Rangatiratanga means sovereignty for Aotearoa New Zealand

The contradictions in the government’s policies on climate change and strategic assets highlight the lack of broad principles guiding the nation, says the Maori Party.

“Instead of consistency, the people see ad hoc policies and election-year manoeuvring around critical issues for the future of the planet,” said Dr Sharples.

“The government hyped up its emissions trading scheme as a world-leader, because it was so comprehensive. Then when petrol prices continue their inevitable rise, suddenly the government puts off key aspects, because voters can’t afford to fill their cars.

“Don’t use struggling families as an excuse to put off saving the planet until after the election, Prime Minister. Use the Budget, tax and welfare systems to close down the current gross disparities in income and wealth, and eliminate the child poverty and serious hardship so many families are suffering.

“At the same time, the fact is that the whole planet is living beyond its means, oil prices are going to skyrocket in the next few years, and sooner or later we have to stop filling our private cars with petrol. We have to face the fact that we cannot go on as we have been,” he said.

“The big question is, how do we prepare for the future, how do we make the necessary changes? That is the whole point of an emissions trading scheme,” he said. “We can’t defer the scheme because of the short-term cost. The cost of doing nothing would be catastrophic.”

"This Labour government is obviously in the ballot box of the polluters as it attempts its desperate drive to retain power,” said co-leader Tariana Turia. “It obviously does not believe that the polluter should pay. If that is the case it should be up front and advise voters – taxpayers - how much they are expected to pay for the polluting excesses of others.

"We can and must all clean up our actions,” said Mrs Turia, “funding and supporting less polluting production processes; investing in more organic agriculture, local food diversity and a greater sense of community, better health with a more active lifestyle, walking, cycling, physical work, and a better diet.”

“In a global climate of uncertainty, it is vital that communities and nations have control over their destiny – rangatiratanga. We have to be able to make decisions for ourselves, and carry them out.

“Transport planning is a key strategy, and the Maori Party welcomes the government decision to buy back the rail system,” she said. “It is clearly a strategic asset.”

“But last week, the government allowed the Wellington power network to be sold overseas. The direct result will be increased power prices to households.

“Where is the consistency?” she asked. “If rail is strategic infrastructure, why isn’t the electricity network? If the government is prepared to delay the emissions trading scheme because of rising household costs, why does it not intervene to keep electricity costs down?”

“The whole approach lacks integrity,” said Dr Sharples. “The global trade agenda hurts the poor. While we struggle to pay our supermarket bills, half the world is rioting over food costs - partly due to biofuel production. The UN is afraid this could trigger a global food security crisis.

“With peak oil already upon us, and increased biofuel production set to push food prices even further, we need serious political leadership about how to live more oil-efficient lives,” he said.

Mrs Turia said: “Aotearoa needs to think about its rangatiratanga, its sovereignty. We have responsibilities to our own poor, and to be a good global citizen.

“There are things every whänau and household can do, but the government must provide vision and direction. We will not get that from political parties who are driven by opinion polls, lobby groups and election results,” she said.