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Thursday, November 14, 2024

Breaking Views Update: Week of 10.11.24







Thursday November 14, 2024 

News:
Luxon ‘open’ to meet, restates Treaty bill will die at second reading
On day one of the hīkoi, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said during a post-cabinet press conference there was nothing he liked about the Treaty Principles Bill.

“My view has been from the very beginning, as I said before the election, is that we don’t support this bill because we think it is divisive and we’re proud of the Treaty of Waitangi,” he said.

“To simplify it down in a way through a piece of legislation like this, I think is a disservice to the Treaty.”

He said he understood the immense frustration in Māoridom over the Treaty Principles Bill.

“I understand the depth of feeling from Māori around the Treaty Principles Bill,” he said.

He said he thought some Māori “are fearful we‘ll change our mind“, reiterating ”we will not be changing our mind, we will not be supporting it at second reading”....
See full article HERE

New papakāinga rules now in place in Matamata-Piako
Iwi and hapu in the Matamata-Piako district can now build homes on their own land after their local council agreed on significant changes to its district plan.

The changes, known as Plan Change 54, came into effect last week and will “open doors to quality papakāinga development in the district, supporting the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of tangata whenua”.....
See full article HERE

Police have estimated 5000 people are embarking on the hīkoi across Auckland’s Waitematā harbour bridge.
“I think it’s important for our people to be united and for kotahitanga to be realised especially in this climate,” said Mikaira Matenga of Te Arawa.

Matenga said the government had been “nasty” but in fact it had actually brought Māori together.

The lead organiser of the hīkoi, Eru Kapa-Kingi, has said the hīkoi is for kotahitanga of tāngata whenua and tāngata tiriti......
See full article HERE

Senior lawyers call for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
Members of the King's Counsel, some of New Zealand's most senior legal minds, say the Treaty Principles Bill "seeks to rewrite the Treaty itself" and are calling on the prime minister and the coalition to "act responsibly now and abandon" it.

More than 40 KCs have written to the prime minister and attorney-general outlining their "grave concerns" about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill and its wider implications for the country's constitutional arrangements.....
See full article HERE

In rare move, Waitangi Tribunal orders release of Māori Health Authority documents
The Government has been given just 48 hours to release documents showing the reasoning and advice it received for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority.

Judge Damian Stone directed the Government to release eight documents, without redactions, which show the advice it received and the process it took to close Te Aka Whai Ora. Stone made the order as the presiding officer of the Waitangi Tribunal, hearing a claim about Māori health inequities.

Treaty lawyers said it was an extraordinary move for the Tribunal to order for specific documents to be released, without redactions.....
See full article HERE

David Seymour disappointed teachers encourage children to skip school and join hīkoi
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is disappointed some teachers have gone against his advice and issued their own guidelines, encouraging students to skip school and join the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti.

What has enraged Seymour even more is what a number of teachers have said in online correspondence - sent to his office this morning - which flies in the face of Teaching Council Guidelines about teachers remaining politically neutral.

In email correspondence seen by the Herald, one teacher wrote: “Though it may seem strange seeing a kaiako (teacher) encourage tamariki to not be at school, there is no point in having a Bilingual Māori Unit if we are not implementing our learnings.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Peter Williams: Luxon Misses the Mark

Chris Trotter: The sound of the majority making up its mind....

John Robinson: Recovering the social contract; Government and public together

Propaganda:
Government makes decisions about Māori without Māori, Pera Paniora says

The Treaty Principles Bill is already straining social cohesion – a referendum could be worse  

This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. New material is added regularly. If you would like to send Letters to the Editor in response to any of these articles, most media addresses can be found HERE.  

Wednesday November 13, 2024 

News:
Pharmac to disestablish its Māori advisory group
Pharmac has decided to disestablish it's Māori advisory group.

In a statement, the chairperson of the drug funding agency Paula Bennett said the board made the decision to disestablish the group in order to put more focus on other partnership arrangements already in place.

These include the four Māori health professional bodies, iwi Māori Partnership Boards, and the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee within the Ministry of Health, she said.

"Pharmac wants to ensure all New Zealanders have access to the medicines and medical devices they need. Engaging effectively with Māori continues to be a priority for Pharmac, and Pharmac's Board has been considering how best to do this," Bennett said.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
John Robinson: Takeover of New Zealand; the power of apartheid

Propaganda:
Student haka sends ‘warning’ to David Seymour  

Tuesday November 12, 2024 

News:
Treaty Principles Bill hīkoi organiser rejects David Seymour's offer to meet
Activists say they have no interest in meeting the Treaty Principles bill's backer, ACT party leader David Seymour, saying they are not at his "beck and call".

Hīkoi organiser Eru Kapa-Kingi told Morning Report that such a meeting would be pointless.

In response, Kapa-Kingi told Morning Report the hīkoi organisers were not at Seymour's beck and call.

"It's not a case of him inviting us to speak to him. We're not at the beck and call of David Seymour, or anyone else who doesn't have the necessary expertise to lead or facilitate a conversation around te Tiriti o Waitangi."

Discussing the treaty with someone who did not understand the Treaty would be pointless, he said.

"The truth of what [te Tiriti] says, its context, its kupu [words].

"And if he can't speak Māori either - that would be very difficult to facilitate such a conversation.

"So that's the danger of everything that's happening with the Treaty Principles bill, that's been pushed by the likes of David Seymour, and the many ignorant people behind him, who have a lot to say about te Tiriti o Waitangi, but don't know a lot about it."....
See full article HERE

PM says he gets the 'immense frustration' about Treaty Principles Bill
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says his Government’s Treaty Principles Bill is a “disservice” to the Treaty and he gets the “immense frustration” among Māori.

He insisted his Government would not back the Treaty Principles Bill beyond the first reading in Parliament this week, despite fears from some the National Party might change its mind and allow a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi.

“We don't support it because we think it is divisive, and you know, we're proud of the Treaty of Waitangi,” Luxon said.

“It’s a very simplistic interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, that has served us, I think, incredibly well, and to simplify it down in that way ‒ for a piece of legislation like this ‒ I think is a disservice to the Treaty.”....
See full article HERE


Monday November 11, 2024 

News:
Nationally significant sites to be upgraded
The Government will provide $20.3 million in funding to improve two sites that have a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say.

“This funding through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) will be used to make structural upgrades at Rātana Pā near Whanganui and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in Northland. These are both nationally significant places, not just for Māori, but for many other Kiwis,” Mr Jones says.

Rātana Pā will receive a grant of $10.1m towards infrastructure upgrades including improvements to two of its key buildings - Te Manuao and Orakeinui.

A total of $10.2m will go towards building repairs and upgrades at Waitangi Treaty Grounds. These will ensure the hosting of the annual Waitangi Day events at the grounds continues to be a successful and safe endeavour. More than 160,000 people visit the grounds, a significant site for all New Zealanders, each year......
See full article HERE

Hīkoi – Police Establish Major Operations Centre
Police have today established a Major Operations Centre (MOC) to provide oversight of the Police response to the upcoming hīkoi from Northland to Wellington.

Major Operations Director Superintendent Kelly Ryan says Police have been engaged with hīkoi organisers for many weeks.

“The MOC will remain in place while the hīkoi is in Wellington and as participants make their way back home safely.”....
See full article HERE

Treaty Principles Bill hīkoi: David Seymour open to meeting with organisers
Seymour said he would consider meeting with hīkoi organisers when it arrived in Wellington.

Seymour told RNZ he supported the right to protest, but he hoped any opposition to his bill would focus on specific objections to its contents.

"It's important to recognise these are people opposed to a range of government policies in relation to the Crown-Māori relationship, but apparently also a number of other policies, including even foreign policy," he said.

"That's fine, there's a legitimate right to protest. So [as] far as the Treaty Principles Bill is concerned, I hope the focus will be on what exactly people object to in having an interpretation of the Treaty that's faithful to the original Māori text, that the government has the right to govern, and we all have equal rights under that government."

Academics, lawyers, historians, judges, the Waitangi Tribunal and the Ministry of Justice have criticised the bill as not being reflective of the Treaty.

However, Seymour said he would consider meeting with hīkoi organisers when it arrived in Wellington.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also provided a written statement, saying every New Zealander "has the right to peaceful protest" and urging everyone participating in the hīkoi over the next few days to be safe.

"I am conscious of the depth of feeling among many Māori toward the Treaty Principles Bill and want to reassure New Zealanders that National will vote against the bill at second reading," Luxon said.....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Principled exercise or pointless division? (The Post editorial)

Tearing the Crown-Māori relationship apart - Caren Fox (Waitangi Tribunal)

A modern day muru - Metira Turei

28th Māori Battalion’s sacrifices made were meant to forge a path toward better treatment back home – Kingi Snelgar  

Sunday November 10, 2024 

News:
The 'hīkoi from hell' John Key once feared is now a reality
The Treaty Principles Bill, legislation Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has agreed to support through to its first reading, has been called the “worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty of Waitangi” in modern times. The backlash over it has been significant and widespread. And it’s only about to ramp up.

From Monday, what’s expected to be the largest hīkoi the country has seen in 20 years, could be passing through a town near you.

It will take off from Cape Reinga, at the top of the North Island, and end at Parliament in Wellington on November 19. The hīkoi was initially scheduled to arrive there just in time for the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill. But the Government had other plans, and unexpectedly put it before the House this week......
See full article HERE

Commission Calls For The Promise Of Te Tiriti O Waitangi To Be Honoured
In its submission on the Bill, the Commission supports the views of the Waitangi Tribunal and Government officials that it will create “uncertainty, unpredictability and confusion” and “give rise to systemic racism”.

“The Commission firmly opposes the Bill and regards it as unnecessary, unworkable and in breach of human rights and Tiriti obligations.”....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Ron Mark: Addressing the elephant in the room  

This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. New material is added regularly. If you would like to send Letters to the Editor in response to any of these articles, most media addresses can be found HERE

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can we just ask Prrdidemt Trump to come to nz and sort us out too? In a democravy everyone should l be treated equally..The protest is against equality.

anonymous said...

Exactly how is the ACT Bill a " breach of the Treaty". This remark should be evidenced.
(Reminder: Partnership appears nowhere in the 1840 Treaty text. Furthermore no one, no group, no entity can be " in partnership" with the Crown. This term is invented.

Barrie Davis said...

In the Scoop article, the Human Rights Commission claims that Te Tiriti did not cede Māori authority to govern. Dayle Takitimu of the HRC says, “The Tribunal is this country’s expert body on Te Tiriti.” The most often cited back-translation of the Treaty is that of Sir I.H. Kawharu, who was the head of the Waitangi Tribunal. Kawharu’s literal translation of Article 1 says the chiefs “give absolutely to the Queen of England for ever the complete government [kawanatanga] over their land.”

Anonymous said...

Nothing in the news so far about the mother of all hui's? Maybe no one has turned up?

Anonymous said...

Re: "The 'hīkoi from hell" John Key once feared" - that about says it all, we had a PM who quaked in his boots over the prospect of a minority backlash. Were that he had a spine back then instead of his abject appeasement, this Country might be in a better place.

Anonymous said...

The State Government will provide a further $20.3 million in apartheid funding, courtesy of Mr Jones and Mr Potaka. Both Mr Jones and Mr Potaka are part Maori politicians.

Robert Arthur said...

Whilst as maori settlements go, Ratana and its people may be notably successful and well adjusted to fit conventional modern society, it closely approaches a private village. Any non maori certainly feels distinctly intrusive. So why then does it qualify for repeat massive injection of public funds? Is it still universally governed by Christian standards? Is it still opposed to tohungaism? Or is it now yet another insurrection centre? Scattered around the country there are several crumbling church and other community group camps dating from the 1960s70s. These received/receive no assistance. And at Waitangi the more spent on the grounds the less representative these become of 1840. If constant huge subsidy is necessary, what becomes of the net unstolen content of the fund from the considerable access charges?.
All looks like the ransom Jones and Potaka pay to retain favour with maori.

Anonymous said...

“PM says he gets the 'immense frustration' about Treaty Principles Bill”
“We don't support it because we think it is divisive, and you know, we're proud of the Treaty of Waitangi,” Luxon said.
“It’s a very simplistic interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, that has served us, I think, incredibly well.
Well, when you can point out the “principles” written in the original Maori language treaty, and/or the official1869 back translation of the original Maori language treaty, then I will take you seriously.

Robert Arthur said...

On further reflection, $20.3 million seems a prodigious sum to be blowing on objects so far removed from the general public. There should be msm outrage. I have always doubted the true alignment of Potaka. And, despite supporting, often wonder about Jones. He was accused of frittering regional money in the last govt and seems not to have reformed. Sure the money will go largely to workers in the particular regions, directed primarily to maori. After that token regional involvement, a straight subsidy of maori property or effectively maori business organisation. The Ratana expenditure will be almost entirely of internal benefit. If, as it will, it facilitates and thereby encourages insurgency gatherings the expenditure will be a state liability. And at Waitangi having paid the fee to the mostly maori operated management sinecure, all visitors are captive to a maori interpretation of the signing events and maori history. Is a giant govt subsidy in support of a maori propaganda exercise appropriate? If the original gifter of the property knew it was going to be littered with maori devoted structures, many hideously and inappropriately modern, and used as a money spinner for a basically maori organisation would they have proceeded? I am astonished that so many allegedly visit. How many pay the extortionate fee? How many maori get in free? As a descendant of very early settlers I find it obnoxious that I cannot get near the historic Treaty House gifted to the nation, without paying an extortionate fee to a primarily maori organisation.
I find many actions by this govt unfathomable and enormous political folly.

Anonymous said...

Nov 12: The last thing Kapa-Kingi wants is to discuss the treaty principles bill. His goal is to create as much loud noise, confusion and division around it as possible. He has no direct or rational debate to offer on its contents. His claims that only Maori can interpret the treaty and that it must be in the Maori language are dishonest. Asserting Maori “ownership” of the treaty is simply a mechanism to allow Maori to continue to endlessly reinterpret the treaty and steal even more from their fellow New Zealanders. This hikoi is nothing but a rort backed by Tamihere’s Maori Party. Speaking of Tamihere, what’s happened to the enquiry into election/funding abnormalities at that marae in Auckland I wonder??? Is National hushing that up too? Luxon would do well to understand that there is equally huge frustration amongst voters at his “do nothing”stance on this issue. Parliament should never have mentioned treaty principles in law without defining them. It was bad law Geoffrey Palmer. This is an issue that’s well overdue for addressing. It’s a debate worth having. The mere fact that the Maori Party and the Waitangi Tribunal are so vehemently opposed to allowing public debate speaks volumes.

Anonymous said...

Imagine if all three coalition partners agreed to the treaty bill and said that they will put it to the nz people to decide on the future direction of their country with a referendum. I do not understand why Luxon is turning against his own voters and appears to be supporting the maori party, whose members won't be giving their vote to luxon. It is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen in politics.

mudbayripper said...

Since well before the last election Christopher Luxon made it clear to all, he was in favor of the idea of Māori Sovreignty.
Why did so many foolishly vote for National.
They have now proved themselves to be enemies of the state.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12 Nov 12:17: That’s a very thought provoking comment. It prompted me to ask myself “What’s in this for National? Why is Luxon turning against his own voters? Surely there can’t be some kind of behind the scenes deal involved here?” It’s just that I’m starting to feel a wee bit the same as when the media first subscribed to Ardern’s PIJF and we didn’t know about it. I couldn’t understand then why mainstream media was being so docile. Similar thing after the existence of the He Puapua report was revealed and in a short space of time it seemed like then Leader of the Opposition, Judith Collins, objections were summarily shut down and removed from public debate. I wondered why that happened. We never found out. I sincerely hope my thoughts are wildly misplaced and that National’s reasoning on the Treaty Principles Bill will soon become apparent to us all.

Anonymous said...


“Paula Bennett said the board made the decision to disestablish the group in order to put more focus on other ‘partnership arrangements’ already in place”.
The corporate apartheid agenda won’t be stopped.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the aussies would allow a group of 1000 activists to shut down the sydney harbour bridge and have so much fawning from their msm? And where are the 50 thousand protesters that te pati promised?

Robert Arthur said...

The pandering and extensive coverage of the hikoi by RNZ is a disgrace. No one explains the specific objections. Instead of being ignored as the nutter he is, the stock slogans from Waititi are repeated without question or counter. No comparable deranged right wing extremists would ever be given such sympathetic and free publicty. Despite being in opposition Jackson's dream for RNZ is being fulfilled. At least the insurrection centres (marae) are getting some use to help justify the $50 million plus donated by the govt in recent years.(with a top up of many millions for Ratana)

RobvertArthur said...

Maybe like so many othere NZers Luxon is afraid of being cancelled. And with so many maori nutters, loose, as demonstrated every year at Waitangi, and by Te Pati in parliament, he presumably wishes to avoid bodyguards for his family everywhere.

Allen Heath said...

Prime Minister Luxon has a very interesting medical condition with regard to the treaty principles issue; he is both spineless and a eunuch but, unfortunately I don't think is in a position to 'grow a pair' and a replacement spine would require him to tell maoris, 'they never had it so good' and to stop their whingeing.

Robert Arthur said...

Nov 13. RNZ continues its relentless coverage of the hikoi. On Nathan Rahere (of the diabolical kiwi accent) programme, they even interviewed a Chinese participant representing immigrants. The person somehow perceived opposition to the TPA as in their interests?! Of course were not asked to explain.

The teacher's observation "that there is no point in bi lingual unit if we are not implementing our learnings" illustrates what Prof Rata has long maintained; that te reo is not, as originally touted, primarily to advance maori in education, but a political Trojan horse exercise.

Although a need for definition (or even total rejection) of the Treaty certainly exists, and although I lack their gravy train motivation, I am inclined to agree with the judges that the Treaty Principles Bill with its associated referendum is wholly inappropriate as a way of addressing such an important and complex constitutional area. Any referendum would need a huge majority to carry weight. It is reasonably established, including from statements a few and many years after, what maori understood at the time, applicable at the time, to the circumstances of the time. The literal transfer to today is absurd. The situation is so changed, with tribes intermarried and spread far and with established law, the scope for significant chiefly control (rangatiratanga) of their own is negligible. And with maori/trace maori so integrated the notion of separate identity for ownership of natural resources is a stretch (the only redeeming feature is that it slows commercial development and impact on the natural, at least until the maori corporations become involved)