Perce Harpham: Renewing New Zealand - Part 1

In this, Part 1, I will explore some of the issues which have determined our present situation. I will show some of the extent to which the power of the block of Maori seats in Parliament has threatened our democracy - bringing legal rights and tax exemptions for Maori at the cost of ratepayers and, heavily, taxpayers.The Treaty Principles Bill was a brave attempt to have the Waitangi Treaty simply mean what it says. Now that the Select Committee has slapped it down, do we simply accept all the fabrications that have been built around the Treaty or do we do something different?

Perce Harpham: Letter from 42 King’s Counsel

Dear All,

This open letter is written in response to the RNZ article of 14 November “Senior lawyers call for the Treaty Principles bill to be abandoned.” 

 

I respond with the authority  of my age and experience. Search the Internet for “perce.harpham.nz” to see something of my experience. I have now lived more than half the time since the Treaty was signed. My various visits to the USA add up to about nine months. Similarly with China. We have a child born in each of  England, Australia and NZ.

Perce Harpham: New Zealand is Whucked!

Wanganui was once the name of what is now written as Whanganui and the “wh” is pronounced as an “f”. This change took about 3 years of public discussion before it occurred so there was some semblance of due legal process. 

I do try to accept such changes even though in 2024 I have lived half of the time since the Treaty was signed and the Queen’s writ became the law. And that law was set down as applying to all the “PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND”. I have respected that law all of my life. But I do have difficulty with the changes in our administration which have occurred without any public discussion or semblance of due legal process.

Perce Harpham: Expanding the Coalition’s Task

The result of the election has been an enormous relief. Especially as clearly many Maori voted against the rush to a coup d’etat which would install tribal governance by their hierarchy.

Also a relief is the fact that the Coalition Agreements undertake to reverse so much that had been done by a Government suffering from a form of delirium induced by experiencing the power of being able to govern alone. They had apparently become desperate to maintain the backing from the Maori seats.

Karl du Fresne: Guest post - the Maori electorates

In the following article, retired businessman Perce Harpham makes the point that Maori electorates are no longer necessary to ensure Maori representation and provide a means by which voters of part-Maori ancestry can exercise disproportionate political power. This runs counter to the basic democratic principle that every person's vote should carry equal weight, regardless of race. Publication of his article on this blog doesn't imply endorsement of everything Perce says, but I agree with his essential proposition.

Karl du Fresne: Guest post - Why I have left the Labour Party

By Perce Harpham

(As founder of the Progeni software company, Perce Harpham, now 91, was a pioneer of the New Zealand computer industry. He is also a former Green Party candidate.)

After some 16 years of loyal support I have left the Labour Party because it has left me. I am so ashamed at how “my” party is destroying our legal system and democracy that I wish to be completely dissociated from it.