Who knew that as we all went about our daily lives the government was quietly taking our rights, freedoms and democracy apart through Treaty Settlements.
Some people did know, but for many, probably not the extent of the enforcement of co-governance.
Parliament betrayed its own people to introduce tribalism, force culture and spiritualism upon the people, and undermine freedoms and democracy in the process.
Each Treaty Settlement has a separate maori authority, which is a co-governance entity.
The co-governance Waikato River Authority (WRA) is a good example, covering the Waikato River and all its catchments. In short, largely the whole of the Waikato west of the Hunua Ranges.
The WRA sets the ‘Vision and Strategy’ for the planning and action for the whole of that catchment. NOTHING can override that ‘Vision and Strategy’, except an Act of Parliament.
Nothing can be ‘inconsistent’ with the ‘Vision and Strategy’.
Matauranga maori is mandated through the Treaty Settlement along with a number of other provisions for the Vision and Strategy. In other instances ‘tikanga maori’ is also mandated.
The Authority is also exempt from provisions of the Local Government Act.
Costs only begin at around 15 to 20 million dollars a year, paid for by the hard working taxpayers and ratepayers of New Zealand. As the government withdraws its contribution, the costs will all fall on ratepayers.
This doesn’t even take into account the Joint Management Agreements (JMA’s) or Mana Whakahone o Rohe Agreements (MWoR – mandated by the RMA) into account. This doesn’t take into account the cost of planning and consultation which can run into the millions.
There is no credible accounting of the deeper economic and social impacts of the coercive nature of what the Treaty Settlements have imposed, remembering this is replicated throughout all Treaty Settlements. At least one for every catchment area.
New Zealand cannot afford to keep paying money funding iwi, at either local or government level. It is money people cannot afford, produces nothing, and would be better spent on roads and infrastructure. And in spite of spending more and more money on iwi, the statistics for maori are not improving. Ergo, the stats might improve if the gravy train is cut off and people take responsibility for themselves instead of sticking their hand out.
Interestingly the latest enforcement of Local Government Reform is lining up to resemble the Catchment areas for each of the Treaty Settlement tribal co-governance entities.
None of these Treaty Settlements can be changed except by an Act of Parliament.
A parliament which folds in the face of the bullying and harassment of iwi, through any means available, but primarily through the Waitangi Tribunal – which now looks more like a platform for the tribal elite and radicals who can bring a complaint against any action of the government at any time. (All due to Clause 6 of the Treaty of Waitangi Act.) And we, the hard-working mums and dads of New Zealand pay for it all.
The current government has not done enough to stem this bullying tide of constant claim, cost, and enforced cultural and spiritual paradigms.
UNDRIP is a clear example of the subversive activity within Parliament itself to drive forward the iwi He Pua Pua agenda.
Our forebears fought and died in wars to protect our freedoms and democracy. The Maori Battalion is revered for their part in those horrific battles.
Sadly, the battle for our rights and freedoms continues on and now resides in the Parliament buildings of Wellington, which no longer appears up to the task.