Labour will restore Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements
Labour will restore Mana Whakahono ā Rohe (iwi participation) agreements in resource management legislation, Labour’s Māori-Crown relations spokesperson Willie Jackson said.
“Despite Christopher Luxon saying in 2024 that his government will ‘honour the Treaty’, National has spent three years systematically stripping Māori out of decision-making that directly impacts Māori interests. Labour will put them back.
“The Waikato River iwi in their joint letter to Chris Bishop, made it clear that stripping out iwi partnership provisions is a direct breach of Treaty settlements. Five river iwi chairs are telling this Government that its RMA reforms breach the Crown’s obligations. National is not listening, Labour is.
“Not only does this represent a betrayal of good faith, but it also undermines years of work aimed at improving the health of the Waikato River from further environmental degradation.
“Labour is committed to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. That means a government that acts in good faith, not promise one thing and do something completely different.
“There was a time when the Prime Minister’s word meant something, but Christopher Luxon cannot be trusted. Māori cannot afford another three years of a National government taking us backwards,” Willie Jackson said.
I totally agree with this move by Labour, who are committed to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. It’s scandalous that this CoC has ‘ripped’ all mention of Maori from our legislation, thus ‘pretending’ they don’t exist! What is this CoC afraid of? Maori don’t have the numbers to ‘take over’ as ‘warned’ by the scaremongering RW bigots. Maori are people, like us, with diverse skin tones and their identity is rooted in ancestry rather than appearance. How has anyone grown up in NZ without being integrated with Maori? But if you are not born here, then may I suggest you keep your racist comments and reactions to yourself. They are unacceptable here! Hope you have got the message LOUD and CLEAR! Luxon you and your lot have totally got this wrong – it could be your downfall!