Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
David Cunliffe
,
Julian Wilcox
,
Labour Party
,
Natural justice
,
Pita Sharples
,
Shane Jones
,
Shane Taurima
,
Tamaki Makaurau
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TVNZ
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Will Flavell
Labour's troubled Tamaki Makaurau candidate selection took another turn yesterday. Maori broadcaster Julian Wilcox confirmed that he is no longer interested in trying out for the Labour nomination; Stuff reports:
Maori TV's Julian Wilcox has quashed speculation he will stand for Labour in the coming general election.
Wilcox has long been rumoured to be a potential candidate in Tamaki Makaurau, with speculation strengthening after the Labour Party council refused a waiver to allow ex-TVNZ presenter Shane Taurima to stand.
Maori Television issued a statement today saying Wilcox, the station's general manager for news and current affairs, would not be standing for Labour.
"To clarify his position Julian Wilcox has made an unequivocal statement to Maori Television that he is not seeking political office for any political party in the forthcoming elections and remains committed to his job as GM of news and current affairs at Maori Television," the statement said.
Chief executive Paora Maxwell said the company accepted Wilcox's written statement "and we will continue to value our editorial independence in providing impartial and independent news coverage of significant regional and national stories from a Maori perspective".
We don't blame Mr Wilcox for putting his career ahead of his political aspirations for now. He is a very good and influential Maori broadcaster. He has nothing to gain from getting involved in Labour's Tamaki Makaurau train-wreck, or with the Labour Party.
When Pita Sharples announced his intention to retire from politics at the election, Labour aggressively targeted Tamaki Makaurau. Initially, it was thought that Shane Jones would stand. When Jones opted out, Shane Taurima was touted, then the stink at TVNZ blew up. Julian Wilcox considered standing, but only if Shane Taurima was excluded; Wilcox was not prepared to stand against his broadcasting colleague.
Of course, nominations for the Tamaki Makaurau candidate selection have already closed. Educator Will Flavell's nomination has been accepted, and that should be all she wrote. But David Cunliffe indicated on Breakfast this morning that it is likely that Labour's council will reopen nominations, and that there will be "significant interest" in the nomination. If that's the case, where was the "significant interest" all the other times that nominations have opened, closed then opened again?
Will Flavell should be given the opportunity be Labour's candidate for Tamaki Makaurau. He has played by the rules, and there seems to be no legitimate reason why he should not be confirmed as the Labour Party candidate. To once again reopen nominations, and to have someone else given the nod would be contrary to the principles of fairness and natural justice.
Then again, this is the Labour Party we're talking about, so the principles of fairness and natural justice probably do not apply. The Tamaki Makaurau candidate selection is a complete and utter dog's breakfast which does Labour, the Tamaki Makaurau LEC and the TVNZ branch of Tamaki Makaurau Labour no credit whatsoever.
