Tama Potaka on racist attacks, co-governance and her goal for National

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Late last year, Tama Potaka, a heavy hitter from Ngruahine and Ngti Hauiti, joined the national caucus. So, will his expertise in Mori affairs and iwi governance bring changes to the National Party? Reports by Glenn McConnell.

What exactly is co-governance? It’s a question that Tama Potaka, the newest National MP and his Mori Development Affairs Officer, struggles to answer.

The term has caused a major debate in politics for more than a year. But there is one thing Potaka and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins agree on. They say it’s getting harder and harder to understand what someone means when supporting or criticizing them.

The idea of ​​co-governance is not particularly new, thrown into the modern bureaucracy under the government led by John Key in various treaty settlements. In these cases, he described the formation of boards of directors which would be made up of iwi and Crown appointees.

Potaka says National no longer supports the idea of ​​co-governance over public services, partly because the Labor government has been very unclear about what co-governance means.

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But, in an interview with Stuff to discuss his approach to Mori Development, Potaka also declined to give a definition of what co-governance means to him.

He said he supported partnership, but not co-governance. When asked what the difference was, he replied: There are many differences, but initially the Labor government and the media were very unclear about what co-governance means.

But how does he know he doesn’t support co-governance, if it’s not clear what exactly it is? There is no single definition, he replied.

Mark Taylor / Stuff

March 20, 2023 marked Potaka’s 100th day as MP for Hamilton West.

Regarding the issues in the Mori-Crown relationship, Potaka lists the actions he supports. He wants to see the devolution of the state, wants partnerships and agrees with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) that the Mori have the right to self-determination.

Potaka also takes Te Tiriti o Waitangi seriously. He has nine printed and framed versions of Te Tiriti ready to hang behind his desk in Parliament.

Who is Tama Potaka?

Potaka entered Parliament in December, winning the Hamilton West by-election triggered by Gaurav Sharmas’ break with Labor and his subsequent resignation. He entered politics after holding senior positions leading iwi organizations, including as managing director of Tainui Group Holdings and as treaty claims negotiator for the four iwi of Mkai Ptea.

He has whakapapa in Ngti Hauiti, Whanganui, Ngruahine, Taranaki, Ngti Raukawa and Ngti Whitikaupeka.

By profession, he is a lawyer, having studied a master’s degree in law at Columbia University in New York. He practiced law in New Zealand and also served as Managing Director of Ngi Tai ki Tmaki.

Mori’s political commentators praised Potakas’ selection as a candidate for the Hamilton West Nationals, given that he cultivated a significant public profile among the Tmaki Makaurau iwi in the central North Island.

His election also follows years of criticism over the notable lack of diversity among nationals. He returned to parliament after the 2020 election, with just two Mori MPs, leaving Dr Shane Reti and Whanganuis Harete Hipango to do a lot of heavy lifting. Christopher Luxon admitted his party had work to do to attract more women, Pasifika and Mori candidates.

With three Mori MPs, the Nationals Mori caucus is tied with ACT despite National being three times the size.

Tom Lee / Stuff

National focused on crime and raids during the Potakas by-election campaign.

Getting into politics and nationally

Those who knew Potaka were not particularly surprised that he chose to join National, although many outsiders did not support him.

Potaka hasn’t always been Nat. He was a member of the Mori Party.

He joined the National Party while concentrating on politics, eager to enter parliament. He said the Nationals’ ethos was generally aligned with his own, limited government, competitive business and a focus on Whnau. He said previous national governments had also delivered for Mori.

You have these iconic moments and programs that were started thanks to the leadership of the National Party, he said, highlighting the start of Te Matatini, the funding of khanga reo and the treaty claim process.

Although his campaign to enter Parliament was ultimately successful, it was not all smooth sailing. Potaka is the father of three children, with his wife, Ariana Paul.

MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times

Potaka with his wife, Ariana Paul, and two of their three children.

During the by-election campaign, his children and wife faced racist attacks from outsiders who did not like the idea of ​​a Mori with business experience entering parliament.

Potaka also received significant racist abuse, while agitators told her children their father was racist when they weren’t.

Oh no, I wasn’t surprised, Potaka said.

I think I have been prejudiced several times in my life. And I’m not scared or worried about it. What I find a bit disappointing is when young children, my own children, get caught up in this messy discussion.

Potaka blamed racism and vitriol on misunderstandings, by some. He said people seem to have binary preconceived ideas about how people should act or what certain groups believe.

I often open my speeches and say, Kia ora, my name is Tama Potaka. I’m the MP for Hamilton West, and if you don’t notice, I’m Mori and I’m a National. People are laughing. It’s good, he said.

I try to make sure it’s accessible, and that my identity is accessible. Sometimes identity is used as a sword or a shield or a way to exclude people, and I think that can be suboptimal.

Where to go from here?

As well as being Nationals Mori’s Development Spokesperson, Potaka is its Associate Housing Spokesperson. It particularly focuses on housing and how iwi and Mori organizations can help get more whnau into good homes. This is the first step, he says, to ending poverty.

He also wanted to focus on Mori’s median income and how to increase it to match the general population.

At National, he said there will be more focus on kaupapa Mori and more policies will be rolled out in the coming months.

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