A Brazen Plan For Maori

I was shocked by the Ngai Tahu representative Liz Brown’s evidence to the Maori Affairs Select Committee hearing on the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngai Tahu Representation) Bill, last week. During her evidence, she stated that Ngai Tahu’s ultimate goal was co-governance (ECAN) and went further to say that co-government (Parliament) was also on their horizon.

But first some background. In 2010, commissioners were appointed by Government to govern the Canterbury Regional Council (ECAN) as the council fell into disarray. In 2016 the commissioners included two members appointed by Ministers on the recommendation of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (TRoNT). Fair enough, commissioners were being appointed rather than being democratically elected, it made sense to attempt representation of and for the people, albeit that this was a far from an ideal solution.

With the return of democratically elected Councillors, ECAN now want to return to the appointment of two Councillors recommended by TRoNT and have put forward what is known as a local Bill in the name of Rino Tirikatene the Member for Te Tai Tonga. Local Bills deal with issues specific to an area and are unique to the particular local authority.

The new bill will allow TRoNT to appoint two ECAN councillors in addition to the fourteen democratically elected councillors. ECAN could have used the controversial Maori Wards Act to establish Maori Wards, but chose not to because; “It would enfranchise all Maori on the Maori electoral roll, and disenfranchise Ngai Tahu members on the general roll.”

Make no mistake this bill is not about Maori representation, it is about TRoNT representation.

We are fortunate to live in a representative democracy, and the events in Ukraine are a reminder of the alternative. We must remember that so many New Zealanders fought and died to preserve our freedoms, the same freedoms that Ukrainians are fighting for today.

Remuneration Authority Chair Dame Fran Wilde also called out ECAN councillors for protecting their salaries, as the bill allows the salaries for TRoNT appointees to be funded from outside the Councillors remuneration envelope.

In effect ECAN want TRoNT representation but not at their expense, rather they will pass the cost onto ratepayers.

While Liz Brown’s brazen assertion may shock many, I and a number of my colleagues have heard Labour members stating that democracy does not work for Maori. Well tough luck, the alternative to a democratic society does not bear thinking about. The essence of democracy is majority rule, and while not perfect by any means, the alternative is minority rule, and history tells us that it is a dangerous path to take.

If we accept laws such as this, we will have all played a role in the demise of our democracy.

My thanks to Southland MP Joseph Mooney who is a member of the Maori Affairs Select Committee, who put this short video clip of Liz Brown together which you can watch here: