Shane Jones tries to retract...

From The Good Oil, Shane Jones has tried to retract using a FaceBook post.

FNDC, “Pork & Puha” committee must not undermine local growth and democracy.

It would seem that my free rhetoric given in a media interview yesterday has stirred the political dust.

The Far North District Council have a new ‘pork and puha’ hapu committee. This creation is being distorted by mischief makers.

NZFirst does not support co-governance in any form, full stop. Our party has been consistent and vocal about fighting against co-governance.

My rhetoric is aimed at councils who cannot work together locally. It has been my view Northland must sort out local issues locally.

Getting Wellington to come North and intervene every-time a Council drops the ball means local democratic representatives are not serving their local communities.

Come on, far North, we live in Godzone. Our economic challenges are vast, our infrastructure is creaking and iwi priorities need to be aligned with the broader community.

An example is the need for a region wide Northern water infrastructure entity. A self evident innovation.

The suggestion that there should be hapu representation on that Board is cultural escapism. Our Party will never consent to such wokism!

Furthermore the offensive suggestion that hapu still have their constitutional sovereignty is delusional. It will never be accepted or agreed to by us.

The depressing Nga Puhi claim is a blight upon the local leadership. It will be fixed however in the first 100 days of a future government that we maybe privileged to serve in.

FNDC elected officials have a duty to all ratepayers. Sadly local issues can be manipulated and have a negative impact on a properly functioning council for our entire community.

The corrosion of democracy can easily emerge without vigilance from Papatoetoe to Kaikohe.

But do not forget this situation all stemmed from when the Independent Maori Statutory Board was put in place with the Auckland Super City in 2010 by the National/Act/Maori Party government, where unelected Iwi representatives where given a seat at the table - and this is something that NZFirst has been fighting against since day one.

Too late, your first post showed NZ First's true colours.  Your leader's actions of pandering to voters over his three-decade career with zero actual action on such matters is confirmed.

Those that run with the hares and hunt with the hounds are definitely not to be trusted.