Post by Kiwi Frontline on Apr 16, 2024 17:28:03 GMT 12
Dr Peter Winsley: NEW ZEALAND’S DEMOCRACY, TE TIRITI AND THE MARINE AND COASTAL AREA ACT.
New Zealand is a democracy that is being challenged by race and tribal-based activism. A democracy implies universal suffrage, one person/one vote, votes being of equal value, the rule of law, and an open and educated society with freedom of speech.
New Zealand is still a well-functioning democracy compared, for example, with the United States. However, voters are not all treated equally. The Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act 2022 empowers Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to appoint up to two members of the Environment Canterbury Council with full decision-making powers. These members are unelected appointees. This sets an undemocratic precedent for the future.
Most New Zealanders seek better socio-economic outcomes for Māori. This would strengthen not weaken our democracy. However, the challenge to democracy is largely ideological and power-driven, not focused on socio-economic outcomes nor enlightened by economic reasoning. Activists seek greater respect for Māori culture and sharper distinctiveness from non-Māori culture through language, tikanga and “ways of knowing”.
Activists claim that Te Tiriti is an equal partnership between the British Crown and Māori tribes. They also contend that Te Tiriti states principles. These misunderstandings are pervasive and often have financial implications.
For example, one of the obligatory requirements for media access to the $55M Public Interest Journalism Fund was to actively “promote the principles of Partnership, Participation and Active Protection under Te Tiriti o Waitangi acknowledging Māori as a Te Tiriti partner.” In fact, Te Tiriti makes Māori subjects of the Crown, not partners with it. Nowhere in Te Tiriti are principles mentioned, let alone defined......
breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2024/04/dr-peter-winsley-new-zealands-democracy.html
New Zealand is a democracy that is being challenged by race and tribal-based activism. A democracy implies universal suffrage, one person/one vote, votes being of equal value, the rule of law, and an open and educated society with freedom of speech.
New Zealand is still a well-functioning democracy compared, for example, with the United States. However, voters are not all treated equally. The Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act 2022 empowers Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to appoint up to two members of the Environment Canterbury Council with full decision-making powers. These members are unelected appointees. This sets an undemocratic precedent for the future.
Most New Zealanders seek better socio-economic outcomes for Māori. This would strengthen not weaken our democracy. However, the challenge to democracy is largely ideological and power-driven, not focused on socio-economic outcomes nor enlightened by economic reasoning. Activists seek greater respect for Māori culture and sharper distinctiveness from non-Māori culture through language, tikanga and “ways of knowing”.
Activists claim that Te Tiriti is an equal partnership between the British Crown and Māori tribes. They also contend that Te Tiriti states principles. These misunderstandings are pervasive and often have financial implications.
For example, one of the obligatory requirements for media access to the $55M Public Interest Journalism Fund was to actively “promote the principles of Partnership, Participation and Active Protection under Te Tiriti o Waitangi acknowledging Māori as a Te Tiriti partner.” In fact, Te Tiriti makes Māori subjects of the Crown, not partners with it. Nowhere in Te Tiriti are principles mentioned, let alone defined......
breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2024/04/dr-peter-winsley-new-zealands-democracy.html