Mike Butler: Waitangi heckles and what’s ahead

The squabbles and heckles at Waitangi on Thursday and Friday can be rooted to fear of losing preferential treatment, according to my chosen research assistant. However, there is a qualifier.

Maori reactions were framed in terms of losing what they say is treaty guaranteed status, tino rangatiratanga (chiefly authority), and partnership obligations.

Bob Edlin: Waitangi........

Waitangi – where a welcoming ceremony can involve being spat at and silenced (depending on your Treaty politics)

The several reports which seemed to rejoice in attempts to silence ACT’s leader at Waitangi this week included this article in The Spinoff headed David Seymour and the half-heard speech.

Politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith said:

Garrick Tremain: Waitangi

 Here is Garrick Tremain's cartoon commentary on the ongoing exploiting of the treaty !