From the Desk of a Male, Pale and Stale

It’s ironic that TV1, RNZ, and similar media outlets so strongly support the current hīkoi process opposing David Seymour’s call for a discussion of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi – so much for the impartial and investigative press. These mainstream media organisations face severe economic challenges: TV1 lost $85 million in 2023, and RNZ lost $1.4 million.^{(1, 2)} Meanwhile, the Māori groups they champion are thriving, despite these groups portraying themselves as marginalised, disadvantaged and at risk of ‘losing rights’.

Let’s have a look at the figures, courtesy of PricewaterhouseCoopers and the MBIE. The following is from the PWC website and you can find it here: https://www.pwc.co.nz/insights-and-publications/2023-publications/unlocking-the-potential-of-the-maori-economy.html?form=MG0AV3

And from the MBIE (2023): https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/economic-development/te-ohanga-maori-the-maori-economy/te-ohanga-maori-the-maori-economy-reports?form=MG0AV3

The Māori community undeniably plays a significant role in New Zealand’s society and economy. However, despite this influence, some still claim that Māori are ‘marginalised’.

· However, the Māori economy controls nearly $70 billion in assets – an asset base well beyond that of the average New Zealander’s heritage.

Further, the Māori community’s substantial capital base complements various exclusive policies, programs, and privileges available to only Māori. Examples include:

· MBIE: He Kai Kei Aku Ringa: Māori-Crown Economic Growth Partnership 2023 – an all-of-government initiative aimed at advancing economic outcomes for Māori. (Budget not publicly available.)

· Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development): Allocated a budget of $83.5 million which is spent across a broad number of projects.⁽³⁾

MBIE: Te Pūnaha Hihiko – Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund – a separate NZD two million fund to support Māori involvement in science, innovation and technology⁽⁴⁾.
Additionally, $55 million has been allocated specifically for Māori and Pasifika journalism initiatives, further supporting these communities.⁽⁵⁾

Bonus example(s) from one of my alma maters: Otago University.

The University of Otago offers scholarships for Māori students⁽⁶⁾ with several education support programs including:

University of Otago Māori Entrance Scholarships: These scholarships are available to students of Māori descent looking to begin their first year of tertiary study, with a standard value of NZD $13,000.
Tū Kahika: This scholarship supports Māori students interested in a career in health through the University of Otago’s Foundation Year Health Sciences course and beyond.
Te Manahua NZUWiL Scholarships: These scholarships are available for Māori and Pasifika women in academic or senior professional staff positions who are in or aspire to be in leadership positions.

These types of scholarships exist all over New Zealand and across a broad span of institutions, professions, organisations and so on and in great numbers. The cumulative value of such programmes runs into further millions.

As well as all this capital backing, industry, education and social support, the Māori community receives political support. There are currently seven Māori seats in the New Zealand Parliament. These seats were established by the Māori Representation Act of 1867 to ensure Māori representation in parliament. Initially, there were four seats, but this number has increased over time to better represent the Māori population. The Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori) has a significant influence, especially when aligning with the Green Party and the Labour Party to advocate for policies that benefit Māori communities.^{(7, 8)}

Following on from the making of legislation is the need, as the occasion arises for legal support. With the funding available the best may be available, e.g., Russell McVeagh⁽⁹⁾. But let’s hear from them:

Regarding David Seymour’s “Treaty Principles” Bill, I draw your attention to their use of the word principles within a legal context, which makes the recent letter from 44 King’s Counsels to the Crown expressing their concern regarding “principles being discussed” – redundant: the issue is already afoot. Possibly they would prefer that they steered the course of this Treaty matter rather than our legislators.⁽¹⁰⁾

And, of course, the Māori are not without judicial representation. The Waitangi Tribunal, consisting of up to 20 members with about half being Māori and half non-Māori (Pākehā). The chair is Chief Judge Wilson Isaac of the Māori Land Court.⁽¹¹⁾

The Tribunal is very active and has even been accused of overreach, for example, by summoning a minister of the Crown (Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour) as if they had the power to enforce.⁽¹²⁾

I could pursue this narrative much further but I hope the reader has become aware that Māori in NZ already have a cornucopia of resources and benefits available to them compared to non-Māori.

It is doubtful that David Seymour’s bill, despite strident claims, is directly endangering such “rights” – but maybe...

· The “Treaty Principles Bill” is not so much a threat to Māori rights but rather it threatens to reveal just how extensive, asymmetric and consequential the preferential position of Māori, compared to others in New Zealand, is.

Underneath it all, do these protesters recognise how fortunate they are? Or, because that breaks an ideological narrative, one that does not acknowledge the ample power at their fingertips – economic, political, social, and otherwise – could it be that by focusing on surface-level concerns rather than addressing deeper issues of privilege within their own ranks, they are inviting an unintended level of scrutiny?

References

1. https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/tvnz_s_85_million_loss_proves_why_they_need_to_be_sold?form=MG0AV3

2. https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/cms_uploads/000/000/471/RNZ_Annual_Report_2022-23.pdf?form=MG0AV3

3. Māori Development Portfolio - Budget 2024 Information Release | The Treasury New Zealand

4. https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/funding-information-and-opportunities/investment-funds/vmcf?form=MG0AV3

5. https://asiapacificreport.nz/2021/07/19/nz-media-fund-gives-boost-to-new-maori-journalism-projects-training/?form=MG0AV3

6. Scholarships for Māori students - AskOtago Service Portal

7. https://www.parliament.nz/en/document/00NZPHomeNews201109011?form=MG0AV3

8. https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/?form=MG0AV3

9. https://www.russellmcveagh.com/our-expertise/maori-legal/?form=MG0AV3

10. King’s Counsel call on government to withdraw proposed Treaty Principles Bill, citing constitutional concerns - Chris Lynch Media

11. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-member-appointed-waitangi-tribunal?form=MG0AV3