WAATEA NEWS COLUMN: Waitangi Day 2025 an inflection point in NZ Culture
As we face Waitangi 2025 with the most anti-Māori, anti-Treaty agenda in modern political history in front of, the latest Horizon Poll on how Kiwis feel about the Treaty tells us a very different story to the one those claiming the country has been hijacked by ‘Māori Elites’ is trying to sell us.
The Right Wing narrative is that Māori have somehow tricked the legal establishment into granting them special powers that amount to apartheid.
In this story there is no acknowledgement that there were 2 Treaties, no acceptance the majority of Māori signed the Māori version and no concession that New Zealand has signed up to the UN Charter that specifically states that in a. situation of two treaties, the one in the ingenious language takes precedence.
In short, the Political Far Right refuse to admit Māori didn’t cede sovereignty and this means there is no need for Treaty Principles.
This is a dangerously unhinged view of the reality of the Treaty and the truth is the vast number of kiwis don”t accept this version and told Horizon the following:
ACT should consider that final poll.
The majority of Kiwis see the Treaty as our celebration and a means to work together, they do not take the divisive and spiteful interpretation that has led to the Treaty Principles Referendum Bill.
I believe we will see an enormous turn out this year at Waitangi as Civil Society realises just how damaging the Rights attempt to remove the Treaty is.
It is now a time to stand together if the last 185 years are to mean anything.
Although I do not agree with the ACT bill, the “Are you aware” section is flawed. It assumes the truth of debatable propositions. It isn’t toilet paper admittedly but I read the whole poll (not bits) and wasn’t impressed.
And you are who again?
https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/711/90-honourin?
Makes a mockery of Bob the idiots idea Seymour’s support will grow.
We know by multiple polls Seymour’s support has dropped because of this bill.
This has not stopped the stupidity of Bob’s right wing trolling on this site and immature posts.
What about the fact that legislation requires various people and authorities to give effect to the principles of the ToW, without including any definition or guidance on what those principles are. Take RMA 1991 for example, which I worked under for 25yrs along with Local Government Act 2003 (for less time!).
Doesn’t that imply agreement over the principles and in light of NOT being told to apply the articles of the Treaty.
I just want someone in charge to tell us if the Treaty guarantees one society governed by x or does it gaurantee separate societies – one lot the progeny of immigrants post 1750 and ruled over by the British Crown, who also becomes the sole buyer of resources from Rangatira, should they choose to sell anything in their patch. The other ruled by those Rangatira as per tikanga of that time – say 1830s.
What about the fact that legislation requires various people and authorities to give effect to the principles of the ToW, without including any definition or guidance on what those principles are. Take RMA 1991 for example, which I worked under for 25yrs along with Local Government Act 2003 (for less time!).
Doesn’t that imply agreement over the principles and in light of NOT being told to apply the articles of the Treaty.
I just want someone in charge to tell us if the Treaty guarantees one society governed by x or does it gaurantee separate societies – one lot the progeny of immigrants post 1750 and ruled over by the British Crown, who also becomes the sole buyer of resources from Rangatira, should they choose to sell anything in their patch. The other ruled by those Rangatira as per tikanga of that time – say 1830s.