Green co-leader Marama Davidson appears to have targeted Shane Jones
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The war of words between the Green Party and New Zealand First continues to rage as Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson appears to have taken aim at outspoken NZ First Minister Shane Jones.
In a speech in Auckland this afternoon, Davidson also announced she planned to again stand in the Māori seat of Tāmaki Makaurau, in Auckland.
She campaigned for the seat in 2014 and 2017, both times losing to Labour’s Peeni Henare.
Davidson has sided with those occupying the land, who want to see it returned to the mana whenua.
At the moment, the land legally belongs to Fletcher Construction but the development of housing has been halted while a solution is being found.
Last year, Davidson told Parliament that what is happening at Ihumātao was a “continuation of colonisation” and said there was “definitely a role for the Government to play”.
The Government is rumoured to be close to finalising a solution on the issue.
In her speech today, Davidson thanked “the protectors” of the Ihumātao site, such as SOUL co-founder Pania Newton.
“When others belittle you, your power grows stronger due to the tens of thousands around the country who support you.”
But Davidson told media she wrote the speech before Jones made the comments.
He called her a putiputi – meaning a young flower – during his visit to Rātana last week.
A group of 100 Māori academics, activists, artists and political commentators have released an open statement calling him a bully, and some want an apology.
In response, Jones told RNZ: “I am in no way swayed by this constant social media grandstanding by our young putiputi, Pania.”
Asked about Jones’ comments, Davidson said Newton was “pretty strong [and] able to stand up for herself”.
She said Jones had upset “many, many of Pania’s supporters” and those are valid feelings for them to have.
Last week, Jones was highly critical of Greens co-leader James Shaw’s comments that to limit the impacts of climate change, New Zealanders should be eating less meat.
He said that sort of advocacy was “eco Bible-bashing”, saying it was a form of absolutism he and his party wholeheartedly rejected.
In response, Shaw said his comments were “based on science”.
In her State of the Planet speech in Auckland this afternoon, Davidson said she would be seeking the Greens nomination to be the Party’s Tāmaki Makaurau candidate.
As co-leader, she is highly likely to get the nod.
In 2014, Davidson won 3136 to Henare’s 7500. But last election, Davidson was 5000 votes behind Henare – now Civil Defence Minister.
the only good thing to say about her is. My God she’s fucking awful.
Yep. She’s got “Re-education Camp Commissar” written all over her. Dangerous, dangerous woman.
Marama even reclaimed a word to describe herself.
Let the games commence.
I heard her on Magic talk the other day with Ryan Bridge, and he asked her a question about 4 times, and she never replied, she kept changing the subject.
That said I hope she wins, one less Labour electrorate MP!
What was the question?
I think it was to do with climate change and who’s paying for it.
She kept saying we must do it.
He kept saying who is going to pay for it and how much will it cost.
Round and round
What a waste of a cunt…
The only good to say is that the COL coalition are all as awful as each other. They would happily slit each others throats to win their own return in September. You can guarantee it’s going to be a dirty election campaign with the COL determined to regain POWER and control.
I could not place a tick for Ms Davidson if I resided in that electorate. I listen fairly carefully to political speakers and simply do not gel with her position on the various issues I have heard her on. Very divisive, not a healthy option for New Zealand at all in my opinion. Not a representative of environmental issues in my sense of what those issues are.
Her approach To New Zealand and wider issues has deterred me from ticking the Green Party. A wasted vote in my opinion. Not a leader I could follow or accept.
Small factoid..
Rawiri Paratene, who was born Peter David Broughton, is the father of Davidson.
Paratene used to be a presenter on Playschool.
I wonder if she got her potty mouth from him.