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Maori Party on Family and Morals
The Maori Party supports raising the alcohol purchase age to 20 years “as one response to address harmful youth binge drinking patterns”.
The Maori Party does not have a specific policy on gay marriage, but says “we support the continuance of the Civil Unions Act” and has indicated some sympathy for gay marriage. According to co-leader Dr Pita Sharples, “The Maori Party’s priority of whanau includes gay and lesbian people, whanau and communities, and recognises that it is whakapapa which joins peoples together – both whakapapa in terms of ancestral ties and whakapapa in terms of a shared history and future in Aotearoa. The Party is unequivocal in this, the inclusivity of all peoples, all whanaunga, regardless and indeed regardful of their sexual orientation.”
The Maori Party has strongly opposed moves to lift restrictions on Easter trading, “given our priority to uplift and strengthen whanau,” a spokesperson says. “Easter is the only long weekend during the calendar year which has legislative protection”. Te Ururoa Flavell has said in the House, “The Maori Party believes that we have to start talking seriously about the way in which New Zealanders balance the ever-competing pressures of paid work with the immeasurable value of quality family time…"
The Maori Party supported the repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act, so parents or guardians could no longer use reasonable discipline as a defence if facing legal charges for assault against their children. Co-leader Tariana Turia said in the House, “As long as a single child is damaged at the hands of parents, we will support any legislative proposal that seeks to make a difference.” A spokesperson said, “We did so because from a Maori worldview perspective, children are to be exalted as 'ariki' (tama-ariki)."
The Maori Party supports the concept of a Families Commission - but would like it to take a different form, with a strong whanau development focus at the community level, authority to direct and shape government policy and set minimum standards, and being accountable to whanau.