Seymour's Treaty Principle's bill would have eliminated all this. His flawless and indefatigable fight for his Bill fell on the public's confused ears due to an activist media fighting for the other side, corrupt select committee feedback practices and appalling indifference and opposition from NZ First and National.
Potaka and Luxon's disgraceful double act on 'incinerating' the Treaty bill belied Luxon's pre election promises of: need not race; eliminating co-governance in public services; their English name signage for ease of public use; and preferring New Zealand over Aotearoa as we are a trading nation and 'New Zealand' defines us to the world.
By keeping the Treaty issue murky it is indefinable, (a core principle in law - what can't be defined can't be litigated), appears to be working well for the activists in National, but not their polling.
National's supporters have been betrayed.
Luxon finds appeasement (preferably behind closed doors at the Iwi Chairs Forum) easier than acting on the public's best interest on matters pertaining to emotive Maori demands, and examining them forensically using logic, common sense and reason.
Therefore this government's response to their election promise to eliminate co- governance and Maori Treaty clauses in public services has been cosmetic at best.
What happened to their catch cry 'Need not race'. We now have race-based funding, the most concerning - Maori corporate welfare - happening with such speed and not reported so the public are unaware.
Over the past term National activist seems to have gagged Seymour's public opposition, now weakened to barely a whimper. It is also the reason his polling has stagnated. Unlike Peters, this smart, eloquent guy seems to lack the spine to speak out on these issues. (But will Mr Peters speak out decrying te mana o te wai?)
NZ First's bill to make English an official language is a good move. (English is also NZ's first language, by the way). However his promise to eliminate Maori Treaty clauses in public services, which would have atoned somewhat for his opposing the Treaty Bill, has mysteriously petered out. I am not interested in any campaign promise for next term. There is still time this year.
I want it now.
I am a little concerned with the regional growth fund becoming somewhat of a corporate welfare scheme, with another recent $5 million to a failing Maori kiwi fruit orchard, broke during a boom timeafter wasting their first $3 million. Where is the oversight, monitoring... auditing of public money?
Or the word....NO!
You have to do an OIA request to reveal this, as the activist media selects the narrative and has been too busy throughout this term forensically covering US domestic politics. Shame about ours.
We want Nanaia Mahuta's Maori water ownership policy, te mana o te wai gone before the election, not another election promise destined to fail again after 2026.
Sir John Key's comment 'Everyone and no one owns the water' seems to have fallen on Luxon's deaf ears.
Water is the essence of life and all over the world governments have jurisdiction over the delivery of drinking water and management of fresh water without the injection of minority groups questionable spiritual beliefs for a fee.
Enter stage right, Luxon the Appeaser.
Simon Watts has used crafty semantics like 'Councils are not required to implement Te mana o te wai.' Which leaves it open to interpretation like, not required to, but they can?
Very cunning Mr Luxon. We know you sign off all these contentious decisions, but are never there to publicly discuss them.
This leaves the door open for the activists running local councils to invite iwi to advise about the 'mana' of the water at a hefty fee to add to ratepayers' woes. Another unnecessary cost in these hard economic times.
The Coalition's gross hypocrisy writ large as it speaks out of both sides of its mouth expecting Council's to stick to essential services to economise, whilst enabling them to include Maori spiritual beliefs around water as fact with an infinite income stream for their wise counsel.
Not such a huge leap when you consider this government, (or is it just National) readily accepts a river or a mountain can have human qualities.
No doubt Luxon thought it was an inspired idea to move this decision side ways to councils where he knows activists will pick it up and implement it as he washes his hands of it!
So how about it, Mr Seymour: we need to hear your voice decrying te mana o te wai, and demanding it be removed in 2026 to prevent Councils implementing this mumbo jumbo at the powerless ratepayers' expense.
'Get some guts', to quote Sir John Key.
Act's polling would improve.
Wendy Geus is a former speechwriter and generalist communications advisor in local government. She now writes for the pure love of it.
11 comments:
This government's actions toward their election promises is Bargain Chemist cosmetics at best.
All blue eyeshadow and very red lipstick, but the ugly truth is still there.......
It's called the "Maori Cloak Syndrome" Wendy. Stick a Maori Cloak around the shoulders of these ordinary citizens who have become elevated to positions of power, and they become putty in the hands of the few. Totally forgetting those who actually voted for them in the expectation of change.
So, the majority no longer count until the next election when the votes are required again.
The cloak is not exactly an Aztec gold collar but it might as well be.
As usual, having said out loud what most conservative voters are thinking, I admit ACT and NZF seem to be the only viable option we have. Maybe, small steps in the right direction is all we can hope for.
Exact analysis - ACT has no other choice.
Appease... the horror.
Yes.
Get iwi out of kiwi.
Maori have worked out how to corporate beg , no different to when they jumped in rivers for coins , they’ve just moved from kids to adults , they need to learn a skill
Like anyone else wishing to improve their life , cut the corporate welfare immediately , it’s just like feeding the wildlife .
Hear hear!
Great piece Wendy. 100% agree on every point! Gutless pathetic Luxon.
The lack of integrity and downright deceit displayed by this govt may well condemn them to a fate similar to that suffered by the Australian Liberal Party. It has been eclipsed by One Nation. The National Party has very little time to deliver on its election promises. Will it do so? Doubtful. This might be its last year as a serious contender for the Treasury benches.
Yes, we'll said, Wendy.
And, Janine, I'd be very mindful of NZF. Another lot that say what you want to hear while dishing out the moolah to the bros, and their past actions speak volumes.
Its extraordinary that Winston didnt mention his commitment to remove the treaty from all legislation. Winston?????
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