The Treaty Principles Bill was predictably voted down by parliament. We all knew it was part of the coalition agreement, so no surprise there. There has been a surprise, though, and that has been Luxon’s longtime public antagonism to the bill, missing no opportunity to rubbish it and dump on it. The question is: Why the fuss from Luxon?
Why offend average Kiwis by publicly discounting and dumping on our opinion? Who was he pandering to and why? What is it that prompted him to publicly headline the obvious that didn’t even need to be mentioned?
According to the Herald, Luxon, speaking in Hamilton, said, “it has been a ‘tumultuous period’ with the bill, but it’s now done”.
Tumultuous? Really? Not how I see it. Totally predictable and loud protests from the usual suspects. Calling it “tumultuous” is a significant exaggeration.
Despite “all the tension and stress” around the bill, Luxon said he has met with iwi to discuss the programme of work the government wants to focus on.
Really? What “all the tension” was there? The usual rowdy suspects being their usual rowdy selves. The rest of us calmly and sensibly weighed things up and responded through polls, not threats and loud abuse. And, what exactly is it that Luxon has been discussing with iwi? What is it that Luxon and his Government are focused on that he hasn’t told us about?
He also ruled out supporting something like the Treaty Principles Bill in the future, adding: “It’s the reality of an MMP environment – I’ve explained our position you know through the first reading um supporting it there’s an aeration of views, yes there’s strong views on all sides of the debate, I get it, but it’s now closed out, it’s finished, we voted it down yesterday and um uh ah it’s over and ah we’re moving forward and that’s what we’ve got to focus on.”
Right oh, then. Job done. Subject closed: you will all hereby move on. Except, as I’ve said several times before: he hasn’t read the room. I know plenty of people (confirmed by several polls) hold the same view as me: the Treaty Principles Bill (which may or may not be the ideal way of dealing with this issue) is far from the end of the story. Luxon is going to get a long-term public reminder about this. It won’t just go away.
Anonymous journalist: “You weren’t in the house yesterday when it was voted on do you regret that?”
“No not at all, ah, my position’s been clear and as I said yesterday dealing with ah trade issues where I was needing to talk to different world leaders about how we continue to advance world trade and umm free trade and that’s where I need to be focused on and frankly New Zealanders are over it. They want us to move on and they want us to focus on things like this that are actually about advancing their wellbeing and their standard of living and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
Luxon really doesn’t get it.
Firstly: We’re not impressed with him talking to “world leaders” about trade or anything else.
Secondly: The comment “frankly New Zealanders are over it” is so flawed. Who have you been listening to, Luxon? You’ll find out at your cost (and the cost of several MPs) just how wrong you are on that one, old chap. We’re not “over it” despite how much you’d like to dream it so.
Thirdly: “They want us to move on and focus on things like this that are actually about advancing their wellbeing and their standard of living.” You haven’t asked, Chris: you’ve made a huge assumption. I’m not the only one who disagrees with you. Getting this sorted is entirely about advancing our wellbeing and standard of living. Like many hard-grafting Kiwis, I’m tired of you squandering my taxes on race-driven separatist garbage and I won’t quietly go away and consider this stain on our society acceptable or closed. You’re far from having heard the last of it. It will haunt your campaign all the way to the election and will cost you seats.
You’ve missed the point that a two-tiered apartheid system being sneaked into our way of life is not something we (including many Māori and other races who now call New Zealand home) want to have happen. Our wellbeing will indeed be advanced by you dealing with this issue. Getting it sorted has only positives in it for you and for us. But with another example of your political ineptitude, you’ve kicked that one down the road.
Luxon made calls to leaders including Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
We’re not impressed. All you needed to do was acknowledge that the Treaty cottage industry does present issues that need to be addressed. Maybe the Treaty Principles Bill isn’t the right way – tell us why. Tell us what you think is a good idea. Don’t treat us with arrogant disdain and declare us and the matter closed.
Which begs the question: why so adamant? Why go down a potentially disastrous political pathway that was completely unneeded? Why don’t you see the obvious? Are you really that deeply inept? Or is there some other reason we don’t know about? Maybe some surreptitious ulterior plan, so far unspecified but cunningly hidden under your hat?
Let us never forget two of the greatest political cons in New Zealand history – He Puapua and Three Waters – were mysteriously withheld from public display and discussion until it was almost too late.
Who knows what the agenda really is this time.
