB reports
The MP told by his own party he’s not wanted as Parliament’s Speaker still wants the job.
National’s Tau Henare was pushed aside by his own party in favour of senior minister David Carter – who initially wasn’t particularly interested.
Mr Carter will be formally nominated tomorrow, but other parties plan to oppose that.
Mr Henare won’t say if Mr Carter is the man for the job – but he would gladly take it for himself.
