The Labour Party is being given a serve for missing the opportunity to elect a Māori president.
Claire Szabo was picked ahead of Māori senior vice president, Tane Phillips. Photo: RNZ / Yvette McCullough
Habitat for Humanity CEO Claire Szabo was picked ahead of the party's Westport branch leader, Lorna Crane, and Labour's Māori senior vice president, Tane Phillips, at the party's annual conference over the weekend.
While the Māori wing of the party and the Māori caucus have given their support to Ms Szabo, there have been rumblings of discontent on social media.
Political commentator and trade unionist Morgan Godfery said he didn't think the party realised the opportunity it missed to elect its first Māori president in 50 years.
"The meaning of that candidacy probably wasn't given the weight that it deserved. I think that the significance of electing a Māori president to head the Labour Party was probably glossed over by many of the delegates in the room," he said.
Mr Godfery said while he had no doubt that Ms Szabo was a great candidate and would do an amazing job, there was a sense of frustration amongst many members that once again Māori were being told to be patient.
"Every time a Māori stands for a significant position ... so often they're just told to wait that it'll be your turn next time, but of course, next time never comes.
"So I think that's where this discontent comes from is that feeling that we have to wait again, and again, and again," Mr Godfery said.
Tane Phillips told RNZ that he accepted the outcome of the vote, and fully endorsed Ms Szabo.
"And I will work with her tirelessly to win the 2020 election. But I will say this, the New Zealand Labour Party needs to look at the Treaty more and partnership with Tangata Whenua," he said.
But he wouldn't elaborate much further what he meant by that, and simply said he thought the issue warranted more discussion.
Mr Godfery said he thought Mr Phillips was alluding to the party needing to walk the talk when it came to the Treaty.
"If Labour is serious about partnership, there must be a Māori person in one of the two top positions at all times and without that you can't really call yourself a partnership organisation or you can't really claim to be serious about the Treaty," Mr Godfery said.
Te Kaunihera Māori chairperson Rudy Taylor was quick to declare support for Ms Szabo at the party conference on Saturday.
He said although the Māori wing was backing Tane Phillips, they respected where the democratic process landed, and it was a case of the best person winning on the day.
He disagreed with the criticism that this was a missed opportunity.
"Nah, we'll get there. I mean, we voted and there were three nominations and Tane happened to be the only Māori, so look, not many Māori put their names up.
"Fifty years might be 50 years but not many Māori put their names up," Mr Taylor said.
The Māori caucus is also toeing the line of party unity, saying Claire Szabo had their full support.
Co-chairperson Willie Jackson said that they were hopeful that a Māori would be elected next time, and the caucus was looking forward to a kōrero about partnership within the party.
And co-chairperson Meka Whaitiri said, although they would like to go further with 13 MPs, and senior Māori leaders, the party was headed in the right direction.
Morgan Godfery said overlooking Tane Phillips could hurt Labour at the polls.
He thought most Māori voters aren't too impressed with what the coalition government is delivering for them and without a Māori president, retaining all the Māori seats could prove difficult.