Don Brash, Summarised by Centrist
Many of our politicians – at both central and local level – don’t understand the Treaty of Waitangi and/or are feeling pressured into promoting co-government partnerships.
Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s struggle to define the Treaty’s first article exemplifies this issue. The Treaty doesn’t mention partnership in either Māori or English versions.
“Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins have openly conceded, apparently without embarrassment, that co-governance is not consistent with democracy as it is universally understood, where all citizens have a vote of equal value.”
Presently, the government diverges on the Treaty’s intent, evident in the He Puapua document envisioning a perpetually divided New Zealand by ancestry. Actions like establishing a Māori Health Authority and advocating Māori governance over infrastructure reflect this shift.
It’s puzzling that co-governance is embraced despite contradicting the principle underpinning democracy. This direction contradicts logic, with persistent Māori electorates and Auckland’s debate over Māori wards.
As the election nears, parties’ positions matter to voters: promoting racial division or equal political rights. Parties like Labour, Green, and Māori endorse division. ACT and NZ First support equal rights, seeking a public debate and referendum.
Read the whole story over at bassettbrashandhide.com
