This is edition 2025/201 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. Are whakapapa and citizenship the same?
Simon O'Connor
- 🇳🇿 Waitangi Tribunal ruling: The Tribunal has ruled that the law on New Zealand citizenship should be changed to broaden citizenship by descent rules, but only for Māori.
- 👩👧 Case example: Actress Keisha Castle-Hughes and others with Māori ancestry, born overseas to New Zealand citizens, seek to pass citizenship to their children, which is outside current rules.
- 🤔 Māori whakapapa vs. citizenship: Māori heritage (whakapapa) and citizenship are distinct—one can be Māori without being a citizen, and vice versa. Citizenship is a legal right; whakapapa is a moral fact.
- ⚖️ Equal rights debate: Critics argue that if descent rules are expanded, it should apply to everyone, not just those with Māori ancestry, to avoid discrimination.
- 🧐 Waitangi Tribunal's approach: The Tribunal's decision to limit the rule change to Māori only is seen as flawed and unworkable. It raises confusion about the relationship between whakapapa and citizenship.
- 💰 Relevance of the Tribunal: The Tribunal is viewed as redundant by some, as it consistently rules in one direction, leading to the question of whether it justifies the significant taxpayer funding it receives. More efficient alternatives could be explored.
