Chris Hipkins: Minister threatens to pull Waitangi National Trust funding

"A circus".

That is how NZ First's Shane Jones described the powhiri for parliamentarians at Waitangi yesterday.

However, the minister has now found himself in hot water after threatening to pull the Waitangi National Trust's funding. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
A circus. That's how Shane Jones described the poor frey
for parliamentarians at White Tungy yesterday. However, the New Zealand
First Minister has found himself on a bit of hot
water about that after threatening to pull the White Tongy
National Trust funding and up in White Tungy, of course,
along with him is the leader of the Opposition, Chris Hopkins.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good morning, Good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
So actually did you go to the dawn service this morning?
How was it?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
I did? It was a beautiful dawn service. I mean
it's probably a little more political than previous years, but
still a very dignified event and you know the sun's
just coming up now and you can see the sun
peeking through the clouds. A very majestic year on the
treaty grounds at White Tangy this morning.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
What did you make of the proceedings yesterday and the
threat by Shane Jones to pull funding from the White
Toungy National Trust.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Well, I think Shane Jones's threats were totally unacceptable. You know,
this is the government that claims they're all about free
speech and yet they're saying that they're going to bully,
intimidate and funding of the organizations that might express a
disagreement with the government. I don't that's exemplifies a government
that's committed to free speech. I think it's a government
that basically is trying to bully and intimidate people into servians.

(01:09):
So I think Sir, if he had any leadership skills,
would be pulling his minister's into line right about now.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
Given this colorful rhetoric that we see at Waitanguy, are
those sorts of comments. Is it possible to sort of
excuse that level of rhetoric from Shane Jones simply because
you know, it's not like he's not in good company
when it comes to outrageous statements.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
No, I don't think it's see. I think, you know,
political leaders here at what you have a responsibility to
act with dignity, to show some restraint, to show some respect,
to listen. And that doesn't mean we can't challenge, but
you can do that in a way that's respectful. I mean,
David dem All struck around here like a peak yesterday.

(01:53):
I think he looked like he looked like a boiled schoolboy.
You know. I think he should have actually just you know,
respected the dignity of the job that he that he
currently holds.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
What do you mean he's strutting around like a peacock? Well,
how does how does one look like that as a politician?

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Well, I mean what you can see him and he's
surrounded by so much security at the moment, and that
itself has to be a message. Really. You know, if
you've got more police looking after David Seymour than looking
after the entire crowd that's here, it's probably that a
pretty clear indication and we're the problem lies.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, I mean you can understand why Christopher Luxon wouldn't
have wanted to come when he's not the first Prime
minister not to attend Whitan, is he.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Not? So there's an opportunity for him to be here
and to show some reship, you know. He says that
Seymore doesn't peak for his government on issues to do
with the treaty. He could have shown up and said,
you know what, what does the government have to say?
You know, as the treaty he, according to the Prime
Minister says the treaty principles don't the government's views on
the matter, Well, what are the government's views? He could

(02:59):
have come here and cheer, though if he chose not
to which he still thinksually having something to say.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Minde, Helen Clark gave him Miss Mouns, didn't she didn't
she go to Akerrara as well at one White Tonguey.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, there's been an awful lot of effistance in though
to turn this into a much more dignified event. And
I think it's well, I mean the VP now over
like ten years ago.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Yeah, it has changed, but look, we are struggling a
little bit with the reception there. But I hope you
enjoy the rest of your day. That is Chris Heipkins.
He is opposition leader and he's up at White Tongue
at the moment. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
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