te tiriti o waitangi

I am assuming you got as bored as I did over the break with the obsession—or mania, as Shane Jones quite rightly called it— when it came to ACT's idea of having a chat about the way we view and interpret the Treaty. 

The problem with David Seymour is he is too logical, especially for nutters and extremists. 

He wants to debate, to toss ideas about, to —dare we suggest— act like an adult and have a discussion. 

Hone Harawira, I noted, in one of the alarmist gatherings just referred to the others who don't agree with him as bastards. So, you can see what poor old David is up against. 

In an adult world, minds can be changed through logic, and detail, and fact, and reason. 

In Hone’s world... well, you are a bastard. 

The media, I noted, started the new year as they left off: unable to comprehend the fact we’ve changed govts and therefore outlooks, and fully lined up alongside the Kīngitanga and espoused the alarm, outrage, and upset. 

Seymour, if you think about it logically, is to be admired. All he is asking for is a discussion. 

Even National who aren't supporting his plan past select committee are taking that position I suspect not because they don’t agree with him, but because its messy politics. 

They have bigger fish to fry like the economy which has been sinking like a stone. A to be fair to them, I’d make it my number one job as well. 

But it is a fair-weather approach that National has specialised in for many years; pick the stuff you can get votes on. The moment it looks a bit gnarly? Walk away. 

Seymour to his credit, and the end-of-life choice work he did was an excellent example, picks issues and runs with them with no fear, no favour. 

It is a laudable approach driven by principle, something more of us should aspire to. 

There is no doubt the Treaty has been interpreted many a different way. 

The document is not prescriptive, nor that descriptive. It is open to a multitude of reactions. That’s why we have seen the Māori Party formed and reformed, any number of court cases enacted, and lord knows how much activism from the Waitangi Tribunal. 

Mostly its caused angst, if not upset. We are not a harmonious nation when it comes to race relations and ACT and Seymour want to talk about it. 

If only more were mature enough to give that a crack. 

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There’s fears the Treaty Principles Bill could be a missed opportunity.  

ACT is seeking to introduce legislation to redefine the Treaty principles by the end of May.  

Political commentator Grant Duncan says National said it would support it to select committee, but that's where the party's support stops. 

Duncan told Roman Travers that with proper long-term consultation, such a bill could be beneficial.  

He says it could stop the issue festering away for the next generations. 

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ACT Leader David Seymour's taken issue with comments made by Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson, calling them divisive and ineffective.

In his final speech of the parliamentary term yesterday, Jackson said Maori have a different set of rights because they're recognised as the indigenous people of the country. 

Seymour told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it's the first time he's heard a Labour MP explicitly say the Treaty of Waitangi means some people have different rights than others.

He claims that's not true and not supported by the Treaty, which he argues says we all have the same rights and duties.

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The second lecture will be given by Dr. Alistair Reese on the Treaty of Waitangi: He Tatau Pounamu. Alistair is a well-known farmer, historian, public theologian and author who specializes in reconciliation work. He will be exploring the Te Tiriti o Waitangi through a reconciliatory lens.

St. Georges Anglican Church, Gate Pa, sits on the site of the Battle of Gate Pā-Pukehinahina. Each year we try to offer free lectures to help people understand our history and how it shapes our present. This year we offered three lectures on the evenings of January 22, January 29, and February 12. This was the second of these lectures

Rev Dr. Hirini Kaa uses his research for his doctoral thesis, and then book, to explore the coming of the Missionaries and the signing of the Treaty from a Maori, and in particular, Ngati Porou viewpoint. The key concept is matauranga - knowledge. Maori had a theological and philisophical framework which made sense of their world. They renegotiated this in light of the new knowledge presented by Pakeha. It was this matauranga that, more than anything, was guaranteeed in the Treaty. It is this matauranga that is finding expression today, and which we need as a nation, to stand along side the Pakeha viewpoint as we find our way in this rapidly changing world.

His book - Te Hāhi Mihinare | The Māori Anglican Church by Hirini Kaa can be purchased at good book stores or from https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/hahi-mihinare/

On Thursday 6th February we in Aotearao-New Zealand commemorated the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Events were held at Waitangi and around Aotearoa-New Zealand. 

So what are we commemorating: A piece of legal history of no consequence today? A tool for the British to steal Maori land? A device that allowed Maori to enjoy the benefits of being part of the British Empire and access to European technology and knowledge? A document that set out the parameters of future race relations? What does the Treaty as our founding document have to offer us today 180 years after it was signed?

On Sunday 9th February Buddy Mikaere helped us look afresh at the place of the Treaty for us in Tauranga, and in New Zealand 180 years on. 

The first 35 minutes are his presentation and the rest is the conversation that followed between Buddy and members of the audience.

Buddy Mikaere is a professional historian by qualification and specialises in Maori consultation and associated activities working on his own account. For the past fourteen years he has facilitated Maori consultation for many development projects working closely with government departments, local government, large corporate companies and many other clients mostly in the area of resource consents. He is regarded as the country’s leading practitioner in his specialist area of expertise i.e. dealing with cultural issues arising from resource consent applications and has appeared as an expert witness on many occasions. 

Prior to becoming engaged in consultancy work, Buddy was Director of the Waitangi Tribunal where he was involved in a major overhaul in how historical information was collected and published. It was the biggest ever research programme in the country and involved both recruiting the best graduate historians out of the universities and computerising the results. He has undertaken the preparation of a number of research reports and is a published author in his specialist field of 19th century race relations. He brings this experienced and expertise to the issues around the Treaty and it’s place in our society today.

Buddy was also the founding Chairperson of the Maori Business Network – Tamaki Makaurau and a founding Board Member of the NZ Universities Academic Audit Unit. He is currently the voluntary CEO for Te Manawa Pou Tahi - Tauranga Maori Business Network.  

Buddy has also served as an Adviser to the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and as a Hearing Commissioner to the Far North and Gisborne District Councils and the Taranaki Regional Council. He spent seven years on the Board of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Buddy is currently writing a biography of the Hauhau prophet Kereopa Te Rau; the man convicted of the murder of the missionary Carl Volkner in Opotiki in 1865.