Criticising media coverage of Te Pāti Māori’s recent hikoi, she said: “TV interviews with protesters featured generic statements like ‘we’re standing up for Māori.’ However, there were no probing questions about what this truly means.”
Mackenzie argued that Māori are not a homogeneous group and don’t need others speaking for them.
“Unfortunately, separatists insist their narrative is the only one. If any Māori dare to voice a different perspective, they’re accused of not being Māori enough—as we’ve seen in Parliament. This harassment reeks of authoritarianism.”
She warned that race-based policies were eroding democracy:
“Sadly for all of us, the plan for some sort of tribal-based dictatorship seems to be coming together—control the water, the coast, natural resources, resource consents, and concession renewals, and you control the people. Whether it’s contemporary treaty claims, different forms of democracy, co-governance partnerships, undefined principles, tikanga-based consultations, or simply race-based priority, the result is much the same—the destruction of our democracy.”
Her testimony was met with an astonishing response from Green MP Steve Abel, who dismissed her argument by fixating on her skin colour.
“…as a white person…” he declared, “Our entire presence and privilege here is off the back of the theft and taking of resources from tangata whenua.”
Mackenzie rejected his racial framing:
“I do not identify as a white person. I identify as a New Zealander.”
Abel doubled down:
“But you are a white person.”
“How do you know that?” Mackenzie asked.
“Mate, I can see your colour,” the MP stated.
The committee chair shut down the exchange, but not before Abel’s crude racial essentialism exposed the very division and authoritarianism Mackenzie had warned against.
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The Centrist is a new online news platform that strives to provide a balance to the public debate - where this article was sourced.
“Unfortunately, separatists insist their narrative is the only one. If any Māori dare to voice a different perspective, they’re accused of not being Māori enough—as we’ve seen in Parliament. This harassment reeks of authoritarianism.”
She warned that race-based policies were eroding democracy:
“Sadly for all of us, the plan for some sort of tribal-based dictatorship seems to be coming together—control the water, the coast, natural resources, resource consents, and concession renewals, and you control the people. Whether it’s contemporary treaty claims, different forms of democracy, co-governance partnerships, undefined principles, tikanga-based consultations, or simply race-based priority, the result is much the same—the destruction of our democracy.”
Her testimony was met with an astonishing response from Green MP Steve Abel, who dismissed her argument by fixating on her skin colour.
“…as a white person…” he declared, “Our entire presence and privilege here is off the back of the theft and taking of resources from tangata whenua.”
Mackenzie rejected his racial framing:
“I do not identify as a white person. I identify as a New Zealander.”
Abel doubled down:
“But you are a white person.”
“How do you know that?” Mackenzie asked.
“Mate, I can see your colour,” the MP stated.
The committee chair shut down the exchange, but not before Abel’s crude racial essentialism exposed the very division and authoritarianism Mackenzie had warned against.
Click to view
The Centrist is a new online news platform that strives to provide a balance to the public debate - where this article was sourced.
12 comments:
I wonder how Abel would classify Joanna (Mihi) Forbes upon seeing her for the first time? Or Ms Packer without the moko for that matter? I watched him ... disgraceful.
Calling someone you do not know in a professional sense 'mate' is as childish and frankly imbecilic as anyone can get.
It is also at the basic level incredibly disrespectful in this situation which why I think Mr. Abel used it in this case.
He lives up to peoples expectations of Green party MPs. Then again the ceiling of expectation is so low if it was a puddle and you fell in, you'd not get wet.
Genes are funny things. You can have people that look white who produce children that look black. You can have people that look Asian who are at least as much Caucasian. You can have people saying they are maori when they have 1/16th that makes no physical appearance at all. Then you have people with very similar genetic heritage who differentiate by language or culture or religion or otherwise. Think Slavs for example.
At the end of the day I personally find it fascinating as part of each individual but not as the basis for abuse or hostility or in principle differentiation..
I prefer to treat each person I meet with respect on their own terms.
On this basis people who live in NZ are best described as New Zealanders albeit with a wonderful mix. At the end of the day our genetic mix is chosen for us and so to, to a large degree, are other differences.
As it said in the above text, Abel was being the very epitome of racist, pure and simple. Mackenzie had him squarely on the ropes, utterly hung by his own petard ... and dare one say it in this apartheid ridden Country of ours, he was being a racist, green prat (or as Del Boy might have said - what a plonker!)
Can I ask, has anyone, here in New Zealand ' worked out " what the Green Party is about.
If you want to research, go look for the Green party in West Germany - 1960's/ even up to today - their intent, just like ours (and also Australia), is not to Govern, or present Legislation, but to demonize anything & everyone - as not being 'pure socialists', and that 'we fail to hear and adhere to their messaging ', Climate Change being the lead topic.
Not to sure - you only have to watch NZ Green party in the house.
It is glaringly obvious that the Labour, Green and Te Pati Maori parties have devised a strategy i) to confirm the submissions of the numerous Maori presenters ii) but to challenge anyone whose submission does not fit their agenda. Leading questions and ad personam attacks are common. Worst of all, the Select Committee is a vehicle for harping on about Maori grievances and injustices. Often the actual Bill is only mentioned in passing . The process is a farce.
Anon 5:38,
We have an expectation that our MPs will be of the highest caliber and not behave in such a denigrating manner.
Steve Abel is, and should be working on behalf of the whole of NZ in the countries best interest, not pushing for an apartheid state run by and for a minority.
People like him are the enemy within creating the biggest danger to democracy in NZ since WW2.
Yes, Fiona was brilliant and the Green MP a racist boorish embarrassment.
But he did highlight her point - that you cannot tell someone’s ethnic origins just by looking at them, but we are all New Zealanders united by shared citizenship and society.
Equal rights for all!
The homophonic / oxymoronic Mr Abel representing the Green Party that's been a feature of our politics for 35 years and thankfully never managed a seat at a Cabinet table. Clearly, the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr are lost on the likes of Mr Abel and his leader given their inane utterances about white people and white cis men in particular. It's hard to know who to be most disappointed with - them, or the around 10% of the population that vote for these clowns.
I was disgusted watching Fiona McKenzie’s submission by the expressions on the faces of some of the committee. They appeared to be bored, disinterested and my guess is they had no intention of trying to understand her well presented viewpoint.
Unfortunately Anon @ 6.13am , many of the submitters who supported the Bill got the same "bored, disinterested" look from the Committee. It was clearly evident with Julian Batchelor and Peter Williams.
This Select Committee is a farce along with the speakers selections. The submissions should have been read and classified into for and against. The speakers should have been roughly selected on that basis. I wonder if they will ever tell us what the ratio of for and against was? They will be too embarresed probably and will only find out if we apply under the OI Act
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