Maori are warning of sweeping protests, division and the potential for violence if ACT’s proposed Treaty referendum gets across the line in coalition negotiations for the new government.
However, ACT leader David Seymour says he doesn’t accept there will be disruption – and he has his finger on the pulse of the Maori world.
Otaki man Nathan Kirker said there would be an “uproar” if the government tried to launch the referendum. He said Australia’s vote on The Voice, the same day as New Zealand’s election, was a “prime example” of how referendums were a numbers game.
This month, Australians voted on changing their constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Islanders as first nation people, through the creation of an advisory group to the government. It was rejected 60% to 40%.
Kirker would join any protests, he said, as would many people he knew – especially from Otaki, which has a strong reo-speaking Maori population. “[and] Not just the Maori, the Pakeha are great here too.”
If the referendum went ahead there would be “a huge protest down at Parliament”. There was a possibility of it “turning into violence”, Kirker said .
…
Kirker said he would feel real anger if the referendum went ahead.
“If someone tells me, walking down the street, that they would tick for the referendum and say ‘yes’, that would p… me off … it’s like, ‘Nah, f… off.’”
Stuff
There you have it: the bully pulpit, threats of intimidation and violence, and a rejection of constitutional democratic mechanisms such as referenda, by Maori. What’s the bet Police won’t meet actual violence at Parliament by Maori in the same manner with which they attacked and stomped all over peaceful protestors?
This is the damage that six years of the Ardern/Hipkins regime have delivered, through their promotion of a heroic reinterpretation of the treaty, paying millions upon millions of dollars to media organisations on the proviso that they too promote this divisive agenda, forcing through race-based policies in health and the confiscation of council water assets that have been effectively handed over to iwi elites.
Labour fostered this division and this overt racism, and now if anyone dares to query any aspect of it they are howled down as racist, threatened, intimidated and promised violence in return.
This is what New Zealand has become: thanks Ardern, thanks Hipkins.
This nation is poorer as a result of the bully pulpit and intimidation effectively silencing all except those who are brave enough to stand up to these threats.
This is Jacinda Ardern’s legacy.
Cam Slater is a New Zealand-based blogger, best known for his role in Dirty Politics and publishing the Whale Oil Beef Hooked blog, which operated from 2005 until it closed in 2019. Cam blogs regularly on the BFD - where this article was sourced.
8 comments:
How very american. In practice, can you really imagine any maori's except the elite idiots wanting violence? The maori guy who owns a local shop and has a blond dutch wife and mixed race kids? The maori artist I know who is super proud of his scottish ancestors and knows their clan, tartan and homeland in scotland as well as his maori heritage? The elite maori are stirring up people, with all this nonsense from the woke marxist culture coming from america.
Well we either stare down the 'Maori mafia' and sweep away ALL apartheid statues (their gravy train) or we go Zimbabwe. Up to 'We the People'.
“If someone tells me, walking down the street, that they would tick for the referendum and say ‘yes’, that would p… me off … it’s like, ‘Nah, f… off.’”
So this is the gentleman from Otaki's attempt at persuading people otherwise, is it?
And the Stuff journalist clearly thought this was not worth challenging or enquiring deeper into the issue.
'Nough said, bro!
You can't fault Otaki man's understanding of how referendum's work though - "a prime example of how referendums were a numbers game."
That's right! Like an election, mate.
You see that's democracy. I know it must seem unfair when you're very much in the minority but you have to persuade enough people to change their opinion with lucid, logical arguments, rather than the statement above. Threatening violence and civil unrest generally has the opposite effect.
The legal term for openly threatening unrest and rebellion is sedition.
The maori guy is correct about the attitude to referendum. It will be more acceptable for the govt to state clearly the case against current Treaty interpretations, the relavance of an 1840 agreement today etc and then just introduce law. After all there has not been and was not intended to be referendum on pro maori policy to date, so why have for the counter? See also comments on 26th Oct newspapers.
The protests and violence would really be delivered by left wing militants. Their anti democratic agenda has been stalled by the 2023 election result so now it is onto Plan B.
The treaty did its job in 1840. To rebirth it now in its revised iteration with principles is cynical manipulative politics and, unlike the Treaty in 1840, is designed to subvert democracy and the rights of all New Zealanders. The Ōtaki chap is a case in point.
Even Jacinda's mate Harry Tam was sounding off before the election. There are many bullies out there but often a primeval reaction from Maori when things go wrong is to give someone the bash.
Work it out though, Maori are said to be 15% of the population. The most activist political group is TPM who received 3% of the vote.
I don't think a referendum is a good idea. Someone needs to promote an inclusive new idea for the Nation that everyone can get behind - perhaps a new constitution that doesn't even mention race or ancestry but is socially advanced for all citizens. John Tamihere, Waititi, Willy and Mahuta need to be sidelined, bribed to disappear or made leaders of the new cause. Preferably not the latter option as there will be more nepotism than necessary.
MC
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