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Reinstating
democracy
Muriel Newman,
21 March 2011
There
appears to be a growing undercurrent of disillusionment
with New Zealand’s system of representative democracy.
Some are saying our elected members of parliament are
turning their backs to the voters.... More >>>
Racial
Extortion or “Freedom from Fear?”
Gavin
de Malmanche
20 March 2011
Last
year New Zealanders were informed a new Marine and Coastal
Area Bill, scheduled to replace the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed
Act would mean “nothing would change.” Despite this claim,
further down the track... More
>>>
Corporate
iwi get rich at your expense
Muriel Newman,
14 March 2011
Few
know much about a shadowy and powerful group of tribal
elite that have become a driving force behind the
acquisition of public assets. While they first argued
for Treaty settlements to put right historic wrongs,...
More >>>
People
Power or Ethnic Elites?
Elizabeth
Rata
13 March 2011
In
the last five years there has been a shift in the strategies
used by iwi in their quest for property rights and
constitutional recognition. The shift is from a Treaty of
Waitangi justification to a more comprehensive indigenous
group rights argument.... More
>>>
A
dangerous law
Muriel Newman,
6 March 2011
After nine months
of campaigning to raise public awareness about the dangers
of the Marine and Coastal Area Bill, the National Party is
on the brink of passing it into law - while the country is
still in mourning over the shocking Canterbury earthquake.
According to Parliament’s Order Paper, National intends
pushing ahead with what has been called the most
controversial bill in modern times, on Tuesday. More >>>
No
ordinary bill
Chris
Trotter
6 March 2011
The
government's decision to rush through the remaining stages of
the Marine & Coastal Area Bill is as ill-considered as it
is dangerous. For this is no ordinary piece of legislation,
easily repealed by a newly-elected House of Representatives.
It is a bill which confers upon Maori, by virtue of their
indigeneity, a new kind of property right (Customary Title),
along with a powerful new set of legal powers to enforce that
right – powers which the legislation’s many critics
believe will undermine the generally accepted principles of
liberal democracy.
More
>>>
Privilege
Muriel Newman,
20 February 2011
Is John Key a man of his word, or
simply a man of words? That is a question many are
beginning to ask as finally the electorate’s love
affair with what was an image of hope is starting to
tire. More >>>
Traversty
of trust
Muriel Newman,
13 February 2011
It
appears that unless there is intense public pressure NOW,
John Key will pass the Marine and Coastal Area Bill into
law under urgency this week. Why else would the Bill
have been rushed back... More >>>
A
question of trust – The government & the Marine
and Coastal Bill
Michael Coote
13 February 2011
In the cop
spoof comedy “Sledgehammer”, the policeman hero Mike
Hammer used to pull out a huge silver gun in the presence of
frightened women and children and say, “Trust me, I know
what I’m doing.” The National-led government is in the
same position with attempting to force the Marine and
Coastal (Takutai Moana) Bill through Parliament as soon as
it can get away with it...
More
>>>
Here's
a government department we can do without
Wayne Brown
30 January 2011
I
received a call from the press the other day asking me if I
had any comment on the announcement from the Race Relations
Conciliator that they were taking no further action on the
complaint against me. My comment was “How do you know all
this?”...
More
>>>
One
nation, two peoples
Muriel Newman,
23 January 2011
Last week a group of Christian
students climbed to the top of Mount Egmont so they
could hold an “epic barbecue. Instead of praise for
the fact that they had engaged in some good clean fun...
More >>>
Multiculturalism
and Diversity – part 1
David Round
23 January 2011
It
was, doubtless, with relief, not unmingled with boredom, and a
silent prayer of thanks that we lived a very long way away,
that we recently read in our newspapers that ‘[f]inally,
Iraq is on the verge of having a government...
More
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Call
for Finlayson to be replaced
Muriel Newman,
5 December 2010
The National Party has a problem,
thanks to their list MP Christopher Finlayson. He no doubt
promised his Caucus colleagues that he could deliver on a bill
to replace Labour’s Foreshore and Seabed Act... More >>>
Submissions
to the Marine and Coastal Area Bill
5 December 2010
Extracts from submissions to
the Marine and Coastal Area Bill. More
>>>
Setting
the record straight
Muriel Newman,
28 November 2010
There are some causes in this
world that good people just can’t ignore. That’s why many
of us are speaking out against National’s planned repeal of
the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act...why some are
taking a stand .. More >>>
Protest
without end
28 November 2010
Mike Butler
A solidarity picnic against a
land protest at the Far North Taipa Sailing Club has shown
what to do when authorities are reluctant to enforce a
trespass order – take direct action. Since the organised
protest picnic against a Maori land protest may indicate a
turning point, the following quick look at 43 years of
treatyist activism shows how the movement has relied upon
occupations... More
>>>
Intimidation
and Fear in Coastal Communities
Muriel Newman,
21 November 2010
Maori
protest action has created a pall over the Far North community
of Taipa. It’s the one that is in the news at the moment,
but everywhere Maori activists have been allowed by the
authorities to... More >>>
Maori
occupation at Taipa: An insiders view
21 November 2010
A Resident of Taipa
Last weekend was glorious at Taipa Point and
looking out over the estuary it would have been difficult
to find a more tranquil or beautiful setting in ‘God’s
Own’. The beach had a colourful sheen under clear skies
and ... More
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Speak
now or forever lose your beach!
Muriel Newman,
14 November 2010
In his
iconic book “Free to Choose”, Milton Friedman explained
the strategy used by many governments when they want to pass
legislation that will benefit a minority of citizens at the
expense of the majority... More >>>
AMarry
in haste, repent at leisure
14 November 2010
Prof
Roger Bowden
The
new Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill brings to
mind the old saying ‘marry in haste, repent at leisure’.
The problem is that it’s the National and Maori parties that
joined in unholy matrimony, and... More
>>>
n
open letter to John Key
31 October 2010
Muriel Newman
Dear
Prime Minister, In late March, when you launched your
government’s Review of the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act,
you stated that you would leave the current law in
place if there was insufficient support for your plan... More >>>
Foreshore
and seaabed public access
31 October 2010
David
Round
Something
very suspicious is happening. The Prime Minister and
Attorney-General insist that their proposed new foreshore and
seabed law will allow free public access, and accuse Dr Hugh
Barr, of the Coastal Coalition, of telling ‘untruths’...
More
>>>
ational's
foreshore & seabed bill
26 September 2010
Muriel Newman
If
you want
New Zealand
to remain a democracy rather than slowly reverting to a tribal
aristocracy, please read on. And as you do, think about your
children and grandchildren, and whether you want them to... More >>>
Submission
process a disgrace
26 September 2010
David
Round
Public
submissions on the government’s Marine and Coastal Area
(Takutai Moana) Bill may now be made until the 19th
of November. Then, after those who wish to speak to their
submissions have done so, the select committee hearing... More
>>>
New
Race-based Legislation Tabled
12 September 2010
Muriel Newman
In an
astonishing twist of fate, the party that came back from the
wilderness on the promise of unifying the country by putting
an end to divisive race-based legislation and abolishing the
Maori seats is...More >>>
The
iwi tax is upon us
12 September 2010
Prof
Roger Bowden
The
worrying thing about being an economist is that every decision
becomes an economic decision. It causes paralytic seizures
every time I step into a shop. Just ask the wife. But
just occasionally... More
>>>
Tribalism
vs democracy
29 August 2010
Muriel Newman
New
Zealand
is at a crossroad
between tribalism and democracy. The Maori tribal elite,
backed by the Maori Party - and now the National Party - are
gaining momentum...
More >>>
A Crime Against the Public
29 August 2010
David
Round
For
the last couple of weeks we have been expecting the
appearance of the government’s draft foreshore and
seabed bill. Usually reliable rumours told us that it
would be going to the Cabinet in the last week or two...
More
>>>
John
Key - Selling Out to Maori Activists
1 August 2010
Muriel Newman
Almost
without a ripple, John Key’s administration is about to
table a bill in Parliament that will have far reaching
consequences that few can imagine. I am of course referring to
the Government’s proposed changes to the... More >>>
The
Great Foreshore
and Seabed
Sellout
31 July 2010
Michael
Coote
The
National-led government’s attempts to sanitize its
controversial “remedy” to the Foreshore and Seabed
Act (2004) grow ever more curious and contradictory by
the day. It
is quite clear that the government and Maori interests
already do not see eye-to-eye over what the proposed
replacement legislation ... More
>>>
In
Pursuit of the National Interest
4 July 2010
Muriel Newman
Over
the last few years the information revolution has transformed
the way we communicate and access knowledge. The New Zealand
Centre for Political Research is a product of this... More >>>
The
foreshore smell has become deafening
4 July 2010
Prof Roger Bowden
Just
in case you hadn’t heard, it’s now official; under
the coalition Government’s proposed Foreshore and
Seabed Act Mark II, customary title is recognised as
ownership... More
>>>
Maori
Ownership of the Foreshore and Seabed
20 June 2010
Muriel Newman
It
has now been confirmed that under the new constitutional
arrangements National and the Maori Party are planning to push
through before Christmas, Maori will become the legal owners
of large tracts of New Zealand’s foreshore and seabed. More >>>
Giving
away the foreshore and seabed
20 June 2010
Hugh
Barr
Whatever
the outcome of coastal iwi quests for customary title to
the foreshore and seabed, under Mark2 of the foreshore
and seabed agreement, two lessons stand out. Firstly the
National Party is only too happy for power and political
expediency, to racially privatise public property such
as the foreshore...
More
>>>
The
Next Item on the Maori Agenda
7 June 2010
Muriel Newman
Five
years ago, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights
of Indigenous People, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, visited New Zealand
to consult with Maori... More >>>
Who
is Indigenous?
6 June 2010
David
Round
There
is, in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, one very surprising omission.
Nowhere is there any definition of who or what exactly
an indigenous person is. It would surely not be
unreasonable to ... More
>>>
A
Call to Action
18 April 2010
Muriel Newman
It
is crystal clear from the responses of the Minister of Treaty
Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, to questions posed by TV3’s
Duncan Garner on “The Nation” on 10 April 2010 that
National has no concerns about opening up New Zealand’s
foreshore and seabed to Maori development and mining. While
the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004, which vests ownership of
the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, currently protects New
Zealand’s coastline from exploitation by Maori or anyone
else for that matter, National intends to give Maori defacto
sovereignty rights over the foreshore and seabed - rights that
will give them status above New Zealand’s Parliament.
More >>>
Revisiting
the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004
18 April 2010
Michae Coote
First
up, let us refresh our memories as to what the foreshore
and seabed is legally defined as being. Prime minister
John Key for one keeps deliberately trivialising what
the foreshore and seabed is all about by cynically
rabbiting on about Kiwis retaining the right to walk
along the beach and cook up a barbie there. More
>>>
A
Radical Agenda
31
January 2010
Muriel Newman
Earlier this month Wikatana and John
Popata, the two brothers who assaulted the Prime Minister
at Waitangi Day last year, began an occupation on
privately owned land at Taipa in
the Far North. More
>>>
National
has no mandate for promoting racial separatism
31 January 2010
David Round
You
and I, gentle readers, can see all too clearly what is
happening to our country.
In despair we watch the whole colossal
slow-motion train wreck, helpless to do anything about it.
It is not that we are not trying to help.... More
>>>
Two
flags, two peoples, a divided nation
13 December 2009
Muriel Newman
New
Zealand has a lot to be proud of but there are some
aspects of life ‘down under’ that we would prefer not
to mention. Near the top of that list is racism. Racism is
alive and well in NZ... More
>>>
The
Enemy of Nationhood
13
December 2009
David Round
A nation’s
flag is a precious thing. It arises out of a long history; it
grows with a people and tells their story. The
New Zealand
flag is no exception. On the blue of the Pacific Ocean
shines the Southern Cross... More
>>>
Exposing
the Real Agenda
15 November 2009
Muriel Newman
It
is not easy to rile New Zealanders, but Hone Harawira’s
abusive email clearly did. By claiming that he was
entitled to rip off taxpayers with his jaunt to Paris
because Whities had been ripping off Maori for
centuries....
More
>>>
Time
to be Offended
15
November 2009
David Round
'White
motherf*****s have been raping our lands and ripping us off
for centuries….’ This
is, it seems, the sincere personal view of Hone Harawira, a
member of the New Zealand Parliament... More
>>>
Down
the Path to Racism
27 September 2009
Muriel Newman
The recent deal between the Maori Party and National
over free insulation for Maori houses - whereby social
assistance will be based on race, not need - lays a new
paving stone on the path to a country divided by race.
More
>>>
The
"H" Battle
27 September 2009
David Round
The arguments about the ‘h’ in Wanganui
will clearly be around for some time to come. The citizens
of Wanganui, led by their firm no-nonsense mayor Michael
Laws, have no intention of giving up without a fight. More
>>>
No
Maori Seats - for now
6 September 2009
Muriel Newman
As
was expected, in its report on the Local Government
(Auckland Council) Bill released on Friday, the special
Auckland Governance Legislation Committee did not
recommend separate Maori seats for Auckland’s new super
city council. More
>>>
No
Mandate for Rights Declaration
1 August 2009
Muriel Newman
In May, Justice Minister
Simon Power explained to the United Nations that the new
National-led Government intends to sign the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
More
>>>
The
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
1 August 2009
David Round
There is a
difference of opinion between the Prime Minister and the
Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Peter Sharples, over New
Zealand’s possible endorsement of the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. More
>>>
Controversy,
Conservation & Consultation
5 July 2009
Muriel Newman
Last
week a controversial review of Labour’s 2004 foreshore
and seabed legislation was published. It recommended that
the Act be repealed so that Maori can take up their
customary rights to the foreshore and seabed ... More
>>>
Too
Much Secrecy
28 June 2009
Muriel Newman
On
Wednesday, eight central North Island tribes will take
control of 170,000 hectares of forests in the Kaingaroa
region in the country’s biggest Treaty of Waitangi
settlement to date. More
>>>
Reflections
on the Treaty
28 June 2009
David Round
In 1998, when the Canterbury University
Press published my book Truth
or Treaty? Commonsense Questions about the Treaty of Waitangi, the public mood
was somewhat different from today’s... More
>>>
Is
Maori Disparity a Myth
14 June 2009
Muriel Newman
Over the years claims of a growing disparity between
the socio-economic outcomes of Maori and non-Maori have
dominated the rhetoric of Maori ethnic politics. The existence of this so-called “gap” has been
blamed on...
More
>>>
Who
are indiginous Australians?
13 June 2009
Professor Helen Hughes and Mark Hughes
In
1967 Australians overwhelmingly supported a referendum
that altered the Australian constitution in regard to
Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The strong support
was a measure of mainstream Australia's belief that ...
More
>>>
Should
New Zealand Stand Firm?
12
April 2009
Muriel Newman
On
Friday 3rd April 2009 the Australian Government
endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. This move fulfilled an election
promise made by Kevin Rudd.... More
>>>
NZ
should stay put on UN Indigenous declaration
11
April
2009
Sara Hudson and Luke Malpass
Recently
Prime Minister John Key was caught musing over whether New
Zealand should follow Australia’s lead and sign up to
the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Let us all hope that he doesn’t.
... More
>>>
The
Maori Seats in Parliament
22
February
2009
Professor Philip Joseph
Some
little while ago, I was invited to contribute to a study
on the social and economic progress of Maori.
It was suggested that I might examine the Maori
seats in Parliament. A moment’s hesitation and I said
“yes”... More
>>>
Time
to face the truth
22
February 2009
Muriel Newman
Ironically
it has taken the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to
expose the fact that racism exists in New Zealand. Sadly,
in these politically correct times, anyone who dares to
comment on this dark national secret risks... More
>>>
Maori
seats give unwarranted influence based on race
1
November 08
Bob Jones
I
dislike the Maori seats, which are both racist and
undemocratic. Introduced as a short-term measure, they
should have been abandoned decades ago.
More
>>>
Cannibalism
too unpalatable for some
7
September 08
Paul Moon
Paul
Moon talks about Maori reaction to the publiction of his
book, This Horrid Practice. "This
year marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Nazi’s
book-burning – a crude pogrom against any knowledge or
ideas that the German Government considered ideologically
unacceptable in 1933...The
physical destruction of books now seems to belong to
another, much less enlightened age, but not so the
censorial urges that led to the practice – something
that I have experienced first hand in the past few weeks..." More
>>>
The
Future of Maori Seats
22
June 2008
Muriel Newman
According
the Christchurch Press, a 35kg greenstone pounamu
travelled first class to China, accompanied by two members
of Ngai Tahu. They explain that the stone had to fly first
class because Ngai Tahu claimed it was “culturally
insensitive to put it in the hold”
More
>>>
The
Maori Seats in Parliament
19
June 08
David Round
An old
adage declares that nothing is as permanent as a temporary
expedient. Four Maori seats were established within the
New Zealand Parliament in 1867 as a very temporary
expedient, originally for a mere five years while Maori
communal title to land was converted by the
Native Land Court
into freehold title. More
>>>
The
Promise of the Treaty
20 April 08
Muriel Newman
The Maori Party is calling for Maori seats to be
established in Auckland local authority areas. They
believe that the creation of Maori wards or a Maori seat
quota would ensure that “tangata whenua play a
meaningful role in governance” and that the Maori vision
of “partnership” is honoured... More >>>
One
in Six
15 March
08
Muriel Newman
On Tuesday international “race
relations day” - a day to promote the elimination of
racial discrimination – will be celebrated by schools
from all over the country. It remains a
puzzle, however, that in a country where it is unlawful to
discriminate on the basis of race, racism is being
actively encouraged by the government...
More >>>
Grief,
Pain & Division of our People over Maori Land &
Tribal Politics
15 March 08
Kelly
Te Heuheu
Since early childhood, I remember the punch-ups and
arguments between our people over land and tribal
politics. The worse issue with Maori Land is most of it is
in multiple ownership which is disastrous. More
>>>
When
Radicals Agree
10 February 08
Muriel Newman
With radical agendas gaining
ascendency, it is inevitable the there will be a clash of
cultures between the ideals of the many and varied
malcontents living comfortably within our society, and the
sort of place that mainstream Kiwis want New Zealand to
be. At some stage our leaders in Wellington will need to
recognise and acknowledge this inconvenient reality...
More >>>
Nationalism
Muriel
Newman
11 Feb 07
A
new poll out this week shows that fewer than half of New
Zealanders consider the Treaty of Waitangi to be of
significance to them. The study by Research New
Zealand
found that of the 55% of the 500 people surveyed who
thought the Treaty had no significance, 27% were Maori and
64% were New Zealand European.
More >>>
Ethnic
Fundamentalism in NZ
Elizabeth Rata
11 Feb 07
I
describe ethnic fundamentalism or culturalism as a
‘secular religion’ because this particular way of
understanding what ethnicity means shares a number of
important features with religion. First, it is a set of
beliefs about human nature. Second, those beliefs are
unchallenged and unchallengeable. Third, ethnic
fundamentalism rejects doubt and has a difficult
relationship with reason (despite Benedict’s recent
speech).
More
>>>
Education only way for Maori
Alan Duff
27 Jan 07
What’s as disturbing as the murders we’re seeing in
increasing numbers and with increasing brutality is the
level of family support the alleged offenders get, and
the self-justification of both offenders and their
family members and advocates. Nathan Fenton, whose
frenzied hour and a half murderous attack on his partner
is suggested as being down to P is self-justification
gone mad. Sure, he no doubt took P before the attack.
But note he had a clear enough head to warn witnesses
they’d better not say anything or he’d come after
them. A man who has truly “lost it” doesn’t give
such self-preservation a thought. This evil monster knew
exactly what he was doing and let us hope the sentencing
judge sets a precedent and tells him, you’re not
coming out except in a coffin. Though he won’t, you
can bet on that. Liberal judges are part of the problem,
but in no way are they any of the cause.
More
>>>
Where others fear to tread
Muriel
Newman
26 Nov 06
The resignation of
Don Brash this week has signaled the loss to New Zealand
of a political leader who displayed a courage not usually
seen in politics. Dr Brash spoke about race relations in
an open and frank manner that has now become quite
uncommon. These days, under the present politically
correct regime, saying what you believe about
controversial issues can lead to job losses, a failure to
secure contracts or funding, a missing out of promotion,
and so on. That doesn’t mean that concerns go away -
they simply go ‘underground’.
More >>>
Time to Look Forward Not Back
Muriel
Newman
12 August 06
The 2006 Maori electoral option, which
opened in April, closed last week with 15,000 more Maori
having enrolled on the Maori roll. This was well down on
the 24,000 additions in 2001 and the 18,000 in 1997.
More >>>
Maori
under-performance
Alan
Duff
8 July 06
I’ve yet to hear one person suggest compulsory
parenting courses at high school. I’ve yet to hear
suggestions of imposing consequences on bad parents. The
law of consequence – in other words, taking
responsibility for our own actions – has left the
lexicon. Well, where Maori are concerned it has.
There’s always some professional excuse-monger who
leaps up and blames “the system” or “government”
or “Child, Youth & Family” or “Western
culture” on our every failing.
More
>>>
Sovereignty Marches On
Muriel
Newman
8 April 06
To be successful, political movements
need effective long-term strategies. This week observers
would have witnessed two tactical steps in long-term march
of New Zealand towards Maori sovereignty and a separate
Maori nation. More >>>
History in the Making
Muriel
Newman
21 Jan 06
New Zealand
history is full of
contradictions. In the very week that the government
launched their $1 million road show to educate the public
about the “official” history of
New Zealand
and the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi, a
UK
based group released a different interpretation of world
history.
More >>>
The Referendum
Option
Muriel
Newman
12 Nov 05
Next year's census will be held on March 7th and it will
be followed by the Maori Electoral Option. This
five-yearly survey gives electors of Maori descent an
opportunity to choose whether they want to be registered
to vote on the Maori roll or the general roll.
More
>>>
The March to Maori Sovereignty
Muriel
Newman
21 Oct 05
It has been disconcerting watching the political courtship
rituals taking place in the corridors of power over the
last few weeks, especially those made towards the Maori
Party by National. While the National Party should be
congratulated for investigating whether they could
realistically form an alternative government, even a
superficial look at the Maori Party’s election promises
would have revealed a radical sovereignty agenda that
should have excluded it from any further consideration.
More
>>>
One Nation, Two Worlds
Muriel
Newman
9 Oct 04
I
recently received documents under the Official Information
Act, which outline the “two-world view”
ideology underpinning the Housing New Zealand Corporation.
The “Housing New Zealand Way” consists
of a Maori world-view and a Crown world-view.
More
>>>
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