WAATEA NEWS COLUMN: The ongoing Treaty Principles Referendum submissions an exercise in joy and wilful ignorance
Something unique and beautiful is coming out of the Treaty Principles Referendum oral submission process.
We are seeing in each tiny 10minute sound bite the true magnitude of Egalitarian New Zealand standing against this race baiting stunt.
On top of the first wave of submissions that saw incredible arguments from Professor Jane Kelsy, The New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Former Health Minister and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little, Economist Ganesh Nana, The Tangata Whenua Social Workers Association, Treaty Lawyer Natalie Coates, Dame Marilyn Joy Waring, Citizens Advice Bureau, Christchurch Methodist Mission, Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga, Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Janine Hayward, professor of politics at University of Otago, Political Science Professor Bronwyn Hayward, Political scientist Areti Metuamate, Chris Finlayson on behalf of the New Zealand Bar Association, Youth development body Ara Taiohi, Māori health at the University of Auckland, Legal Eagle Graeme Edgeler, New Zealand Maori Council, Tangata Tiriti Aotearoa, Te Puna Ora O Mataatua, Helmut Modlik CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Lady Tureiti Moxon, Managing Director Te Kohao, and Chair the National Urban Māori Authority, Te Hunga Roia Māori, The Council of Medical Colleges, the Ministry of Justice and Former justice minister Kiri Allan, on top of those incredible voices, we now have the latest additions of Urban Māori advocate and former broadcaster Bernie O’Donnell, Former conservation minister Eugene Sage, Auckland councillor Richard Hills, the mighty Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Former Green MP Catherine Delahunty, former National Party minister Hekia Parata, and former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer to name but a few.
Each one of these amazing New Zealanders, and far more others, have joined a chorus of the righteous and the intelligent to denounce the intellectual merit and worth of this deplorable legislation.
It has shown the bones, the muscle and the soul of an Egalitarian New Zealand who see the Treaty as a unique source of pride and optimism, we do not see the celebration of Māori as a lessening of our own identity because we believe that a Treaty is to be honoured, not settled.
The opposite side of this debate has been a sad and desperate cavalcade of political spite and wilful ignorance.
Not one single argument put forward supporting this Bill stand up to any scrutiny whatsoever.
ACT have taken to not even turning up to witness the debate they demanded!
The far right are losing this debate with every passing day as the submissions against the Bill strip it of any justification whatsoever.
These voices will echo down the corridors of NZ History and the argument they make today will protect and build tomorrow.
D’oh! The political requirement is that this Bill and its successors never are never passed, which allows the stunt to remain active. No practical politician willingly abandons a winning cause.
Yes and on top of the above Labour have already said the Regulations standards bill will be tossed in the dust bin when they are next in Govt . So that further re-enforces the above . The treaty as written and the developed principles are here to stay and not to be screwed around with. We are a polynesian nation whether the latest immigrants like it or not.
PS I am Pakeha and 74 and proud of our polynesian nation.
Anyone who doesnt like it can screw themselves.
Let’s just give everyone who claims to have maori ancestry a million dollars a year each and stop all the nonsense …The money is there and let’s just get on with being a highly successful multi cultural country…