Giles
Dexter, Political Reporter
New
Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones is questioning the
circumstances behind Labour MP Peeni Henare’s shock
resignation, believing the whole story is not being
told.
On Tuesday, Henare announced he was calling
time on his 12-year Parliamentary career, citing
exhaustion and a desire to spend more time focusing on his
family and future.
“It’s a bit of, I didn’t have
enough in the tank. It’s a bit of understanding that I can
continue to influence the way people vote outside of being
an MP and outside of Parliament,” he said.
Henare also
said some opportunities had presented themselves to
him.
While
it was known Henare would not be contesting the Tāmaki
Makaurau seat, his announcement he would not be standing at
all came in the middle of a joint press conference by the
Labour and Green Party leadership.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
He told one media
platform of his plans before Labour had the chance to put
out its own announcement, but Labour leader Chris Hipkins,
who initially refused to answer questions about the
resignation, denied the announcement had been
bungled.
“New Zealand’s a small place, and rumours
swirl around. I don’t comment on rumours. I let people have
their space to make their announcements, and that’s what
I’ve done here.”
Speaking after the opening
of the upgraded Haruru Falls Road around the back of the
Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Jones expressed his surprise at
Henare’s retirement.
“I had no idea that Peeni was
going to move on. Peeni’s grandfather was our paramount
chief of the north, the last commander of the Māori
Battalion, a dearly loved figure throughout all the tribes
of the motu,” he said.
“I’m not across all the
details, but I want to make sure that the story, when it’s
fully told, that we focus on what’s happened because he
struck me as a guy who had quite a large potential for
politics.”
Jones said he was going to go and find out
what had happened, and the “kumara vine” would inform him,
but he thought Labour and Henare should be more
forthcoming.
“That’s up to them to ensure that there’s
a very comprehensive account as to what’s happened to this
young leader of Te Tai Tokerau, and why he, all of a sudden,
is departing from the Labour Party. I mean, whatever we
think about Māori leadership, Peeni Henare is blessed with
the lineage of leadership throughout the north.”
On
Tuesday, Henare said things never went perfectly at
Waitangi, with “a hui here and a hui there”, and because he
was at a pōwhiri for the Governor-General, he admitted the
timing had not worked out as well as he had
thought.
New Zealand’s public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
