Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Peeni is harming Labour's chances at government

Seems to me that Peeni Henare's shenanigans in the by-election right now is exactly the kind of thing that Labour has to knock on the head, quick smart, if they want to be in the game at the election next year.

Now, as we were discussing earlier, even though Carmel Sepuloni has told Peeni off for saying that he wants to repeal the gang patch ban, he is not backing down.

Right?

He said it on Wednesday, they told him off on Thursday, and today he's not backing down.

He's repeated it because he says it's his personal view.

If not the Labour party’s, and he has whānau experience.

Now, why he's actually doing this, in my opinion, is because the Māori Party's doing it.

That's the real reason, because if you have a look at what actually happened on Wednesday night in that by-election candidates meeting, it was the Māori Party candidate Orini Kaipara who first answered the question.
The question was, will you repeal the ban?

She said, yes, and after she said yes, Peeni Henare then said yes too.

Now, maybe he does truly believe that it is the right thing to do.

But as I told you, it makes no sense as a political calculation.

Why would you chase the vote of 10,000 gang members if doing that means that you lose the votes of, I don't know, maybe 100,000 normal Kiwis who think the ban is a good idea.

The only answer to that question is because you actually don't care about the 100,000 votes.

You're not trying to help the Labour Party win, you're just trying to win your electorate seat.

In one of the Māori electorates, and you will say whatever it takes to match the Māori Party.

Now, Labour needs to sort this stuff out before the next election.

If Peeni or other candidates or Willie Jackson or even the entire Labour Party keeps chasing the Māori Party down the nutty radical road, they will, they will lose middle New Zealand.

Just like they did when Jacinda was being told what to do by Willie and Nanaia.

If I was giving them advice, it would be to leave the nutty stuff to the Māori Party and go to the center themselves again.

Maybe it means MPs like Peeni Henare will lose their seats, but that may be the sacrifice you have to make in order to win the election.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Seems to me that Penny Henad's shenanigans in the by
election right now is exactly the kind of thing that
Labour has to knock on the head Quicksmart if they
want to be in the game at the election next year. Now,
as we were discussing earlier, even though Carmel Sepaloni has
told Penny off for saying that he wants to repeal
the gang patch ban, he is not backing down, right.
He said it on Wednesday, they told him on Thursday,

(00:21):
and today he's not backing down. He's repeated it because
he says it's his personal view if not the Labor parties,
and he has far no experience. Now why he's actually
doing this, in my opinion, is because the Marti Party
is doing it. That's the real reason. Because if you
have a look at what actually happened on Wednesday night
in that by election candidate's meeting, it was the Maori
Party candidate or any kaipitter who first answered the question.

(00:43):
The question was will you repeal the ban? She said yes,
and after she said yes, Pennie Henade then said yes too. Now,
maybe he does truly believe that it is the right
thing to do. But as I told you, it makes
no sense as a political calculation. Why would you chase
the vote of ten thousand Gang members if doing that
means that you lose the votes of I don't know,
maybe one hundred thousand normal Kiwis who think the band

(01:04):
is a good idea. The only answer to that question
is because you actually don't care about the one hundred
thousand votes. You're not trying to help the Labor Party
when you're just trying to win your electorate seat in
one of the Marii electrics, and you will say whatever
it takes to match the Mahori Party. Now, Labour needs
to sort the stuff out before the next election. If
Penny or other candidates, or Willie Jackson, or even the
entire Labor Party keeps chasing the Maori Party down, the

(01:26):
nutty Radical Roll wrote, they will lose Middle New Zealand,
just like they did when Jacinda was being told what
to do by Willia Nanaya. If I was giving them advice,
it would be to leave the nutty stuff to the
Mary Party and go to the center themselves. Again, maybe
it means MP's like Penny Henaa will lose their seats,
but that may be the sacrifice you have to make
in order to win the election. For more from Heather

(01:46):
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