Centrist: Geoff Neal of The Facts delivers data showing public division over the Treaty debate

New Zealand’s ongoing debate over the Treaty of Waitangi has exposed deep divisions, with polling suggesting strong public support for ACT’s Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, despite opposition from political parties and media coverage.

Data presented by market researcher Geoff Neal of The Facts to Parliament’s Justice Committee showed that most Kiwis feel the country is becoming more divided.

Lindsay Mitchell: It's the Maori Party that is driving division

New Zealand women got the vote in 1893; they got the right to stand for parliament a generation later in 1919. But there has never been a parliamentary party based on gender. That's because most women do not put being female first and foremost in their lives. Their gender is an accident of birth. So too most Maori do not put their ethnicity (as mixed as it is) first and foremost. That's a safe assumption based on the fact that most Maori do not vote for the Maori Party.

Ross Meurant: National’s Obfuscation Opened Winston’s Door

There are many who now claim that Rt Hon Winston Peters is little more than an “Opportunist”!  That Winston is elevating the race issue for his own political gain.

I say, WRONG.   (See Addendum)

Winston has always enunciated equality of all cultures which make up New Zealand.

It was not a matter of Winston inventing an issue.  It was a matter of National failing to address the racially divisive policies of a radical element within Māori, embraced by the Labour government and propagated by the “hidden power” within New Zealand aka Mandarins. (1)

NZCPR Newsletter: Healing Racial Tensions

The same day that New Zealanders vote in the General Election to choose a new government, Australians vote in the Voice referendum to see whether constitutional recognition will be given to Aboriginal people.

This is a landmark decision for Australia. If the Voice succeeds, the country will be divided by race.

This is essentially what’s happened in New Zealand. The difference is that in Australia the debate is out in the open and the public are being asked to vote on whether or not they want to go down this track. In contrast, in New Zealand there has been no openness nor debate –  a race-based future has been imposed on us by the Hipkins-Ardern Labour Government.

Cam Slater: Not with Your Lot, No

Shane Te Pou has an article in the NZ Herald questioning whether we can have politics without division. He suggests we can all learn how to do politics from Maori. Naturally, he begins his article by attacking those who oppose the Labour Party.