Geoff Parker
Geoff Parker is a passionate advocate for equal rights and a colour blind society.
Former National Party leader Sir John Key, as reported in the NZ Herald, has urged a more measured approach to race issues. He emphasized the importance of careful handling, saying, “You should always treat race issues carefully because in the end, we all want to live in a harmonious society, and Māori are the indigenous population of New Zealand and Treaty partners. So you have to treat them with respect and carefully, I think.”
However, considering the race-based policies implemented during the last National Government, many feel Key is out of line in calling on the current government to “take the temperature down a wee bit” in the debate around race issues.
Indigenous Status
The debate over whether Māori are indigenous to New Zealand is contentious. Despite claims that Māori can trace their arrival in New Zealand to around 1250-1300 AD, some argue this does not qualify them as indigenous. Anthony Willy, a barrister and solicitor who served as a judge on four courts, points out that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples does not clearly define “indigenous”. The concise Oxford Dictionary primarily refers to indigenous as native plant life, while Webster’s dictionary defines it as the earliest known inhabitants.
Ngāpuhi leader David Rankin, among others, questions the indigenous status of Māori, citing evidence of pre-Māori inhabitants such as the Moriori of the Chatham Islands. Furthermore, Māori share DNA with Taiwanese sailors, suggesting they were not the original inhabitants of New Zealand.
According to Willy, the only reason Māori could be considered indigenous at the time of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 is that they were the most recent arrivals.
Treaty Partners
The notion of Māori and the Crown being “Treaty partners” is disputed. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed by chiefs and the Crown, does not establish a partnership.
Article 3 of the Treaty granted Māori the rights of British subjects, placing them under the political control of the Queen. Therefore, it is constitutionally impossible for the Crown to be in a partnership with its subjects. While the Crown has a fiduciary obligation to all citizens, this does not equate to a partnership.
Harmonious Society
John Key’s call for a harmonious society is criticized as contradictory. Elevating one section of society above others can lead to division rather than harmony. Respect should be afforded to all citizens, but there are concerns about the behaviour of certain Māori leaders and activists. Key’s perspective, seen by some as a short-term, market-driven approach, appears to appease those seeking power and control at the expense of societal harmony.
Treading Carefully
Since the 1970s, successive governments have treaded carefully around Māori issues, often yielding to activist demands. Critics argue this has led to increased control by activist Māori over various aspects of New Zealand society. There has certainly been massive money flows which has done nothing to improve the often referred to “negative Maori statistics”.
Lowering the Temperature
The suggestion to lower the temperature on race issues is seen as naive. Publications like the NZ Herald’s report on Key’s comments may embolden activists, making it unlikely that tensions will decrease.
Notes
Today, no full-blooded Māori exist; all have mixed ancestry. Many who identify as Māori have significant heritage from other ethnicities.
Critics argue that in 1840, most chiefs signed away their desire for inter-tribal domination in exchange for the rights and protection of British subjects.
Concerns are raised about current political leadership, particularly Mr Luxon of the National Party, and his stance on Māori preference and racial equality. Critics believe this does not bode well for National's re-election chances.
This article was originally published at Breaking Views.
