In many ways and on numerous occasions, well-made economic development plans have stalled simply because of, what can only be described as factional tribal, squabbles over who has the mandate to represent the people during discussions with business partners willing to stump up the cash.
Because of my own frustration, I have chosen to expose this real problem that is often overlooked when the radical leaders are looking for someone to blame for a lack of progress.
Most readers will be unaware that the asset base for the Maori Economy is approaching $100 billion in real value. That is a lot of bankable funds that could be used to make the Maori people one of the most affluent indigenous tribes in the South Pacific.
And don’t take my word for it. Here are the facts.
Evidence suggests those Iwi groups that have successfully used their own financial resources to back their own management decisions are showing what can be done - Ngai Tahu being the best example although that Iwi has the advantage of controlling virtually all the natural resources in the whole of the South Island while its tribal shareholders are numerically much less than the bigger North Island tribes.
In the end, it all comes down to what does leadership mean for those elected to positions of power. Unfortunately, for too many of the elite, progress can only happen if it is on their terms and that usually means total control.
Sadly in this day and age, the cost of development is so high that partnerships and even a minority shareholding may be the only way these large projects get off the ground.
Meanwhile, right throughout the North Island, factional infighting has cost individual Iwi opportunities to progress and prosper had it not been for those who think they have a moral duty to oppose the Government or other potential partners at every turn.
I have watched frustrated as projects that have been well researched and have the Government financial backing either being stalled within striking distance of completion or put on hold because some politically influential minority group wants, for their own selfish reasons, to stop it happening.
As a result, opportunities for viable investment of their Treaty settlement monies goes begging.
And it is always the Pakeha’s fault. Well if that is the way they want it, reality is about to treat them a very hard lesson.
The last minute dash to lodge a series of complaints against the Government with the Waitangi Tribunal is bound to achieve little because it is based on a false interpretation of what the “principals” of the Treaty have to say about Maori ownership and governance of the Nation’s natural resources.
Given that there is no mention of “principals” in the Treaty document, claims that their interpretation of a non existent clause should determine the outcome of current governance issues is just wasting time.
And what is more, the local Maori people back in the provinces watch frustrated as their representatives destroy opportunities for a multi cultural approach that is the only way these major issues can be settled.
It beggars belief that otherwise talented people with huge responsibilities could be so dumb.
But change will only happen when the grassroots decide enough is enough.
Time’s up. We must and can do better.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
11 comments:
At last someone saying it as it is. Unfortunately the likes of Luxon, who has led a corporate lifestyle, seems to have a naive perception of Māori, obviously never being on the receiving end of any vitriol or affected by business decisions held up at great expense. Māori able to go cap in hand to the Waitangi Tribunal/Government for free money to get legal aid.
Yet the false interpretation of the treaty is being developed and enforced by our judiciary. So it may be false, but it is now the law. Moaning about how it is wrong will make not a jot of difference.
Until we have some vertebrae in parliament, representatives that are willing to do their job - making the law, we will continue to be ruled by an extremely biased, unelected judiciary.
Until all part Māori relinquish or are forced to abandon tribalism and adopt individualism in its place, as have all others.
New Zealand will remain stalled and progress will be impossible.
Two systems cannot operate side by side.
Democracy insurers majority rule.
Part Māori are not the majority.
Why has it become so difficult to understand reality.
Pandering to deluded minorities
At the expense of all others has to be confronted sooner or later
It certainly feels to me, that now is that time.
One hope's our current government is aware just how critical this moment in New Zealand history really is.
From this 'lonely voice', I agree with you.
It is interesting your comparison of Ngai Tahu verse North Island -
1/ - you only have to look at "the person" who began the quest for Tribal Management, their build up of both industry & wealth - as long as you ignore the stories of Elite doing well, the lower realms of the tribe not so well;
verse -
2/ - Northland, to whit we have been fed stories of infighting, ineptitude, finger pointing - but unlike Ngai Tahu, have not developed as you have indicated.
With regards to Tainui - would you put them in the same 'class as Ngai Tahu?
Your question about Tainui.
They appear to have settled down after a pretty dodgy start with their early investments of Settlement funds.
But unfortunately for the whole country, Tainui appear to think they are a cut above the rest of the tribes because of their support for the King movement.
But in my humble opinion, the “elephant in the room” is more to do with leading tribes (including Tainui) who appear to be behind the opposition to a Crown settlement of the Nga Puhi claim.
It doesn’t take a modern day historian to work out the logic behind the stalling of this final big tribal claim.
Given that the “top up” clause in all the claims that have been settled ensuring “relativity” payments are made will cease once Nga Puhi sign,
my guess is that it will only happen when the Main Tribes, particularly Tainui, decide it is time to call it quits.
I might be wrong, but my reading of the background to this farcical annual display of mudslinging at the Treaty maraes, suggests it will continue until the Big Boys say enough is enough.
Hope that answers your question about Tainui but it is only my opinion.
Treaty settlements equal flash cars, expensive suits, jobs for the boys (and girls), and a bigger paepae up the local marae so some wind-filled gourd can publicly stroke it over his flash whakapapa and the big Treaty payout the plebs in the cheap seats and the solo mums down the back of the bus will never see a cent of.
Treaty settlements equal flash cars, expensive suits, jobs for the boys (and girls), and a bigger paepae up the local marae so some wind-filled gourd can publicly stroke it over his flash whakapapa and the big Treaty payout the plebs in the cheap seats and the solo mums down the back of the bus will never see a cent of.
As for Tainui and their ‘Māori King’ BS delusions of hegemony over all other tribes: the Māori King movement was made up of the Tainui Confederation that did not sign Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a handful of rebel tribes who had signed it, but repudiated this undertaking by mobbing up with the Kingites.
The vast majority of chiefs remained loyal to the Crown and stayed out of the Sovereignty Wars of the 1860s undertaken to bring the Kingites and their rebel associates to heel.
They didn’t want a bar of the self-anointed Tainui upstart then, and do not to this very day.
‘Māori king’?
‘King of Huntly,’ more like.
I hope when Tutae-eatia gets up from his ‘throne’ he remembers to flush, brush, and open the window.
As Clive Bibby reminded us (as did the ASB recently), Maori as an economical group are closing in on a total of $100 billion of worth, value (whatever you like to call it).
We all know this, they know it, and so does the Govt. The hand out demanding (rudely) more and more from others can no longer be tolerated. That era must come to an end.
just for the record Maori are no more indigenous than any other NZ'er who was born in NZ. As for being first peoples that is false as well there were many different races here when Maori arrived. Apart from that I agree with all you said.
Big settlements and good investments ! - but have they helped the average Maori. I hear compalints that "we have never seen a cent!' etc etc. The bigwigs at the top seem to be OK. Have you seen photos of John Tamihere's new house?
The universities are spewing out "Maori tradition' - how important it is. I know of one lass who is working for her PhD who has said that she would have loved the unsructured Maori eduactional approach. Did have even have schools? (kura)? How would she get a job overseas with the equivalent of a Maori based education? All pie in the sky!!
I am part Maori and I am grateful that my side of the family ensured I had a stable home life (very important) , lots pf love, (also important, two parents (also important) and a good education (also important) If all Maori have these, then the way is open for them to achieve themselves -and not rely on government handouts, keep them away from prisons and gangs, and they would be able to take advantage of the things on offer in our country which are available to ALL, regardless of ethnicity.
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