WAATEA NEWS COLUMN: Treaty Principles Bill is dangerous and flawed while breaching International standards

There are two versions of the Treaty, the Māori version and the English version.

The Māori version enshrines Tino rangatiratanga.

International law states that where a treaty exists between two nations, then the indigenous version must take precedent.

To proceed with ACT’s race baiting, race war inducing Treaty Principles Bill utterly undermines the International Law that spells out the indigenous version takes precedence.

ACT’s proposal ‘sounds’ good…

1. All citizens of New Zealand have the same political rights and duties

2. All political authority comes from the people by democratic means including universal suffrage, regular and free elections with a secret ballot

3. New Zealand is a multi-ethnic liberal democracy where discrimination based on ethnicity is illegal

…until you realise the purpose of the Bill.

The Treaty Principles Bill is a Trojan Horse policy that amputates any obligation by the State to work with Māori.

ACT claims this doesn’t impact the Treaty, but that’s a terribly disingenuous statement, because while it doesn’t impact the Treaty, it impacts the States responsibility to work with Māori.

Enact this Bill and the State doesn’t have to work with Māori at all meaning the Treaty and its obligations become meaningless.

ACT are still pushing for this terrible idea to be adopted, the moment we are not paying attention, the Political Right will try this on.

We must stay alert on the Treaty Principles Bill.

 

First published on Waatea News.