Hikoi Day
May 25th, 2009 at 9:39 am by David FarrarThe Herald will be updating coverage of the Hikoi here.
I find it ironic that several of the Mayors will be joining the Hikoi. If they were so in favour of Maori seats, why did they not have them created on their existing Councils?
And while I have no problem with the Hikoi overall (the right to protest is vital), it would be useful to have greater clarity about what exactly is being demanded.
Is it to have one or more seats elected by people on the Maori roll only, or is it also to have one or more seats directly appointed by local Iwi?
The original Royal Commission proposal was highly flawed. I blogged on 31 March:
Three Maori Councillors for 90,000 persons on Maori roll is one per 30,000. Ten Ward Councillors for those on general roll of 1.28 million is one per 128,000.
So even if you accept there should be Council seats reserved for those on the Maori roll and/or mana whenua, the Royal Commission proposal gives four times the voting strength by allocating three seats. The correct number, it seems to me is one seat.
Some may say 3/23 is 13% and that is close to the Maori population of 11% of Auckland. But that overlooks that those on Maori roll also get to vote for the ten at large seats. The correct comparison is population on Maori roll vs population on the general roll in the wards.
So does Phil Goff and Labour support what the Royal Commission proposed, even though it gives those on the Maori roll four times the voting strength of non-Maori?
There has been talk about the lack of Maori on Auckland local bodies. And I can appreciate the concern. But has there been an analysis measuring the success rate of Maori candidate and non-Maori candidates? Is the problem more that non many Maori have stood for office in Auckland? I don’t know – but would like to see such an analysis made available to the select committee.
Finally a prediction. We keep hearing that only white people in Remuera can win an at large seat (a nice form of reverse racism). I dispute that. If John Tamihere and WIllie Jackson stand for an at large seat, I reckon they would bolt in.
Related posts:
- Equal votes for the proposed Auckland Council?
- How I would do representation in Auckland
- Barton on Maori Seats
- Hikoi Comments and Photos
May 25th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I thought we lived in a representative democracy where those in power were elected by the people.
Surely that will guarantee that (other than the tiny minorities) we get a proportional representation of Maori in power anyway.
If they aren’t proportionally represented then they surely only have themselves to blame for not fielding/supporting their own candidates.
But a more important question might be whether such elections are about electing the best person for the job or electing whoever has the same skin-colour as you?
It would strike me that this is the “pro-racism” hikoi, since it promotes race as the key factor over qualification or electorate support.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
except the Herald is not reporting the Hikoi as a protest against no maori seats. Heres the is para;
“Today’s hikoi against the proposed Auckland Super City is unlikely to make a difference, is premature and the wrong forum to raise concerns, Prime Minister John Key says”
As a result they will get a larger than the usual “maori sovereignty” renta demo turnout
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 9:53 am
I’m utterly sick of this racism/ separatism and the gutless cowardly politicians who pander to it.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 9:59 am
More demanding a free ride from the professional victim industry.
I’ll take a pass.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:05 am
What the Hell is a Hikoi?
Oh it’s a bit like turning on the Maori Televsion channel, watching the weather and seeing that they have renamed the whole of New Zealand and it’s cities.
New Zealand is not a democracy. It never was as it has set Maori seats. There is a strong argument that these are unconstitutional and should be challenged in the highest courts.
At least Winston Peters did not use the back door into parliament.
I see that the Maori have chosen their demonstration on a Monday. After all, it is not as if any of them are working. Today on TV we will see 90% of the dole and criminal population of New Zealand. Of course they will disrupt traffic and there will be violence, they are Maoris after all.
The Maoris want New Zealand to be as Fiji is now. That is why they wanted that free trip there, to see how Fiji achieved turning a country into an illegal criminal broke lawless state so effectively. Those leaders fantasise about one day being Bananarama and NZ being a banana republic.
Look at Fiji, that is the New Zealand of the future. Zimbabwe also.
Unless the people get off their asses and do something about that blight that is growing in New Zealand.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Re your prediction re Willie and John- its all going depend upon whether the election is FFP or STV. If its FFP running as a ticket is going to be a futile exercise as the leader of your ticket is going to get all the votes and no-one else on the ticket will get any.
Vote:For this reason having general seats where you pick 8 from forty or fifty candidates will be a recognition competition. You are going to get a very disparate group. STV will give you a fifty:fifty left:right split.
20-30 ward councillors is much more likely to work.
May 25th, 2009 at 10:11 am
My biggest concern is that Key will eventually back down and give them something. Anything other than the same opportunity to win one of the available seats will be a cop out.
Looking at the herald polls current result he’d be very unwise to give them anything special
Should there be Maori seats on the Super City council?
Vote:· Yes: 455 (17%)
· No: 2196 (83%)
May 25th, 2009 at 10:16 am
DPF is right regarding the “votes for equal value” issue regarding the Royal Commission recommendations. Indeed the report is very poor on electoral systems and arrangements. They would get a fail in a stage I politics essay in this regard.
For example it concluded there was no problem with Local Electoral Act 2001. Its hard to envisage a mayoral candidate being able to campaign effectively on 70k. Nor do they acknowledge that NZ is simply not wealthy enough and nor is there enough interest in local govt to provide the funds necessary for lots of At Large elections.
And the RC recommendation for local Councils (existing 6 of 7 existing TLA’s with Community Board legal status), raises the issue about why no Maori seats on the proposed local Councils. Given all the Mayoral and Labour Party boosterism that these are vital and not going ahead with them is “putting the RC recommendations in the bin” why is no one interesting in Maori representation on them.
Perhaps this is subtle recognition that they were largely useless.
Where I depart from DPF view is that I do not think the remnant At Large seats will be particularly useful in getting Maori elected, given that they not proportionately allocated.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Hikoi Smhikoi…big fucken deal…rent a crowd losers with nothin better to do than disrupt other peoples lives. Do me a favour you racist scumbags…when you get to the highest point on the bridge.. jump off.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:25 am
One of the reasons for no mass appeal or cross cultural support for maori politicians is that they all go on about maori this and maori that at some stage of their career and never themselves support an inclusive view. So by the time they become a household name it’s not for getting things done in a unified sense, but for protesting for a minority concern. They put themselves on the back foot with the general public who want basic infrastructure looked after, not onging race issues. I’ve yet to hear any career review of the “white” candidates containing activism beneficial only to whites. Does a maori designed sewer operate any more efficiently than a pakeha designed sewer?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Isn’t it tragic to see the three mayors’ hypocrisy as they scramble for self-preservation. As has been pointed out ad nauseum, none of them have any maori representation on their councils.
Vote:Why can’t the media give us an accurate figure of the protesters whose “rights have been taken away”? The tears of Tane are greeting them with a vengeance.
It would be nice to see Maoridom back themselves to stand for representation in the normal fashion.
May 25th, 2009 at 10:29 am
“I do not think the remnant At Large seats will be particularly useful in getting Maori elected, given that they not proportionately allocated.”
Shit – you dont actually mean they’ll give everyone a level playing field?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Actually the three mayors stand to gain a lot from the amalgamation. They are almost sure fire guarantees to get on the new council now and one of them stands a very good chance to be mayor. The bigger the bureaucracy the less accountable they and the bureaucrats will become.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Doesn’t this have something to do with the Maori having special rights because the UN has declared them to be the indignant people of New Zealand – or something like that anyway.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Just drove past it, there were more cop cars than Protest cars and noone was walking… so much for a “mass protest” shutting traffic down etc.
Looks like the rain was too much for them…
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:04 am
No MikeE, not the rain, I bribed them with a free feed of KFC to not turn up.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:06 am
You very bad man Murray.
(I’m more used to HEARING that actually)
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Would have no problem with having the equivilant of the Maori seats by proportion (i.e. Maori role etc – i.e. what we have now in the national elections) which is what I thought it was originally, but it isnt. It was basically a request to have double representation and half of them not being elected, therefore am against.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Patrick Starr:
Multi member constituencies elected on a FFP basis are not really about level playing fields. Nor can they in anyway be described as providing an equal opportunity for those contesting them.
In the proposed case, the constituency is huge; no meaningful profile can be gained through any campaign. Thus I suspect that two very weakly institutionalised parties will emerge selecting candidates who have a pre existing profile (sports stars tv personalities business people who are the biggest part of their business brand – the Mad Butcher for example). They will also have to be reasonably wealthy as most local government campaigns are largely self funded, Mayoral races can be the exception.
Political parties simplify voter choice and provide candidate’s with efficient purchasing. Given the low 70K cap and the size of the proposed constituency, the rationale for them under the Government’s proposal is overwhelming.
In all likelihood votes cast for candidates outside these two weakly institutionalised parties will be wasted. Combined they can be expected to command in the range of 60% – 70% of the vote depending on the year and context.
In all likelihood candidates will be elected in the 30% to 40% range of total votes cast.
Finally these successful candidates will be no more regionally focused than their ward based counterparts. In fact probably less so. This is because their electoral fortunes rest on focusing on the needs of those people that live in high concentrations in the parts of the City that voted for them. This size of the constituency and efficiency demands this.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Just marching past my office now – if there are 200 in the march I would be gob smacked.
Chant is “Give us back our maori seats”
Kind of ironic.
Pretty sure none of them are taking time off work…
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I wonder how long before the totally gutless Neville Key gives in to the racist party and agrees to have the apartheid seats on the new Auckland super city council.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:15 am
excellent news Kiwigreg. The rain gods dont want maori seats either
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Never mind, looking at the Police presence (2 motorcycles, 6 police cars, about 20 cops on foot) there will be a few grannys safe doing 53Km in low accident 50Km zones this morning.
Random thought: If they can mobilise that many Maori Wardens in all their flash gear to shepherd such a small and insignificant bunch down teh street why can’t they fix the crime problems in South Auckland?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Just meandered past my office window, about a 5:1 ratio of marchers (not ratepayers) to police, so basically a 5:1 ratio of people with jobs and without, pretty poor showing, I could get more than that handful on a bring back Georgie Pie march, although that is a much more important cause.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:24 am
This thing is created by rich guys from Remuera, for rich guys from Remuera. Its obvious. I do not hear the herald screaming “Democracy under attack” about this one.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:27 am
I’m told there is more than one group so maybe a couple more.
He-man: you mean the hikoi? I dont think so. It’s certainly not about democracy in the “one man one vote” sense of the word.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:28 am
“I could get more than that handful on a bring back Georgie Pie march,”
Oh I wish they would. I loved Georgie Pie.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:31 am
david, crime problem in South Auckland, don’t be such a fucken racist.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Be careful Greg, you will be labelled as a “rich white guy from the Eastern Suburbs” which is not to be confused with racial, sexual or social stereotyping nor is it bigoted or racist.
Now if I was to say we should fill the council with dole-bludging, brown gender non-specific criminals from South Auckland that would be another story altogether
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Nah Murray, Its just that was the origin of this mob and there aren’t a lot of Maori Wardens in Three Kings (at least not that I have noticed)
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 11:41 am
“I could get more than that handful on a bring back Georgie Pie march,”
Oh I wish they would. I loved Georgie Pie.
oohhh yeah..Big fish and potato…mince and cheese…”bring back the george”
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
My friends prefer KFC
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Actually the at large seats are an ideal chance for Maori to get a candidate elected – all they need to do is get all the Maori and Pacific islanders (the Maori Party has been claiming that Maori councillers will act in the PI’s favour too) to vote for them, and they’d easily get enough for one seat. They could even get some whiteys and asians to vote for them if they had sensible and inclusive policies and get multiple seats. Could it be, though, that not all (or even the majority of) Maori actually want a Maori only representative?
PS
Vote:And fuck the mana whenua seat; its nothing but an insult to democracy.
May 25th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I would be surprised if the chant was “Give us back our maori seats” Kiwigreg.
Vote:Hard to give back what they never had.
Perhaps they should ask Brown, Harvey, Campbell for the Maori seats they have on their councils….oh silly me there are not any of those either.
Can someone remind me why those 3 hypocrits are bleating again.
May 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Excellent analysis of electoral implications of the proposed supercity arrangements by Chris Diack above.
He is right that having at large elections in such a huge electorate will mean it will be almost impossible to get elected unless a) you have backing from a major party or b) you are a celebrity, or c) both of the above.
I personally believe that the absence (or low profile) of parties in local govt has been a very good thing. The polarisation and argument they inject makes it much harder to just get on with making things work. It also means councils stand or fall according to the popularity of national politicians, rather than on their own merits.
I suspect the Royal Commission invented its proposed electoral arrangements as an afterthought and without much thought. Some more creativity would be welcome.
For example, if there are to be at large seats, I think there is a strong case for using STV to elect them. The effect would be that instead of needing 30-40% to get one of eight seats, one eighth of the vote would be sufficient. Makes sense doesn’t it? Among other benefits, this would make it easier for Maori to gain representation, WITHOUT any racist special provisions. It would work the same for any other community (eg Indians) too IF such a community was united and sufficiently motivated.
Another possibility would be using a “limited vote” system: You have a ward with three (say) councillors, but voters get only two votes. That makes it harder for all three seats to be grabbed by a single faction of (say) 40% while shutting the other 60% out of having representation for their views.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
If the exclusive Maori seats (to the new Super-Council) were guaranteed, would all the remaining Council seats then be exclusively for “non-Maori”…or is that somehow less palatable?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
“If John Tamihere and Willie Jackson stand for an at large seat, I reckon they would bolt in.”
Vote:They are both celebrities. Enough said.
May 25th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Is “celebrity” a new word for something else?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
“And I say to them, don’t be economic girlie men! Haw haw!”
Oooh, I’ve seen him on tv, he’ll be good.
Vote:[VOTES.]
May 25th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I’ve seen potatos on TV, should I vote for them?
Actually may as well given the state of some of the veggies we have in there now.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Excellent report from Stuff:
“MPs Shane Jones and Parekura Horomia attended the march but stopped off at McDonalds before carrying on their way.”
It’s a long way up Queens St eh bro’s
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Poor Parekura – he’ll get a lecture from Sue Kedgeley tomorrow about the evils of fast food
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
New Zealand Herald report:
“Mr Haumaha said police estimate the crowd to be between 5000 and 7000 strong.”
How many of this underwhelming crowd demanding democracy for all were “rent a whanau” from Rotorua?
Was further unimpressed as reporters on the news this morning excitedly relayed that the group at Bastion point were waiting for a buses from Rotorua to turn up. I know that they are calling this a Super City – but Rotorua, you have got to be kidding.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
What next, every special interest group get’s a council seat?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Paradigm:
Of course you are assuming that there is a co-relation between ethnicity and political view. I tend to think that the relationship between one’s ethnicity and one’s political view is far more dynamic than that. People also change overtime given education, experience and the context.
What would be fairer to say is that there is a much closer relationship between ethnicity and political view with the Maori roll. The Maori option essentially allows Maori to opt in or out of an ethnically aligned political view. Half chose to opt in and half don’t. However even with Maori roll voters, their views can change over time; the Maori party itself is an example of Maori roll voters looking outside the traditional Labour voting paradigm.
In this sense it indicates an openness among Maori roll voters; and its always good for voters to be competitively in play. Generally if political parties can pocket voters without effort then they will take them for granted. That is why over the medium term Maori voters in Auckland might be better served with a universal franchise with some element of proportionality.
I suspect that like Maori seats, issues of proportionality will not be issues that the Government will determine; it will leave it to Aucklanders to determine under LEA 2001.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Can someone please entlighten me about a minor point:
What on earth have Pacific Islander’s (PI’s) got to gain by being involved in a march for Maori Seats on the larger Auckland Council?
PI’s are not Maori (in fact they tend to loath each other with a passion) so why their involvement?
Or is this just another example of PI’s being out-thought by their fellow suntanned-ones, being simply too ‘dim’ to actually see there is absolutely nothing in it for them, and just going anyway because they’ve been persuaded its ‘good for them’?
And if that ISN’T the case, the inevitable question: WHAT have the ‘Maori’ stirrers promised the PI leaders in exchange for their support? KFC, Corned Beef, unlimited Taro? (Not that they will ever deliver I suspect)
Worth considering isn’t it?
Answers anyone?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
What more can be said?
The Herald has several pages of equally absurd utterances so that if John Key buckles in to this kind of non-thinking he should be taken out and trampled to death by the next convenient hikoi.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Other gems include:
the celebration of maori mana – though no word as to why this mana does not extend to keeping children alive rather than bashing them to death.
“it’s about rights, not race” – I assume he means the right or maori to have race based rights.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
But the group that marched past my office was clearly only one of a number so the total protest was larger then I thought. Bizarre thing to put effort into though – if under-representation on local government is Maori’s “A” issue they must otherwise be in pretty good shape.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Nice to see you all rattled, the people coming out on the streets is never good news for tories.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
goodgod @ 2.42pm, it’s going from the sublime to the downright fucking ridiculous
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
“it’s about rights, not race”
Once upon a time that was a good argument in favour of slavery
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
5000 people out of a population of 1.5 million Sonic, not really the stuff that revolutions are made of is it.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
More people would have visited a shopping mall today, also I have seen more people join in riots on the north shore than that protest.
Them and their views are irrelevant, no one cares and i think it is hilarious that the chickens are coming to roost.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Toad
- when you get back from the hikoi can you explain why it’s OK for a maori to be ‘appointed’ a seat on the new council, but you state it is undemocratic for the transition board to be appointed to set up the new council?
Here’s your quote from a previous thread;
“it is just that it is totally undemocratic that the Auckland region is now governed by people who are appointed rather than elected”
How does that fit with the Greens position for ‘appointments’ today? – even more so because you are advocting appointments based on race, but not skill??
I’ll remind you of your previous description; “Today is the day that democracy in Auckland died”
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2009/05/aucklanders_meet_your_new_overlords.html#comment-564936
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Mana Whenua seats? Smells like a rotten borough, ripe for purchase.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Having been there I’d say 8-10k bruv, for a weekday demonstration in New Zealand never mind Auckland, that’s pretty serious.
Also aside from the Maori seats issue I’d say the Hikoi was at least a third non-Maori mostly there to support Maori seats but to protest about the super-city. Lots of unions, community organisations etc, which bodes wll for future actions.
“not really the stuff that revolutions are made of is it.”?
Every revolution has to start somewhere Big B, but perhaps not. However it is very bad news for your government.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
“Having been there I’d say 8-10k bruv, for a weekday demonstration in New Zealand never mind Auckland, that’s pretty serious.”
considering North Shore, Waitakere and Manukau councils encouraged their employees to participate, gave them flexitime and in some cases provided transport I’d say it’s a bit of a jack up!
and of course many of them are going to demonstrate, A last ditch attempt to suck off the public purse
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Were you there Patrick?
As for “gave them flexitime” people earn flexitime. They used it to take a day off. As Your chum John Banks has already floated the idea hat 60% of them will lose their jobs, they are pretty motivated to protest.
Mind you is the line not that they are “dole bludgers”?
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
“Mind you is the line not that they are “dole bludgers”?”
Who cares. If 60% of the socialist bludgers get fired I’m all for it.
About time Key and English started firing a few more of them in the Public Service too.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I’m sure they are listening to your advice ratbiter.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
“I’m sure they are listening to your advice ratbiter.”
They better be, because there is no other solution to the mess you vote buying commies have made of things.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Only you have all the answers Ratbiter, who could disagree?
I’d send Mr Key an email if I was you, I’m sure David could give you the address.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
“I’d send Mr Key an email if I was you”
I don’t need to. I have it on good authority he reads Kiwiblog a number of times a day just to keep up with my messages.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I wouldn’t believe everything the voices in your head told you is true old chum.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Like many, I am fed up to the back teeth of Maori demanding this and demanding that. So I propose they have all the seats on the council. They can have a Maori mayor too for good measure.
Vote:May 25th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I love how you all stir yourself up into a big frenzy! It’s hilarious to read. I’ve never seen such a collection of vitriolic statements all in one place!
How about instead of Maori bashing, you all realise that this Nation was founded on an agreement between The Crown and Maori. Due to that agreement, Maori should have seats. Not more than is representative, and not seats that are unelected but two seats for Maori to honour the agreement that did begin this Nation and to ensure that a part of our population that is key to our national identity have a voice at the decision making table.
It’s simple.
Vote:May 26th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Ha! National Obesity day march hits Queen Street – fast food joints have record takings.
Vote:May 26th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Did anyone hear Pita Sharples on Larry thingy last evening. (ZB drivetime).
He claimed that the rating system is biased against Maori ‘cos it penalises older larger houses with the Capital Value rating system and Maori have larger families so pay more rates.
Excuse me a mo’ bro’.
Apart from the impeccable lack of logic in the fact that the quantum of rates won’t change, only the way the burden is spread, just who is going to pay the extra if we give poor Maori’s with large families living in valuable houses in expensive suburbs a rates break. No…. not the rich white people ……. how racist is that Pita
And .. I wasn’t aware that it was a particular Maori problem – large families living in big old expensive houses!
You certainly do learn something new every day – have I got Alzheimers?
Vote:May 26th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Hey Kingi please elucidate.
Can you give a reference to the part of the Treaty that says there should be unique representation and a special voice reserved for your forbears.
And don’t be so precious – if anyone makes a statement or does something worthy of being ridiculed they will get it here. No fear or favours permitted.
Vote:May 26th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
David the Treaty does not specifically say, “give Maori seats”, to claim that would be a falsehood. However on the other side we need to realise the treaty was written within a context where Maori were 95% of the population, with 99% of land. I don’t think my forebears would have envisioned their population being decimated by pakeha disease almost to the brink of extinction, and millions of hectares of land being illegally and unjustly confiscated or sold through corrupt means, perhaps if they saw their status in 1890 they would have perhaps demanded greater levels of protection.
I would also point you to the Waitangi Tribunal and the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, which clearly states that all matters relating to the treaty and any breaches of it by the crown should be judged on the quote, “principles of the treaty.” Now the principle of the treaty from Maori’s perspective was a partnership. The mere fact that Treaty settlements are on going and have been on going for over 15 years says it is acknowledged that there was injustice and redress is required for that.
And please don’t talk to me about “special”, when Maori don’t make up 51% of the prison population, when more than 12% of Maori children pass NCEA Level 3, when Maori household income on average is above $25,000, then I might give heed to your claims we somehow get it easier then others, but until that time, how about checking the facts before making erroneous and ill judged comments on the supposed “special” treatment Maori get.
Vote: