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Professional sane advice could say something along the lines of “Some groups argue that the right to be smoke free ….” but to state a highly contentious interpretation as a fact just means that Ministers can't actually rely on such advice.
Incidentally for those who like their history, Hone Heke cut down the flagpole to protest the Government's new tax on various products, including tobacco which was one shilling per pound! And Hone was the first signatory to the Treaty!
Heke's rebellion was successful in getting the Government to repeal the tax on tobacco, and instead introduce property rates.
So for the Ministry of Health to state as an uncontested fact that the Treaty entrenches the right for Maori to be smoke free, is not just wrong, but historically illiterate.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
Incidentally for those who like their history, Hone Heke cut down the flagpole to protest the Government's new tax on various products, including tobacco which was one shilling per pound! And Hone was the first signatory to the Treaty!
Heke's rebellion was successful in getting the Government to repeal the tax on tobacco, and instead introduce property rates.
So for the Ministry of Health to state as an uncontested fact that the Treaty entrenches the right for Maori to be smoke free, is not just wrong, but historically illiterate.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
6 comments:
If only they'd kept the tax on tobacco. Much cheaper and less harmful to all.
If only they'd kept the tax on tobacco, we wouldn't have the same threats to property rights which are far more valuable than smoking.
Oh yes, "historical illiteracy" is the term of the day. It simply brings the treaty into disrepute. To be honest, born and bred in the deep south, I have always known about the Treaty of Waitangi, but simply paid it little mind. I don't care personally, but it does seem contrary to common sense to give what was a fundamentally straightforward verbal agreement between a small number of people, in unthreatening circumstances, the status almost of the supernatural. I don't think it is helpful to Maori, or to the social and political health of the country. Thank you for the anecdote about Hone Heke - so funny.
I ask this question " tongue in cheek" -
"If the TOW has 'written into a and/ or across various clauses etc', one that specifically relates to tobacco (and will we see the sudden addition/inclusion of Vaping as well) - does the TOW also have written as a specific Clause that Maoridom can use sporting events to protest Govt Policy, by way of performing a Politically motivated haka"?
Just asking??
I hope Minister Costello laughed the advice out of the room and invited Don. brash to do a teaching session on ToW with her staff.
My goodness this ToW stuff is stretching even absurd.
would it be okay if parliament passes a law that bans sale of cigarettes to maori only? i assume something similar applies to underage children to protect them as they are vulnerable. or would that be considered racist or ageist?
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