Barrie Davis: Trick or Tribunal

Annually humiliating politicians at Waitangi has become a cathartic rite of Maori resentment, but other than that what is the point of it? Making threats of violence in the media, doing war dances in Parliament and pulling grotesque faces do not constitute an argument. And flashing, using expletives and calling people names only serve to diminish one’s credibility.

What now is the purpose of Waitangi Day and the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi?

Peter Winsley: The Green Party’s plans for public and private lands

The Green Party wants to facilitate the transfer of more public (or “Crown”) and private land to iwi, hapū, and whānau. The intent is to address inequities arising from Māori land loss, especially in the 19th century.

The New Zealand Constitution Act 1986 marks the point that Parliament became sovereign and the British Crown’s role became limited to the procedural and symbolic. “The Crown” in practical terms means all New Zealanders, or at least their elected members of Parliament. Whatever costs “the Crown” incurs in Tiriti-related processes are paid for by New Zealanders, not by King Charles.