Matua Kahurangi: The myth of indigeneity

Are Māori really native to New Zealand?

In New Zealand, we’ve drawn a clear line when it comes to our natural world. There are two categories of animals - those that are introduced and those that are native. A dog, for example, is an introduced species. The kiwi, on the other hand, is native. That classification matters in conservation, in law, and in how we see the world around us.

Here’s a thought no one dares to say out loud - humans are animals too.

John Robertson: Scrap “Tangata Whenua” — It’s Spiritual Garbage in Legal Disguise

Let’s stop pretending: tangata whenua has no place in modern law. It’s a spiritual phrase, built on myth, used to justify race-based privilege. And it needs to go — now.

The term means “people of the land,” but it's really code for “special rights through ancestry.” That’s not law — that’s theology. It turns public policy into tribal religion. It hands out legal perks based on who your ancestors slept with. That’s insane.

Garrick Tremain: Fingers out

 Here is Garrick Tremain's cartoon commentary on National's ignoring the taniwha! 

John Robinson: More division, more power to tangata whenua

We have all received a notice about “Proposed Plan Change 2 to the Operative Kapiti Coast District Plan 2021”. This includes a seemingly innocuous proposal to “provide for tangata whenua to develop papakainga housing developments”. This includes papakainga on ‘general title land’.

Here the select group, the tangata whenua, are members of Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa (Nga Hapu o Otaki) and Te Atiawa. IPI, page 58, online here

Garrick Tremain: On pre election schedules

Garrick Tremain schedules Jacinda Ardern's photo ops