Yelps tell us Willie Jackson was stung by Beehive news about Richard Prebble sitting on the Waitangi Tribunal
An announcement from the Beehive yesterday had the distinct whiff of “jobs for the boys” about it – the appointment of Richard Prebble as a member of the Waitangi Tribunal.
Nevertheless it’s fair to suppose there will be significant support for the prospect – or hope – of Prebble tempering the tribunal’s zeal for censuring the Crown.
The tribunal was established by the Labour government in October 1975 to hear Māori claims of breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. Its jurisdiction has been widened since then, resulting in a huge increase in the number of claims it considers.
Prebble is a former Labour Government Cabinet minister, but he also was a key figure in the establishment of the ACT Party, and ACT is zealously promoting the highly contentious Treaty Principles Bill. This would eliminate some “principles” of the sort that provide the rationale for grievances to be taken to the Waitangi Tribunal.
Media headlines give us an idea of the sting that came with this Beehive news.
Initial reports typically included:
Prebble is a former Labour Government Cabinet minister, but he also was a key figure in the establishment of the ACT Party, and ACT is zealously promoting the highly contentious Treaty Principles Bill. This would eliminate some “principles” of the sort that provide the rationale for grievances to be taken to the Waitangi Tribunal.
Media headlines give us an idea of the sting that came with this Beehive news.
Initial reports typically included:
And then we learned who had been stung:
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said Prebble has provided pro bono advice to various Māori trusts, hapū and iwi on a variety of issues, since leaving Parliament.
But Jackson described the appointment as “unbelievable” and “a kick in the guts” for Māori.
“I think we were all in shock [on Thursday] … but what next – are we going to make Don Brash the new chair of the tribunal?,” Jackson said.
Now, there’s a thought.
So what’s Jackson’s grouch?
While Prebble had skills and experience as a lawyer working in the Māori sector, the most important factor was his alignment with the ACT Party and its policies, in particular the Treaty Principles Bill, he said.
Board members Derek Fox and Hana O’Regan who had a lot of experience in te ao Māori had been stood down with Prebble named as one replacement.
Jackson believed former prominent National politicians like Jenny Shipley, Chris Finlayson or Doug Graham would have been better choices from the right of the political spectrum.
“It’s incredibly disappointing – it’s not personal with ‘Prebs’, we all know him. I’ve worked with him on the Māori Affairs select committee but he represents a party and David Seymour.”
Jackson was adamant Prebble supported ACT’s principles.
“I think that it’s a real shock for Māori but it’s virtue signalling from this government to ACT supporters. There’s question marks now again over the prime minister.”
He said he was disappointed Potaka had allowed Seymour and other coalition members “to come over the top of him”.
ACT leader David Seymour, on the other hand, said Prebble was exactly the sort of person who should be on the tribunal.
“Richard is also an experienced lawyer, MP and company director, with an extensive knowledge of te ao Māori.
“ACT looks forward to his contributions in ensuring that the Treaty of Waitangi is interpreted and applied in a manner that reflects what it actually says, including the promise of the same rights and duties for all New Zealanders,” Seymour said.
Prebble will be joined on the tribunal by Ken Williamson.
Tribunal member Kevin Prime was reappointed for a second term.
This was one of several appointments announced by ministers in the past 24 hours.
- Attorney-General Judith Collins announced two Court of Appeal and two High Court appointments.
- Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced
- Denis Clifford has been appointed Chief Commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
- Justice Simon Moore KC has been appointed chair of the Electoral Commission, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced the reappointment of the current Chair and the appointment of a temporary member to the Local Government Commission.
The appointments were posted on the Government’s official website along with a raft of other ministerial announcements –
Latest from the Beehive
25 October 2024
The Government is investing in eight new emergency helicopters to replace some of New Zealand’s ageing air ambulance fleet, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello and ACC Minister Matt Doocey anno
An uplift to New Zealand’s organic product trade is expected through a new upgraded arrangement with China, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced two Court of Appeal and two High Court appointments.
The four appointments will take effect on 21 November 2024 and are:
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka joined tangata whenua from Ngāi Tahu and local community members today to celebrate the opening of New Zealand’s eleventh Great Walk – the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track.
The Honourable Denis Clifford has been appointed Chief Commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
The Government is progressing changes to better protect Kiwis and their property from fires, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.
New Zealand and Germany have announced the official start of a partnership aimed at supporting the agriculture sector and tackle global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
24 October 2024
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka today confirmed the appointment of two new members to the Waitangi Tribunal, as well as the reappointment of Kevin Prime.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has today announced the reappointment of the current Chair and the appointment of a temporary member to the Local Government Commission.
Today the House agreed to Justice Simon Moore KC being appointed chair of the Electoral Commission, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
In the statement that discombobulated Willie Jackson, Tama Potaka gave these thumbnail sketches of the Waitangi Tribunal appointments and reappointment:
Hon Richard Prebble (CBE). Mr Prebble is a former Cabinet Minister where he held a broad range of portfolios. Since leaving parliament, he has provided pro bono advice to various Māori trusts, hapū, and iwi on a variety of issues.
Ken Williamson (KStJ). Mr Williamson is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand. He has extensive experience as a practitioner and governor in risk prevention, risk management and disaster management.
Kevin Prime (CNZM). (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whatua, Tainui) has been reappointed to the Waitangi Tribunal for a second term. Mr Prime is an accomplished and experienced member of the tribunal. He is a current member of several inquiries including the Constitutional Kaupapa Inquiry (Wai 3300).
“Congratulations to Richard and Ken on their appointments, and to Kevin for his reappointment,” Mr Potaka says.
“These appointments will ensure the tribunal continues to provide a forum to hear and report Māori Treaty claims in a timely manner. They will ultimately support the progress of the Treaty-based Crown-Māori relationship.
“Waitangi Tribunal members bring with them a range of knowledge and skills and are appointed for their broad expertise in the matters that are likely to come before the Tribunal.
“Ensuring we have a range of talented appointees on tribunals and boards is absolutely key to the delivery of better public services.”
Point of Order will be keeping an eye on the New Zealand Herald, to see if Prebble continues to write regular columns..
A recent contribution was headed Health policy shake-up that would help Labour win the next election.
May we suggest Jackson go and chat with the new Waitangi Tribunal member, rather than rail against the appointment. He might learn something that lifts Labour’s election prospects.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
3 comments:
Hallelujah! Better than Christmas. Planning emmigrants cancel. NZ will likely remain liveable after all. Richard Prebble is to join the Waitangi Tribunal! A voice of blunt straight reason at last. He is of an age and standing where need not concern about cancellation. Although I do recommend he increase his house insurance. I hope he can stand the endless tracts of show off te reo. It does provide a lot of paid attendance time to think and devise withering criticism and counter arguments. Hopefully many of the nest featherers working the Tribunal will see that there scope will now be limited and quit. It would be pointless to appoint the likes of Graham or Finlayson. They would spend too much effort justifying their past misjudgements. And if Shipley was so green as to trust a Chinese businessman, maori would find her a softer push over than the Labour Party. Willie Jackson has many flaws but he is refreshngly transparent. (And successful. RNZ is relentlessly applying his pro maori programme despite his absence)
“The appointment of Richard Prebble as a member of the Waitangi Tribunal”.
So, the corporate state government thinks putting an ex corporate state government MP onto the apartheid Waitangi Tribunal board, instead on closing it down, proves they are “shaking things up”.
A man who was an MP in the fourth Labour government who turbo-charged the apartheid tribunal with the 1985 TOW Amendment Act, introduced made up treaty “Principles and Partnership” fallacies, and introduced other apartheid Acts and statutes.
Yeah, I’m sure the Maori mafia are shaking in their boots at this appointment.
Hallelujah! Planning emmigrants cancel. NZ will likely remain liveable after all. Richard Prebble is to join the Waitangi Tribunal. A voice of straight blunt reason at last. He is of an age and standing where need not concern about cancellation. Although I hope Richard has increased his house insurance. I trust he can stand the endless tracts of show off te reo. It does provide a lot of paid attendance time to think and devise withering criticism and counter arguments. Hopefully many of the nest featherers working the Tribunal will see that there scope will now be limited and quit. Appointing the likes of Finlayson or Graham would be pointless. They would spend their time justifying past misjudgements. And as Shipley was conned by a Chinese businessman, she would be a pushover for masterful maori.
Jackson has his faults but is delightfully transparent. He is surprisingly successful. RNZ is forging on relentlessly with his pro maori programme. When they have shaken off the last of the intelligent listeners it will become 100% maori propaganda channel as he blatantly intended.
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