Hipkins and McAnulty have performed a water-conjuring trick by making co-governance disappear. This was a word which we thought had become part of the New Zealand lexicon because we had heard it so often.
In George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, the Ministry of Truth would use a tool called “Newspeak”, which made inconvenient words disappear, never to be heard of again in Oceania. This seems to have happened to the word co-governance. In fact, Hipkins said there was never such a thing as co-governance. I only wish he had told us earlier as screeds have been written on it.
In one way Hipkins may have done us a favour by admitting there is no co-governance as there actually isn’t. The overriding body on upcoming legislation on the ten water entities is “Te Mana O Te Wai”. The boards must accept statements made by this body, which is 100% Maori. This entity will interpret the Mauri soul of the water – “Mauri” is not a spelling mistake; this is what it is called. Kieran McAnulty has already stated that Maori interests supersede democracy.
Another tool commonly used in Orwell’s novel was “Doublethink”, used when the real meaning of a word was inverted. For instance, “Affordable Water Reforms” are anything but affordable. The ten water entities will cost more, and 1.6 million Aucklanders will be paying for Northland. No wonder Tuku Morgan is jumping for joy. This is apart from the fact that rate-payers, not the government, will have to cough up for any debts incurred.
If we are going to go down the route of renaming upcoming legislation through Newspeak and Doublethink, why not be honest about the legislation and call it what it is – Maori Water Reform – instead of Affordable Water Reforms?
The greatest heist this country has ever seen will take place with the transfer of water to Maori giving them untold wealth and influence.
National MP Joseph Mooney has done a bit of moonlighting on Twitter, playing Maori at their own game by quoting the Treaty in Maori. Shock, horror, it actually says all races are equal.
It is fitting to remember that on Anzac Day many gave their lives for democracy: a commodity now being tossed aside carelessly by the present Labour Government.
