Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones. RNZ / Mark Papalii
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.
Labour MP Peeni Henare. RNZ / Angus Dreaver
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.
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.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
