ACT MP Simon Court argued ‘Māori ceded sovereignty’ and the brutality of RMA changes reflects that 19th Century White Settler Arrogance
ACT, NZF and National have all danced around the central issue in terms of the relationship between the Crown and the Māori who signed the Treaty – did māori cede Sovereignty?
The Right claim they did, Māori argue they never did.
The truth is Māori never ceded sovereignty HOWEVER that doesn’t mean the NZ Parliament isn’t sovereign.
OF COURSE IT IS.
Parliament has the Police Force, the taxation system, the Judiciary, the Army – they are clearly sovereign.
But NZ Parliament being sovereign isn’t the same as Māori ceding sovereignty.
How we interact with an indigenous people who never ceded sovereignty is the unique strength of our system and we have been using co-governance as that means of enabling this truth.
The Right refuse point blank to accept that and remain latched to the racist lie that Māori ceded sovereignty to defend the ill gotten wealth from the theft and confiscation of indigenous land.
Hilariously the Right dress this colonised racism up as defending democracy,
No where can we see the impact of this thinking better than in the horrific RMA changes.
Scrapping Iwi-Council Agreements, Removal of Treaty Principles and Diminished Māori Voices in Planning, this is what you do when you believe you have conquered the indigenous people, not signed a Treaty with them.
If National, ACT and NZF get back into power, they will cement their 19th Century White Settler privilege into place.
Old Zealand will strangle New Zealand and we will all collectively take a huge step backwards.
Independent Media is more important than ever, especially in the lead up to the Election. TDB is the largest Left Wing Blog in NZ and we have been operating for 13 years now. We get zero funding g from NZ on Air and we don’t have no rich backers. If you can donate please do so here or directly into our account – 12-3065-0133561-56
Have a look at Te Ara and History of NZ with regard to one Donald McLean. I’m still too illiterate to put links.
His name is attached to numerous landmarks all over the country. He got around.
He was a Scot obviously whose family was more or less tossed off the land they’d tenanted for many years. He eventually arrived here and being well educated easily found work moving up the ladder quickly until he became a ‘land purchase commissioner’, eventually Native Minister. He became fluent in Māori and was trusted by settlers and Māori, initially, as being someone who got things done, Mr. Fixit.
Somewhere along the line he forgot his own family’s experience in Scotland and decided that the best outcome for Māori was assimilation with the colonials he knew were coming in huge numbers.
He began double crossing Māori into agreeing to sell land and his behaviour was questioned by higher-ups. However, he continued his activities, assisted in part by the Māori Land Court and people ignoring the rules and safe-guards that some were trying to implement to stop Māori being dispossessed.
There was eventually strong resistance to his activities when his deviousness became known. He blamed the Māori King Movement for stirring it up and received a knighthood.
How many others started off with good intentions but eventually drifted into dishonesty in their dealings with Māori?
Power and corruption, again.
And still going on today with the COCs trying to set the record for destroying Maori .And NZ stands up and has the cheek to point the finger at other countries human rights .Just look at the denial of forced work now that trump has imposed tariffs against us .Every month we have someone charged with under paying some one ore with holding their passport .Hell we have a fella in jail for slavery offences .