I.e. wouldn’t it form some sort of formal basis for sacking them later on if we need to, if an MP gets seriously out of order in some way?

(Kinda like making a declaration before a J.P…. the only reason for it is that if you later get found out to have made an untrue declaration, then you’ve committed the crime of making an untrue declaration before a J.P. and you’re going to find yourself in the dock accordingly…)

http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/doclibrary/public/Appendix(99).pdf

(3) The freedom of the Crown to govern
On the freedom of the Crown to govern, Justice Cooke ruled that:
The principles of the Treaty do not authorise unreasonable restrictions on the right of a duly
elected government to follow its chosen policy. Indeed, to try and shackle the Government
unreasonably would itself be inconsistent with those principles.
15
Also, Justice Bisson observed that:
it is in accordance with the principles of the Treaty that the Crown should provide laws and
make related decisions for the community as a whole having regard to the economic and other
needs of the day.

There is no scope to stop the government selling the assets within the principles
or for the ownership of power generation.

The Treaty of Waitangi 1840 guaranteed to Maori, subject to British kawanatanga or
government, their tino rangatiratanga and their taonga. In doing so the Treaty must have
intended effectively to preserve for Maori their customary title. However liberally Maori
customary title and treaty rights might be construed, they were never conceived as including
the right to generate electricity by harnessing water power

They asked what I thought of it, and I gave some half-assed answer about how I never really thought about it, but just treated everyone the same.

Needless to say, I didn’t get the job.

The day we become a republic, by all means throw that line out.

She is also the Queen of New Zealand and our head of state.

I’d hav difficulty honestly swearing an oath to the Queen of England, I don’t have any empathy with her nor feel any allegiance to her.

Snap! (and I’m English).

something like uphold the law, do your duty and serve the people of New Zealand.

I agree with this. I’d hav difficulty honestly swearing an oath to the Queen of England, I don’t have any empathy with her nor feel any allegiance to her.

Maybe Hone could suggest to the maori party that they also make a contribution to the Saving of NZ by then all getting one way tickets to ausy – or anywhere for that matter.

The treaty is a running sore that does none of us any good.

What some see as another bid by the Maori party to take New Zealand down the road of racial separatism has been rebuffed in Parliament.

^^^that paragraph right there from the NBR bears repeating.

Like it or not, the Treaty of Waitangi is a real thing, it’s not the figment of some Maori Apartheid campaigner’s imagination!

Although – note – that doesn’t mean it’s obvious the parliamentary oath should be about the ToW.

Te Ururoa Flavell’s private member’s bill allowing people to pledge to uphold the Treaty of Waitangi when making legal oaths..

Which version of the treaty? Who determines what is meant by ‘upholding’? Why did national vote against this – looks to be right up their ally? How long before somone who thinks such a private members bill is absolute nonsense is decryed as a racist on this thread?