Mike Butler: 'Rangatiratanga' means 'possession'

The Human Rights Commission is collecting views about current practice of “rangatiratanga”, according to the commission’s website. The July 20 posting titled “Rangatiratanga in the 20th century” displays either woeful ignorance or is pushing a separatist programme when it says “rangatira affirmed their rangatiratanga, their authority to protect and develop their taonga, through the treaty”. Is this what “rangatiratanga” means?

Actually, the word “rangatiratanga” was used in the Maori text to translate the word “possession”. Since the treaty was drafted in English then translated into Maori, the intent and meaning of the treaty is crystal clear in the English draft, and, as a result of limited Maori vocabulary in 1840 and a limited understanding of the concepts of sovereignty and ownership by Maori, the intent and meaning became less clear in the Maori translation.

Mike Butler: Nelson, Wairoa oppose Maori seats

Even Nelson MP Nick Smith thinks the race-relations commissioner is out of line in calling for a law change to make Maori seats on councils a right, rather than leaving it to the public to decide. Commissioner Joris de Bres made his call after residents in Nelson and Wairoa voted against attempts to create separate Maori wards. Results were announced at the weekend.

In Nelson, with just 15, 387 votes received by the cut-off at midday on Saturday -- a 43.4 percent return -- there were 12,298 votes (79.41 percent) against the proposal and 3131 (20.22 percent) for it. Preliminary results of the official poll in Wairoa show that only 47.3 percent of electors opted to exercise their right to vote, with 1306 (51.89 percent) against and 1207 (47.95 percent) for.