OPINION
New Zealand will never have a grown up discussion about the Treaty of Waitangi; even more so with threats of violence and intimidation over a democratic referendum about the Treaty. When Maori say democracy doesn’t work for them we should believe them, that they are against democracy. When Maori threaten violence and intimidation we should believe them about that too.
Maori are warning of sweeping protests, division and the potential for violence if ACT’s proposed Treaty referendum gets across the line in coalition negotiations for the new government.
However, ACT leader David Seymour says he doesn’t accept there will be disruption – and he has his finger on the pulse of the Maori world.
Otaki man Nathan Kirker said there would be an “uproar” if the government tried to launch the referendum. He said Australia’s vote on The Voice, the same day as New Zealand’s election, was a “prime example” of how referendums were a numbers game.
This month, Australians voted on changing their constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Islanders as first nation people, through the creation of an advisory group to the government. It was rejected 60% to 40%.
Kirker would join any protests, he said, as would many people he knew – especially from Otaki, which has a strong reo-speaking Maori population. “[and] Not just the Maori, the Pakeha are great here too.”
If the referendum went ahead there would be “a huge protest down at Parliament”. There was a possibility of it “turning into violence”, Kirker said .
…
Kirker said he would feel real anger if the referendum went ahead.
“If someone tells me, walking down the street, that they would tick for the referendum and say ‘yes’, that would p… me off … it’s like, ‘Nah, f… off.’”
Stuff
There you have it: the bully pulpit, threats of intimidation and violence, and a rejection of constitutional democratic mechanisms such as referenda, by Maori. What’s the bet Police won’t meet actual violence at Parliament by Maori in the same manner with which they attacked and stomped all over peaceful protestors?
This is the damage that six years of the Ardern/Hipkins regime have delivered, through their promotion of a heroic reinterpretation of the treaty, paying millions upon millions of dollars to media organisations on the proviso that they too promote this divisive agenda, forcing through race-based policies in health and the confiscation of council water assets that have been effectively handed over to iwi elites.
Labour fostered this division and this overt racism, and now if anyone dares to query any aspect of it they are howled down as racist, threatened, intimidated and promised violence in return.
This is what New Zealand has become: thanks Ardern, thanks Hipkins.
This nation is poorer as a result of the bully pulpit and intimidation effectively silencing all except those who are brave enough to stand up to these threats.
This is Jacinda Ardern’s legacy.
Help Fund Our NewsDesk
We are building a NewsDesk, hiring journalists and taking the fight to the mainstream media. Will you help fund our NewsDesk?
Registered before? Log in to use your saved details.
If you registered an account, please enter your details below to login. If this is your first time, proceed to the donation form.
Please share this article so others can discover The BFD.