Don Brash
Hobson’s Pledge
As we enter these final days of voting, the future of our country hangs in the balance. Will we be a country that promotes equality and one law for all, or will we become divided, based on ethnicity and when our ancestors arrived here?
Election day is this Saturday, and you may have already voted. I believe now is the time to strip away the political noise and return to the two core principles that have driven the Hobson’s Pledge movement from day one:
- One Law for All: Equal rights, duties, and citizenship for every New Zealander – regardless of ancestry.
- Democratic Accountability: Restoring sovereign, transparent governance, where elected representatives make the laws and every vote carries equal weight.
These two, together, will make New Zealand a strong, flourishing, and truly liberal society. It is one where we all – our kids and grandkids included – can live together equally and peacefully.
The alternative is one of division: a society where people are not treated equally, where some get more voting rights and privileges than others, and a society constantly judging citizens according to their ethnicity. We have seen the constant push for such division through calls for co-governance and reports like He Puapua and Matike Mai.
Hobson’s Pledge Priorities
Over this election period, Hobson’s Pledge’s priorities have been both direct and clear:
- End the Māori seats: Under MMP, there is no justification for dividing New Zealanders by ancestry. Every citizen should have the same vote, on the same roll, with the same weight. This was recommended by the royal commission when they recommended MMP, yet it has not been taken up by successive governments – despite political parties such as National saying in the past that this was their policy. (Indeed, three previous National Party leaders – Bill English, John Key, and I – made very specific commitments to abolish separate Māori electorates.)
- Disestablish the Waitangi Tribunal: The tribunal was created in 1975 to hear historical grievances. As Treaty settlements are completed, that job is almost finished. What remains is an unelected body that keeps finding new grounds for inquiry and sets itself up as a rival voice to the elected parliament.
- Challenge the Labour Party: We have also been asking Chris Hipkins and the Labour Party to rule out Te Pāti Māori. Voters deserve to know if Hipkins will embrace the radical and divisive policies of Te Pāti Māori in coalition. As I write, Labour has been totally silent on this matter, which speaks volumes.
Where the Parties Stand
While Hobson’s Pledge does not endorse specific political parties or tell you whom to vote for, it is important that voters know where each party sits on these critical issues before heading to the voting stations:
- ACT: Announced it would end the Waitangi Tribunal’s contemporary jurisdiction and close it once its historical work is finished. It would also abolish the Māori seats. Again and again, ACT’s leader has stressed the importance of treating all New Zealanders as equal, irrespective of when they or their ancestors arrived in New Zealand.
- NZ First: Promised legislation within 100 days of the election to abolish the Waitangi Tribunal and replace it with a Completion Commission. It is also campaigning for a binding referendum on the Māori seats.
- National: Has not committed to abolishing either the Māori seats or the Waitangi Tribunal. Christopher Luxon has called the tribunal’s role after settlements “a legitimate question” and stated that ending it is “not off the table”. He has also stated that National wants to keep the status quo regarding the Māori seats, despite the commitments of three of his predecessors.
- The Parties on the Left: Unsurprisingly, the parties on the left have no intention of ending either the Waitangi Tribunal or Māori electorates. In fact, it is almost the complete opposite – some parties on the left want to entrench the Māori seats permanently, strengthen the work of the Waitangi Tribunal, and look for more ways to divide New Zealand by entrenching co-governance. It is a serious concern that one of the authors of He Puapua would become a member of parliament if the Opportunity Party makes it into parliament.
Make Your Vote Count
This election is one of the most critical in recent memory. The direction of our country for generations to come will be decided by the choices made over the next few days.
Will we be a country focused on equality or one obsessed with division? A nation that shares one law for all, or one seeking different rights for different groups?
We urge you to look closely at party policies, consider the future of equal citizenship in New Zealand, and make sure your voice is heard before voting closes this Saturday evening.
This article was originally published by Hobson’s Pledge.
