Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 2, 2023 11:59:24 GMT 12
Don Brash: SHOULD WE HAVE A REFERENDUM ON THE TREATY
What on Earth has David Seymour proposed to prompt such strong reactions? He has simply drawn attention to the fact that there is a huge amount of confusion about what the Treaty of Waitangi actually provided, with an increasing tendency for governments to interpret it and its so-called “principles” as conferring different political rights on those New Zealanders who chance to have a Maori ancestor than on those who don’t.
Yet the actual text of the Treaty, whether in English or te reo, is very short and very simple – only a single page in length. Its three simple clauses involved Maori chiefs surrendering sovereignty to the Crown, being guaranteed their property rights, and being granted the rights and privileges of British subjects. (And arguing that chiefs did not understand that they were surrendering power to a higher authority is impossible in view of the speeches made and recorded at the time, and subsequently made at a conference of chiefs in Kohimarama in 1860.)....
breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/11/don-brash-should-we-have-referendum-on.html
What on Earth has David Seymour proposed to prompt such strong reactions? He has simply drawn attention to the fact that there is a huge amount of confusion about what the Treaty of Waitangi actually provided, with an increasing tendency for governments to interpret it and its so-called “principles” as conferring different political rights on those New Zealanders who chance to have a Maori ancestor than on those who don’t.
Yet the actual text of the Treaty, whether in English or te reo, is very short and very simple – only a single page in length. Its three simple clauses involved Maori chiefs surrendering sovereignty to the Crown, being guaranteed their property rights, and being granted the rights and privileges of British subjects. (And arguing that chiefs did not understand that they were surrendering power to a higher authority is impossible in view of the speeches made and recorded at the time, and subsequently made at a conference of chiefs in Kohimarama in 1860.)....
breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/11/don-brash-should-we-have-referendum-on.html