In response to Jones and his Member's bill on the never ending Ngāpuhi drama, Goldsmith says the process can't go on forever.
Which is the same as saying nothing, because clearly it is, and Goldsmith clearly has no plan.
The Jones bill is clever because my sense of it is there is so much infighting in the north of the country, they will, out of bloody mindedness, never strike a deal.
All the logic we heard yesterday about tribes that have cut deals and invested billions and seen the endless benefits will have missed their mark in Northland, given a lot of Ngāpuhi aren't interested in a deal. They thrive on dissent and division and permanent anger and grievance.
Jim Bolger, who I note in the past few weeks as he celebrated his 90th is still prone to the odd piece of public commentary, might like to have pondered his own role in this many, many years ago when they started to put up a few road markers around timeframes.
The idea was they would set a date to file your claim, remembering even in Bolger's day the Waitangi Tribunal had been going since the 70's, and once you filed, they would impose another deadline to get it all wrapped up.
Good idea, but it went nowhere because Bolger and Co. got sucked into the idea that this was unfair, it was rushed, and it was history. What wasn’t said out loud was this was a gravy train that could go literally forever, and people were going to make a living off it.
As Jones revealed yesterday, we've spent $20 million for Ngāpuhi alone, just for lunch and chats and airfares.
You have to remember 1975 was a goodwill gesture. The tribunal and the settlement of grievances was entered into not because anyone had to, but because it was the right thing to do. It was driven by goodwill.
I would have thought it was fairly obvious in the vast array of deals to be done and apologies to be made, like life, that some would embrace it and run with it and some would be unable to get out of their own way.
What was needed but was missing, and still is (Jones aside), was leadership. We needed boundaries set and an explanation of the rules and expectations.
And because that was missing, so is $20 million on lunch, and still no deal.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
All the logic we heard yesterday about tribes that have cut deals and invested billions and seen the endless benefits will have missed their mark in Northland, given a lot of Ngāpuhi aren't interested in a deal. They thrive on dissent and division and permanent anger and grievance.
Jim Bolger, who I note in the past few weeks as he celebrated his 90th is still prone to the odd piece of public commentary, might like to have pondered his own role in this many, many years ago when they started to put up a few road markers around timeframes.
The idea was they would set a date to file your claim, remembering even in Bolger's day the Waitangi Tribunal had been going since the 70's, and once you filed, they would impose another deadline to get it all wrapped up.
Good idea, but it went nowhere because Bolger and Co. got sucked into the idea that this was unfair, it was rushed, and it was history. What wasn’t said out loud was this was a gravy train that could go literally forever, and people were going to make a living off it.
As Jones revealed yesterday, we've spent $20 million for Ngāpuhi alone, just for lunch and chats and airfares.
You have to remember 1975 was a goodwill gesture. The tribunal and the settlement of grievances was entered into not because anyone had to, but because it was the right thing to do. It was driven by goodwill.
I would have thought it was fairly obvious in the vast array of deals to be done and apologies to be made, like life, that some would embrace it and run with it and some would be unable to get out of their own way.
What was needed but was missing, and still is (Jones aside), was leadership. We needed boundaries set and an explanation of the rules and expectations.
And because that was missing, so is $20 million on lunch, and still no deal.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
12 comments:
Maori have no concept of "settlement" anyway. They are a warrior race who fight each other when they aren't fighting pakeha. Settlement is not full and final, but only an opening of the floodgates by the weak. Just look at TPM policy.
It's a very old joke but still relevant here. Goldsmith can't run a bath let alone a portfolio as evidenced by his outstanding handling of Broadcasting. By the way, has Luxon apologised to Melissa Lee yet?
It has long been known that the treaty process, treaty of waitangi report research etc is mostly a string of meeting after meeting and long lunches after long lunches.
Yep, move on. And if they still claim not to ruled by parliament, then parliament can chose what is provided there. No restoration be equitable with rest of NZ. Finlayson can live among them then too.
Goldsmith is not a leader - his role is to do Luxon's dirty work re. Maori issues ( including delay when necessary e.g. the 2011 MACA law issue).
Yes, Goldsmith is clearly Luxon's prevaricator in chief, he is living proof of why the saying Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today" came about.
"Prevaricator-in-Chief".... ALL Maori activists, especially Ngapuhi, have got no intention of settling anything.... its UTU.... UTU... all the way to the grave - with money grabbing on the way. Time it all STOPPED...
Shane Jones appears to be doing more than Paul Goldsmith. Shane, as usual, is talking a good game. He’s a skilled orator and it’s good that the idea of time limits is being aired. But a Member’s Bill? Doesn’t that just go into the biscuit tin? It may take years or never be drawn. Perhaps it might become NZ First policy at the next election - i.e. policy that may or may not feature in a coalition agreement. This stuff is so frustratingly nebulous. It’s more hot air than action but has the effect of fooling a fair proportion of the people that things are under control - nothing to see or worry about here. Is it democracy in action or obfuscation? I really don’t know anymore.
“We need leadership on the Ngāpuhi settlement”.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith said on the 17/6/25:
The Government will not agree to Treaty settlements that dispute whether the Crown is now sovereign. The Crown’s position is clear; the Crown is sovereign. The Crown is simply the representation of the democratic will of the people of New Zealand.
Problem solved. Message to Crown. The will of the people of New Zealand is for you to repeal ALL treaty settlements forthwith. Sorted.
Anon 12:10 Agreed whole heartedly . Repeal the TOW , Maori Seats , Waitangi Tribunal, Seabed and Forshore Legislation , RMA the lot without Select Committee on an extended weekend sitting . Done and Dusted . Next 2026 election have a 60-70 seat Coalition majority in gratefiul thanks from thinking NZ.
Clearly Goldsmith is under strict instructions to dither till further notice.
Just listen to Goldsmiths speeches and it is plain to see he is an expert ditherer. Never says anything outright. Must be an ex lawyer
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