Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jul 17, 2021 16:32:17 GMT 12
DEMOCRACY ACTION NEWSLETTER - July 21
Reading the Government's press release ‘Social Cohesion Programme To Address Incitement Of Hatred And Discrimination’, which heralds the proposed changes to the so-called ‘hate speech’ legislation, I thought we must be in Wonderland, having joined Alice in falling through the rabbit hole into a fantasy world. Our country is increasingly awash with policies that entrench racial separatism, promoting division and discord, and undermining democracy - and yet this Government speaks of social cohesion! Is there not at least an inkling within government of how hypocritical this is?
The Government is forging ahead with policies that are destroying the unity of our nation by setting one group of citizens above others. It appears no opportunity is lost to establish arrangements whereby representatives of just 17% of the population share equal power with representatives of the other 83 percent. Currently we see this in education and health reforms, and in Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s water reforms, which would mean mana whenua have equal rights alongside councils in governing water assets. Please see below for an update on the Three Waters Reform Programme, which is shaping up to be another Trojan horse for constitutional change.
The social cohesion of the country is also being threatened by other race-based entitlements not available to other New Zealanders. One such example of this is promoted in the Government's strategy to revitalise the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. This plan allows for iwi to have a greater say and greater rights than other citizens. Instead of all of us working together to restore the Gulf, the proposed 11 high protection areas will allow ‘customary take’ rights exclusive to iwi, and at their discretion. Another element of the policy includes plans for 50/50 co-governance arrangements with tangata whenua, which in practice means iwi control - we need only to look at the actions of the Tupuna Maunga Authority (TMA), a co-governance arrangement over Auckland’s maunga, to know that this would be the case. The TMA have made it clear that cultural restoration takes precedence over ecological restoration. Taking the Government’s strategy document into account, it appears the same principle will be applied in the Marine Park.
In another shock decision, despite the far-reaching implications of tikanga taking precedence over the common law, the Government has decided not to appeal the recent ruling made under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, granting customary marine title and protected customary rights to several Bay of Plenty hapū. Instead they will act as an intervenor. Appealing this decision has been left to private groups. See more about this in the article below.
Such decisions and policies are evidence we are well along the path towards a nation divided on racial lines. As Professor Elizabeth Rata at University of Auckland explains in her commentary published at the Democracy Project.....
www.democracyaction.org.nz/july_2021
Reading the Government's press release ‘Social Cohesion Programme To Address Incitement Of Hatred And Discrimination’, which heralds the proposed changes to the so-called ‘hate speech’ legislation, I thought we must be in Wonderland, having joined Alice in falling through the rabbit hole into a fantasy world. Our country is increasingly awash with policies that entrench racial separatism, promoting division and discord, and undermining democracy - and yet this Government speaks of social cohesion! Is there not at least an inkling within government of how hypocritical this is?
The Government is forging ahead with policies that are destroying the unity of our nation by setting one group of citizens above others. It appears no opportunity is lost to establish arrangements whereby representatives of just 17% of the population share equal power with representatives of the other 83 percent. Currently we see this in education and health reforms, and in Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s water reforms, which would mean mana whenua have equal rights alongside councils in governing water assets. Please see below for an update on the Three Waters Reform Programme, which is shaping up to be another Trojan horse for constitutional change.
The social cohesion of the country is also being threatened by other race-based entitlements not available to other New Zealanders. One such example of this is promoted in the Government's strategy to revitalise the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. This plan allows for iwi to have a greater say and greater rights than other citizens. Instead of all of us working together to restore the Gulf, the proposed 11 high protection areas will allow ‘customary take’ rights exclusive to iwi, and at their discretion. Another element of the policy includes plans for 50/50 co-governance arrangements with tangata whenua, which in practice means iwi control - we need only to look at the actions of the Tupuna Maunga Authority (TMA), a co-governance arrangement over Auckland’s maunga, to know that this would be the case. The TMA have made it clear that cultural restoration takes precedence over ecological restoration. Taking the Government’s strategy document into account, it appears the same principle will be applied in the Marine Park.
In another shock decision, despite the far-reaching implications of tikanga taking precedence over the common law, the Government has decided not to appeal the recent ruling made under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, granting customary marine title and protected customary rights to several Bay of Plenty hapū. Instead they will act as an intervenor. Appealing this decision has been left to private groups. See more about this in the article below.
Such decisions and policies are evidence we are well along the path towards a nation divided on racial lines. As Professor Elizabeth Rata at University of Auckland explains in her commentary published at the Democracy Project.....
www.democracyaction.org.nz/july_2021