Post by Kiwi Frontline on Mar 3, 2023 15:32:37 GMT 12
Michael Bassett: KELVIN DAVIS EXPOSES THE FLAWS IN LABOUR'S MAORI POLICY
When Kelvin Davis addressed a conference of indigenous Australians yesterday it is doubtful whether the Minister for Maori Crown Relations intended to damage the credibility of his government’s Maori policies, but that’s what he did.
If the New Zealand Herald is to be believed, first, he used an incorrect translation of the Treaty of Waitangi instead of the Sir Hugh Kawharu translation that the previous Labour government celebrated at the 150th anniversary of its signing in 1990. Davis claimed that Article Three of the Treaty guaranteed Maori “the same rights and privileges of British subjects”. In fact, Article Three guarantees Maori “the same rights and duties of citizenship”.
Small difference in wording, I agree, but the mention of “duties” is significant when it comes to Maori rights. These days all too many Maori spokespeople prefer to interpret the Treaty as promising Maori an armchair ride to prosperity rather than something they have to work for, like other New Zealanders.
Davis is one of them. In his speech he went on to explain that under the Treaty Maori had ‘the right to an education that led to outcomes as good as those of any other New Zealander, and the right to a health system that allowed Maori to live as long as any other New Zealander.
The focus had to be on equity of outcomes, not just equality”.
Where on earth did Davis get these ideas? The thought that Queen Victoria’s representative in 1840 was promising such a life to Maori at a time when their average life expectancy was about 30 years and almost none could read or write is preposterous.
What the Treaty did promise was the same opportunities for Maori as for British people.
breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/03/michael-bassett-kelvin-davis-exposes.html
When Kelvin Davis addressed a conference of indigenous Australians yesterday it is doubtful whether the Minister for Maori Crown Relations intended to damage the credibility of his government’s Maori policies, but that’s what he did.
If the New Zealand Herald is to be believed, first, he used an incorrect translation of the Treaty of Waitangi instead of the Sir Hugh Kawharu translation that the previous Labour government celebrated at the 150th anniversary of its signing in 1990. Davis claimed that Article Three of the Treaty guaranteed Maori “the same rights and privileges of British subjects”. In fact, Article Three guarantees Maori “the same rights and duties of citizenship”.
Small difference in wording, I agree, but the mention of “duties” is significant when it comes to Maori rights. These days all too many Maori spokespeople prefer to interpret the Treaty as promising Maori an armchair ride to prosperity rather than something they have to work for, like other New Zealanders.
Davis is one of them. In his speech he went on to explain that under the Treaty Maori had ‘the right to an education that led to outcomes as good as those of any other New Zealander, and the right to a health system that allowed Maori to live as long as any other New Zealander.
The focus had to be on equity of outcomes, not just equality”.
Where on earth did Davis get these ideas? The thought that Queen Victoria’s representative in 1840 was promising such a life to Maori at a time when their average life expectancy was about 30 years and almost none could read or write is preposterous.
What the Treaty did promise was the same opportunities for Maori as for British people.
breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/03/michael-bassett-kelvin-davis-exposes.html