BREITBART | Published November 16, 2024
Thousands marched on New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington on Friday to protest a bill that would reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, an 1840 agreement between the British Empire and Maori chiefs that governs policy matters related to indigenous people to this day.
The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi bill was introduced last week by the ACT New Zealand party, which has been critical of what it describes as special privileges granted to the Maori. The treaty’s guarantee of Maori control over their lands has been very influential in New Zealand law.
The Maori make up about 20 percent of New Zealand’s population, but much of the public is opposed to the new bill and it has little support among even the rest of the governing coalition. Many New Zealanders believe the current understanding of the treaty is vital to correcting colonial-era injustices and securing a fair place in modern society for the Maori.
The treaty is broadly summarized as having three core principles, or the “Three Ps,” meaning partnership, participation, and protection. Since the 1970s, this has translated into massive land settlements for the Maori, guarantees of participation in both the local and national government, and social welfare programs.
“What all of these principles have in common is that they afford Māori different rights from other New Zealanders,” argued the author of the controversial new bill, ACT leader David Seymour – who is himself Maori.
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SOURCE: www.breitbart.com
RELATED: Maori haka in NZ parliament to protest at bill to reinterpret founding treaty
BBC NEWS | Published November 16, 2024
New Zealand’s parliament was brought to a temporary halt by MPs performing a haka, amid anger over a controversial bill seeking to reinterpret the country’s founding treaty with Māori people.
Opposition party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the traditional ceremonial group dance after being asked whether her party supported the bill, which faced its first vote on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a hīkoi – or peaceful protest march – organised by a Māori rights group, is continuing to make its way towards the capital, Wellington.
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