Chris Hipkins has shown us all that a vote for Labour is a vote for more race-based division after he declared that Christopher Luxon was wrong and that he and his ilk are right that Māori did not cede sovereignty when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.
Chris Hipkins was unequivocal.
The leader of Labour was asked to clarify his position on Te Ao with Moana (Whakaata Māori, 8pm Monday).
The issue of Māori sovereignty has been front and centre at major hui throughout the country. Following the Koroneihana (the week-long celebration of King Tūheitia) and after questioning from Greens Co-leader Chloe Swarbrick, the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, told Parliament he believed Māori ceded sovereignty to the Crown. On Monday night, Hipkins was adamant he believes otherwise.
“It’s pretty clear that if you follow the various court rulings over time, if you follow all of the academic research, if you actually follow the Treaty settlement process, that the answer to that question is no,” declared Hipkins.
“That doesn’t mean that the Crown doesn’t have sovereignty now,” he added, “but Māori didn’t cede sovereignty in signing the Treaty.”
