On its introduction in the early nineties, the Resource Management Act was hailed as groundbreaking. It was “enabling” legislation – a bold departure from the rigid, prescriptive Town and Country Planning Act that had governed land use for decades.
Instead of councils dictating what people could and could not do with their property, the new law was focussed on managing the environmental effects of a project.
The RMA was meant to empower development, but in the end, it smothered it.
Some of the changes that ultimately undermined the RMA’s original intent appeared to be relatively innocuous – such as the shift from allowing the non‑notification of consents where effects were considered to be “minor” to requiring them to be “less than minor”. While the wording change was subtle, its consequences were anything but. Activities that should have been waved through now triggered full public notification, not only creating bureaucratic bottlenecks, higher costs, and lengthy delays, but discouraging the public from undertaking any projects at all!
Other problems were structural. Buried within the supposedly enabling framework were “affected person” provisions that not only empowered activists to endlessly delay projects, but along with special Maori consultation rights and privileges, created such an opportunity for extortion that it wasn’t long before the RMA became known as the “Ransom Management Act”.
The control that Maori now have over the RMA was not planned. When the Resource Management Bill was first introduced into Parliament on 20 December 1989, schedule 1 created a discretionary framework for consultation during the early stages of developing regional policy statements, or district and regional plans, but there was no requirement to notify Maori above anyone else.
The Bill did specify Treaty ‘principles’ had to be taken into account, and it did recognise Maori relationships with ancestral land, but there were no special consultation rights.
However, after receiving more than 3,000 submissions, many from Maori organisations and advocates seeking stronger Treaty “partnership” provisions, Parliament’s Planning and Development Select Committee amended the Bill to introduce mandatory consultation. This significantly elevated the role of iwi authorities from discretionary participants in the planning process, to special groups entitled to preferential engagement.
Over the years, iwi involvement was expanded into something far more intrusive. Risk-averse councils, afraid of being accused of breaching Treaty principles, began consulting iwi on virtually every development proposal. A minor subdivision, a farm shed, or even a simple deck extension could all necessitate “cultural input” – not required by the Act but by risk-averse council staff.
The Ministry for the Environment encouraged this outcome by urging councils to treat iwi as “partners” in environmental management — a concept entirely absent from the legislation. As a result a plethora of co-governance type agreements between councils and local iwi emerged, with cultural impact assessments becoming routine: applicants were told to commission them, pay for them, and wait for iwi approval before their consent could proceed. In some regions, iwi began charging substantial fees to even look at an application.
Legally binding Treaty settlements created more problems as councils applied them far more broadly than intended. Provisions meant for specific rivers or sites were stretched across entire districts. The cumulative effect was a system where iwi influence depended not on law but on local politics and council activism.
RMA problems were further exacerbated by the courts, which expanded the meaning of “take into account the principles of the Treaty” far beyond what was ever intended. Councils responded by over‑consulting to protect themselves. The end result is a system where iwi are treated as a mandatory stakeholder in almost every resource consent decision.
This week’s NZCPR Guest Commentator Frank Newman, a former District Councillor and Resource Consents Commissioner, highlights the problem:
“A recent example involves an application to split a lifestyle property into two titles. The council required consultation with two hapu that they said had ‘kaitiaki’ or guardianship status and the right to be consulted on resource consent applications.
“The nearest hapu, 20 km away, had no objections. The other was less obliging. Despite their closest marae being 60 km away, their concerns included the effect an access road would have on nearby juvenile kauri trees and potential adverse effects on their cultural and spiritual values.
“To address these concerns, the hapu demanded a karakia by a Kaumatua before any earthworks began (at $150 an hour plus travel); replacement of all removed native vegetation at a 4:1 ratio (despite the landowner already committing to designate 80% of the land as conservation reserve); kaitiaki monitors on-site during the earthworks (at $75 an hour plus travel); and consultant fees (at $200 an hour).
“After various meetings and invoices totalling $3,200, the landowner concluded the hapu had no meaningful connection with his land. He saw it as a scam and resented being placed in a position where the least costly option was to shut up and pay up.”
In the end, the RMA was beyond repair. It bore little resemblance to the statute Parliament had passed in 1991. What began as enabling law had become a roadblock to progress. Iwi consultation — originally a modest requirement during plan‑making – had evolved into an informal veto power, creating delays, uncertainty, and significant costs for property owners.
The Government’s replacement legislation is built around a simple insight: the RMA tried to do too much in one statute. It combined long‑term strategic planning with day‑to‑day consenting, and the result was confusion, duplication, and endless litigation. The solution they have proposed is to split these functions into two separate laws, each with a clear purpose.
The first, the Natural Environment Bill, sets out the environmental rules and consenting framework – the operational engine of the system. It defines how development is assessed, what standards must be met, and how councils make decisions. This law is designed to be simpler, faster, and more predictable than the RMA.
The second, the Planning Bill, enables long‑term, big‑picture decisions including where growth should occur, where infrastructure should go, and how regions should develop.
One of the most significant concerns over the reforms is how much influence iwi will retain.
While many voters expected a complete roll-back of race-based provisions – in line with the commitments made by the Coalition partners in their Coalition Agreements – this is not the case.
Instead of eliminating iwi involvement in the new planning system, the Coalition claims their reforms will limit it by redirecting it away from individual consents into a more strategic role.
The Treaty of Waitangi clause in both Bills sets out the details. Maori interests will be provided through their involvement in the development of national instruments, spatial planning, and council land use plans; their identification of sites of significance for protection (including, wahi tapu, water bodies, and coastal marine areas); and through “enabling the development and protection of ‘identified’ Maori land”.
The problem is that those national policy and planning instruments that determine land use, infrastructure, and environmental protection for decades to come – shaping how the country grows and functions – are amongst the most powerful tools of government. As such, special authority to influence the process should not be ceded to a privileged race-based group but developed through processes that treats all New Zealanders as equals.
The Coalition explains that since the Treaty is a Crown, not a local authority responsibility, and Treaty settlement obligations are legislated and binding, all Treaty-related RMA arrangements will be taken over by the Crown and renegotiated with post-settlement governance entities “to the same or equivalent effect to the greatest extent possible” over the next two years.
While clarifying that the Treaty is the sole responsibility of Central Government – not local authorities nor anyone else – is a positive move, creating new race-based co-governance rights under the new planning system is completely at odds with the Coalition’s election pledges.
Furthermore, instead of cancelling the cause of most of the current problems – namely the plethora of RMA-specific agreements that councils have put in place to give iwi special rights over resource consents, including Mana Whakahono a Rohe arrangements, Iwi Participation Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, Relationship Agreements, Joint Management Agreements, Iwi Management Plans, and Cultural Impact Assessment requirements – they will all be left intact.
That means the very mechanisms that allowed the RMA to become captured and drift into co‑governance will be embedded in the new system to potentially undermine it from within.
The Coalition claims that by reclassifying almost half of all resource consents as “permitted activities” – by raising the threshold so only applications with effects that are “more than minor” will need to be notified, and only people “materially affected” will be able to participate in the consent process – the problems associated with iwi involvement will be minimised. But what they are not taking into account is the very real possibility that a future Labour-Green-Maori Party Coalition, could, through a simple legislative amendment, revert the threshold back to “less than minor” and deem iwi a “materially affected” party in all consent applications!
In other words, if council co-governance arrangements are left in place, then under this disastrous scenario, the corruption of the new planning system would proceed at pace.
To safeguard the future, the Coalition should not treat council agreements with iwi as if they carry the same constitutional status as Treaty settlements. Instead, these agreements should be cancelled.
Unlike Treaty settlements, council agreements were not negotiated by Parliament, were not subjected to public scrutiny, and were not approved by voters. They are political deals, often created behind closed doors, with no mandate from ratepayers.
By elevating them into national obligations, the Coalition is embedding in the new planning system the same distortions that crippled the RMA.
When the Coalition was elected in 2023, it was explicit in its commitment to end race‑based policies.
Both the National–ACT and National–New Zealand First Coalition Agreements stated: “The Coalition Government’s priorities for this term include ending race‑based policies.”
National’s Agreement with New Zealand First went further: “The Coalition Government will work to improve outcomes for all New Zealanders, and will not advance policies that seek to ascribe different rights and responsibilities to New Zealanders on the basis of their race or ancestry.”
And: “The Coalition Government will defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law, with the same rights and obligations, and with the guarantee of the privileges and responsibilities of equal citizenship in New Zealand.”
Once the Resource Management Act is repealed, the statutory basis for all RMA‑linked special arrangements with iwi, no longer exists. Those mechanisms were designed for a planning system that Parliament is now rejecting. It is therefore neither logical nor constitutionally coherent to carry them forward into the new regime.
Retaining RMA‑era co‑governance or consultation rights for iwi under the new laws would entrench race‑based privilege at the very time the Government has committed to restoring equal citizenship. Continuing such arrangements within the new system would directly contradict the Coalition’s pledge to end race‑based policy and ensure all New Zealanders stand equal before the law.
To ensure the new planning system is coherent, democratic, and consistent with the Government’s commitments, all RMA‑related arrangements should be terminated – not only those negotiated with councils but those embedded in Treaty settlements as well.
No race-based entitlements should be carried over to potentially subvert the new planning system.
In addition, all ‘Maori’, ‘Treaty’, and ‘cultural’ references should be removed from the laws.
These changes would level the playing field – Maori involvement in the planning system would be confined to the same level as everyone else.
The new laws must apply equally to all New Zealanders, without privilege or veto powers based on race. This is essential to ensuring the planning system upholds Coalition promises and is grounded in fairness, transparency, and the rule of law.
Submissions on the Bill must be received by the Environment Select Committee by 4.30 pm on Friday February 13 – full details can be found HERE. We urge all New Zealanders concerned about the future to send in a submission calling for all race-based entitlements to be removed from the new laws.
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THIS WEEK’S POLL ASKS:
*Should all race-based entitlements be removed from the new planning laws?
*Poll comments are posted below.
*All NZCPR poll results can be seen in the Archive.
THIS WEEK’S POLL COMMENTS
| All New Zealanders want the best for their country, so get rid of these preference clauses for one racial group. Why stoke resentment? | Graham |
| about time | bob |
| 110% ABSOLUTELY | TONY |
| Yep,it’s all just racist. | Mike |
| To perpetuate race-based laws is simply digging a bigger hole that increases the size of the trap and the difficulty of getting out of it. No use to anyone long term. | Jack |
| Absolutely time to stop nonsense | Jon |
| Race based entitlements are holding this country back. It is a scandal. Time National started carrying out its election promise. | Faye |
| The National party has been a huge disappointment to most of us who voted for them, with a few exceptions. We voted so they could get rid of this race legislation bullshit. But council wards were still an option, treaty at schools still and option, RMA changes still have the Treaty imbibed in it, so nothing has really changed. For our sake, get a constitution written that will exclude race relation on any government legislation or activity. | peteca |
| Of course they should,its common sense. Maori were granted British citizenship so they were equal to everyone in NZ. This distortion of the treaty has to stop ASAP. Past and present MPs have done NZ public a huge dis-service by allowing maori to slowly knaw away at undermining democracy. Don’t they realise that they are losing the respect of the majority of KIWIS and nobody will trust them an y more. Not all maori agree with what their leadership are doing. If it pans out to their goal then NZ will be another Zimbabwe. | Peter |
| such entitled clauses promote racial prejudices and will eventually lead to bloodshed | Percy |
| Of course they should,common sense. i`ve just done a quick countup of the affirmative answers on this.I make it circa 150. This seems quite impressive when reading but can anyone tell me how this looks like panning out election day. Mind you I thought we had an election to decide this,do we now need a referendem? Are these guys so pigheaded they cannot read the room. Luxon and Co there is a ground swell starting here and it won`t be slowing down. Keep an eye on the ACTS PARTYS progress.They may not win outright but the message will be clear. | Brian |
| It stands to reason … ! | Lorraine |
| One nation no special entitlement | Felicity |
| We are all New Zealanders and deserve equal rights. Moari signed the treaty to be equal under the rule of the British government. Therefore we should all be treated the same. We all immigrated here. NZ belongs equally to us all. | Helen |
| Clear this was the intent promised by the coalition of National,New Zealand First and ACT | Paul |
| yes, without question. NZ is bloody sick of listening to the Maori and their needs verses the rest of NZ. Stop the Gravy Train NOW. | Noel |
| most certainly | Colin |
| Who are the racists here? Kiwis should have a level playing field | Hilary |
| We are all equal before the law, regardless of race, we are all immigrants, There were/are no ‘native’ New Zealanders – we all arrived by sea – history tells us so! | ARTHUR |
| The democratic principle of ‘one law for all’ should always be evident. | Doug |
| These race based entitlements are causing division and racism to raise its ugly head in NZ. And the ONLY people that seem to benefit from these race based entitlements are those radicals who think they should own everything. | Christine |
| We all are equal in a democracy | John |
| Most definitely. I’m so very disappointed with National’s lack of purpose on this matter of racial discrimination. | John |
| They should be removed but anyone thinking it will happen with either Labour or National at the head of government is ‘whistling dixie’ | John |
| Definitely should be removed. We are all humans and all equal. | John |
| Absolutely | Winton |
| ABSOLUTELY! The Coalition Govt. outlined that all race-based references would be REMOVED and one race would not take priority over another! | Sylvia |
| Absolutely – racism has no place in NZ | Ihaia |
| Well overdue, for all race based entitlements to be removed…… IT’S TIME FOR DIRECT INVOLVEMENT FOR VOTERS,TO PARTICIPATE IN DIRECT DEMOCRACY !! | DAVID |
| Totally !!!! ALL race based laws should never see the light of day. All Councils should also never include any requirement based on race. Also remove Iwi from ALL aspects of our lives — as I learned recently I was told Iwi stood for “I Want One” | Alan |
| That was promised at the last election!!!! | tony |
| We are all entitled to be treated fairly and equally, otherwise we have division and a troubled society. | Helen |
| Totally remove all race based influence from everything. Luxon is a traitor to New Zealand with his evil plans to hand the country over to tribes. Vote Act to save New Zealand | Carole |
| This highlights the major problem of the Western styled Democratic system. Most of the people who are put forward as candidates for parliament and council representatives are just not prepared for the strong militant forces directed by the typical maniac activists. The left are together and are well trained. whereas those on the right are have no idea of what they are up against and are all over the place. It’s a shame that Luxon is the navigator in these times. If only he could come up to Trumps boot laces then it might give us noble citizens some hope for the coming elections. He is a frightened hollow cretin who’s words of promise are just false utterances. He has shown that he is untrust worthy. Too weak for this job. | Geoff |
| Race based entitlements, no matter what race you are, be it maori, indian or jewish, or any of the thousands of races on our planet, are not required in New Zealand. We are all human beings and we are all the same, no matter our beliefs, whatever they are. | Alan |
| When will this Government start to listen to the voters who put them there. They are going to get a wakeup call | Gary |
| Resource management act must not contain any race based entitlement | Sue |
| We should be a country that all people have equal rights there should be no race based entitlements. Apply this to education and the health system as well and also the law. No more customary rights for fishing . Oh I could go on and on | Andrew |
| Should never have been entertained from the start. | Dayal |
| Absolutely. Not required. | James |
| Yes, all race-based entitlements need to be removed. This is why ‘we the people’ voted for this Govt. | Audrey |
| Absolutely! | Merie |
| Without a doubt a big YES | Keith |
| And from everything else as well! | CLIVE |
| One only has to look at the latest Maori debacle over at the Mt. Maunganui tragedy where Maori Iwi are saying the Mountain is spiritually tired? I bet if there was a koha offered of some exorbitant amount of money the problem would go away. | Wayne |
| We are all NZers. | Tony |
| There should be no reference to maori, or treaty of Waitangi. | Rogan |
| I’d state it in an even clearer manner. Change “race-based” into what it really means – “racist”. Chnage “the new planning laws” to “all laws”. ‘Should all racist entitlements be removed from all laws?’ | Grant |
| ALL race-based anything should be removed! It doesn’t matter what it is, get rid. | Heather |
| Why should there be any law where one race is treated differently to another? | Denis |
| There should be no special entitlements based on race in any law. | Alister |
| Yes of course. Most NZers wish for an egalitarian society. | Gary |
| Time to end the Mafia Maori standover scams. | Grant |
| No one group of people should be privileged otherwise it is not equality. We should all have equal rights as citizens of this country if it is to be a true democracy. | Kevin |
| The facts and logic in Dr Muriel Newman’s RMA Reforms article are compelling. The Coalition Govt is NOT meeting its election promises. | tony |
| No legislation in a democratic country should favour a particular race over others. We are all equal under the law. If not, we are an apartheid country. That was never the intention of the Treaty despite what Maori radicals claim. | Steve |
| That was what was promised! | Alice |
| RMA so called reforms will now entrench Apartheid in New Zealand. Unintended consequences?, political power flows only from iwi Corporations and not from the people, that is not democracy Mr Luxon, that is appeasement. and leadership failure. No vote for you, National cannot be trusted. | Sam |
| If they are not we are not operating on a level playing field and Maori still have an unfair advantage | Terry |
| We are living in an increasingly apartheid country… and New Zealand led protests AGANST apartheid in South Africa: now “Aotearoa” is FORCING apartheid onto New Zealand. | Peter |
| One new Zealand for all New Zealanders. | Peter |
| 1000 times yes. The current situation will only get worse. | Glenda |
| Once more I say we are all equal under the sun and the Southern Cross. My vote allowed the Coalition. Now chaps honour the credo – 1 person 1vote/voice. | Anne |
| Yes, Race based entitlements have no place in a democratic society such as New Zealand. | John |
| absolutely | Harry |
| All equal, equal standing, equal say; preferential consideration for iwi and deference to maori culture is apartheid. | Gary |
| Absolutely. Stop the division now! | Mark |
| Are we all citizens or not? | Howard |
| I thought 2026 might be the year for change,but no,you are still asking the same stupid questions. Of course all race based entitlements should be removed and the coalition government should reveal whether Goldsmith has done what they said he would do and remove all Treaty principles from bills etc,but have they,will they,NO THEY WILL NOT,they refuse to tell maoris they are not indigenous, they are immigrants just like the rest of us. When is the coalition going to put into practice one person one vote and ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW. | Peter |
| Unfortunately, Maori still get the benefit of no tax under the Incorporated Societies Act. | Neville |
| Absolutely YES. | Valerie |
| this is not a Maori state, (not yet). Too much is payed to iwi for decisions which they should nothing to do with. | Rod |
| Absolutely. | Fiona |
| No need for any race based input. | Mark |
| must remove totally all mention of race based entitlements out of this new planning laws urgently | leo |
| That, in effect, is what the Coalition Parties agreed to. That is what they should now do. | John |
| The dangers have been explained very well in your article | Mary |
| Race Based Entitlements should be REMOVED because just by that Title alone …its Race based …so its RACISM !! | Geoff |
| It never fails to amaze me, how Iwi can ask to be paid for doing nothing, and the gutless politicians bend over backwards to throw them a few more $$million. Don’t blame the Maori, they are just playing by the rules provided. | A.G.R. |
| Why should some have greater rights than others | Lynton |
| Most definitely all race based legislation in place or intended must be removed from current and intended legislation. | David |
| There should be NIL race based laws at all. We should be treated equally | Peter |
| Absolutely they should, especially as this is what was promised leading up to the last elections. Why is the govt not sticking to its election promises – this makes you no better than the previous govt | Gail |
| absolutely otherwise mayhem will be embedded instead!! | Karen |
| Labour and National 2 wings of the same headless chicken | chris |
| If these race-based laws pass I will not vote for the Coalition in November. This is betrayal. | Trevor |
| If govt doesn’t it will haemorrhage votes | Kay |
| They must be removed, totally | Geoff |
| The National Party prior to the last election said they were committed to removing all raced based legislation. It seems that they LIED. They cannot be trusted. We now have councils complying to the demands of Iwi–groups of unelected Maori people, who assume they are speaking for all Maori people. In a true democracy this cannot be allowed to continue. It is obvious that Iwi are the great “HAND BRAKE” to the sensible development of New Zealand and of the economic future of the country. | William |
| This was my submission on the Bills: All I ask is that the Coalition parties amend the Bills to be consistent with the mandates they undertook prior to the 2023 General Election promising to ensure equality of all New Zealanders before the law. | Colin |
| We are one people one nation, every one should be on equal rights | Michael |
| Race-based entitlements are discrimination. Some people say that discrimination now makes for discrimination in the past. However, I believe that two wrongs do not make a right. | Kent |
| Race based entitlements and preferences should be removed from ALL legislation and regulations at all levels of government, local and National. One law for all, regardless of race or some obscure or minor ancestry claims | Frank |
| What is so difficult to understand, unless there is another agenda?? | Ray |
| This is what Maori are seeking – progressive creepage of control. | Roger |
| Not just new planning laws – but every race-based legislation. | Stephen |
| the coalition has failed to implement it’s promise to revoke all race-based entitlements | Eric |
| Why the hell are the race based planning laws still there? Election promises broken yet again We all need to vote in Act to get things done. National no better than Labour. | Kevin |
| Definitely | Ian |
| Every New Zealander should be treated equally in all matters. I have no wish to live in a country which treats certain ethnicities any differently. This would be apartheid. | Jan |
| No race based policies | Brenda |
| NO more raced based privileges | Brian |
| We should all be seen as equals under one law | Murray |
| Of course they need to be, and must be removed! People need to read the treaty! I guarantee 99.999% of people spout treaty claims, have never read the treaty. There will always be some dumbarse that don’t get it. The only privilege maori got from the Treaty was to be British Subjects! The privilege that gave them was identical to other British Subjects, full stop, or as they say in US, Period! Wake people and Read the Treaty! Buy the little Treaty of Waitangi book by Sir Apirana Ngata, read it and share it! | Peter |
| Absolute requirement for a harmonious and unified nation. | Graeme |
| Definitely | Mike |
| I am sick and tired of constant privileges been given to Maoris as though they were a special and deserving part of our society, They do not contirbute anything financially to their ridiculous and damaging claims and never give a thought as to where the money comes from to pay them. | Warren |
| If the coalition government genuinely want us to again be a 1st world country and better its obvious to them surely we cant have that with a bunch of parasites clipping the ticket and being encouraged to believe they are special | Peter |
| ACT would appear to be the only party ” brave” enough to remove race-based privilege | Alastair |
| There will be little improvement with all the references to iwi. NZ still going downhill. | Dave |
| This question should not need to asked, if only National politicians actually did as they keep promising to do.I am not sure which part of the promise to remove race from all legislation, they don’t understand. Or is that they are now and have been lying to the electorate. A question I feel they should be made to answer. Perhaps if they started keeping their promises their poll numbers would be much better. | Hugh |
| The divisive nature of race based law is too negative to allow. Full equality is the only way forward and racial bias does not facilitate this. | Alastair |
| ONE PEOPLE UNDER ONE LAW ! That’s what the Treaty said. Who is Maori today – we are all mixed race – every one of us | Hone |
| I want the Coalition Govt to honour its 2023 promise to remove all race based entitlements from legislation. We are all equal. | Allan |
| We are one people. Racism should have no part in our laws. | Irene |
| ABSOLUTELY! | Des |
| No family can survive if it is based or separate race based conditions imposed on some – and not others! Basic common sense for a family’s survival; and surely that applies to society – IF there is a goal for genuine unity and harmony ! So why is the present political structure happy to allow and even foster “race-based entitlements”? Seems very sinister to me! | Stuart |
| Let’s get this done right for goodness sake. There us no cause for race based entitlements in an equal society. Have some stamina coalition partners and stand up to this promise!!! | Peter K |
| Imperative that all race-based entitlements be removed from the new planning laws | NOEL |
| We are New Zealand | Dierdre |
| It’s a no Brainer, yes it should be discarded. .We are one people and to give entitlements based on race no way. | ROB |
| How long ,must we continiue to debate the same issue. Race based law that priveleges one group on the grounds that Maori because of the treaty have co-governace of this country. Which really means they want separate sovereignty, which means they get 50% of the tax taske to run their own nation with all their own government departments including Police and Courts. It started way back in the 1970s. I took my Father-in-law who was an influential man in Maoridom, to a meeting on this issue of joint sovereingty. He was invited to join. Ranginui Walker was the leader of the movement. I was not privy to the meeting. He rejected their offer and on the drive home and on other occassions, told me what their ultimate aim was. To get the treaty into law as a partnership and to have their own Nation and Government Departments. From 2002-2009 I had regular contasct with the one of the leaders of this movement through the courts. He had previously worked with me in the Police and I played rugby with him. He told me this was the movements aim, as perviously stated. I have sent long detailed emails over this vital issue to MPS. But it seems they will just continue to tip toe around suchn a vital issue that will divide a Nation if it is not stopped. After all the promises of getting rid of three waters, we are back to the same issue. Add to this we now have Joe Williams ex Waitangi tribunal in the supreme court wanting to join Maori laws to our statutes. It is conversations passed down verbally from 1840. Nothing written. Its called heasrsay evidence which is not permitted in courts, except in special cicumstances. Maori are using this in their claims for every beach in NZ. We are a mixed maori european family. | Dene |
| Preferential treatment for one ethnic group, a minority one at that, is decidely undemocratic. | rodger |
| Yes – this should never have been allowed to happen in the first place! | Scott. |
| absolutely. one nation one people | Mat |
| Yes they should be removed. I am fed up with this treaty and iwi crap being left in old or revised law and certainly not retained in new law. | Derek |
| The so calld maoris are also immigrants to NZ. Not any dark colored person is indigenous. | Peter |
| It is extremely sneaky to say they are for ending race based legislation and then proposing race based legislation and hoping nobody is paying attention. WE ARE and WE VOTE. | ken |
| One law for ALL. Everyone should have the same rights on a level playing field. NO special privileges for any group. | Dianne |
| of course. | Leon |
| The more laws that are created with race based entitlement the more corrupt government . | Matt |
| 100% As the Coalition promised, | murray |
| all NZ people should be treated as equals. | Gerard |
| Race based legislation is insulting to all races!! | Jim |
| WE ARE ALL NEW ZEALANDERS | William |
| Most definitely. | Mike |
| Long overdue | Iain |
| Absolutely they should.. Maori engagement has nothing to do with Environmental issues..its all about how much koha they can get out of the process.. Once again we see a weak kneed National party pandering to Maori | Rob |
| Search through each part of legislation and completely remove ALL race based entitlements | Ray |
| This coalition Government are very disappointing because they have not kept to election promises made & continue with race based preference, All race based bias has to be completely removed from every aspect of rules, regulations, employment etc. | David |
| Good policy shouldn’t have anything to do with ‘race’. | Chris |
| Why do watchdogs have to constantly be scrutinising policy? National are not keeping their agreement to Voters. | Glenn |
| Who, in the coalition insisted on retaining wording which allowed racist terminology to continue? The voter have a right to know before the coming election. My guess it was Luxton. | Rex |
| Absolutely. | Ronald |
| There is nothing but a sea of future confusion when we continue to use muddled thinking as to how we establish ownership. The Maori were Not first here and even if they were, somebody else was next. So, any entitlement to land, has got no ownership until someone puts a peg in the ground and then ownership and responsibility emerges. Rivers, mountains, coastline, animals, birds and fish, are not part of ownership. Certainly, it has NOTHING to do with race, that is only ever about money and control or power. Can we get real about – ownership, responsibility and forget about rights, except those that one deserves or earns. | Maurice |
| They are totally unfair on the majority of New Zealanders | Gaire |
| Get rid of race based references completely once for all | Les w |
| Another rip-off | John T |
| They should never have been there. All New Zealanders should be treated equally regardless of race & heritage. | Murray |
| absolutely | Jill |
| no law in NZ should have any reference to race or a persons ancestry. | John |
| Last chance | Thomas |
| Why when the Maori were not the first inhabitants of the land do they hold everyone to ransom? | Murray |
| All race based entitlements should be removed immediately. This madness hs to stop. | Jane |
| Absolutely | Mike |
| All blood is the same. One and the same creator for all. | Barbara |
| sick of the gravy train corruption. what is a Maori? Anyway? | neil |
| All Kiwis | Anon |
| All NZers should have equal rights | Chris |
| Do away with the Waitangi Tribunal n stop all He Paupua | Natalie |
| as promised by NZ First and Act prior to the last election | diana |
| One clear position for all New Zealnders is the only way to achieve fairness and law and order. We need to move forward with common sense. | Susan |
| I will not vote for any party that doesn’t represent equal rights for all. Treaty based smoke and mirrors policies must be removed for NZ to move forward. | John |
| Absolutely! And it can’t come quickly enough | Gary |
| We are supposedly a society based on equal rights | ray |
| We are all New Zealanders! | Rosalie |
| Enough is enough! | Janet |
| Racism is inherently evill. Racists who denigrate caucasians for their skin colour, culture and history are particularly evil. | Richard |
| Totally! We should all get by on our merit, not the colour of our skin or culture | Kerin |
| For the good of the Country, and everyone who lives here. | Grahame |
| It is well past time for separatism of people, laws, and anything at all is completely banned in New Zealand. Even the Maori seats must go. I think the majority of our country would agree. Time for the coalition to listen and take heed, we vote this year! | Elizabeth |
| The treaty gave Maori all the same rights as every other NZ citizen & gave them British citizenship also, somewhat more than those immigrants that were not British. | Paul |
| So tired of this entitlement rip-off | Allan |
| hell yes | Ian |
| The Core Principle One country, one citizenship, one standard of law. The planning system must reflect that. No race-based privilege. No parallel authority structures. No inherited political advantage. A modern democracy cannot function on divided sovereignty. | Marshal |
| The RMA style rights and priveleges enjoyed by iwi and hapu have added cost and delay to the planning process with no equivalent public benefit and should be dropped from the new legislation | Terry |
| The new RMA is just as ridiculous as the previous one allowing Iwi’s, Treaty of Waitangi etc to continuously delay consents for various reasons no doubt including money. | Frank |
| Any person who disagrees must be a supporter of Apartheid and therefore advocate that a small portion of the populace (in this case, those that identify as being partly Maori) have rights that exceed all others. Ultimately this will fail of course just as it is did in South Africa. It’s difficult to comprehend how many of those who vehemently opposed it in South Africa now support it here in New Zealand. | Kevin |
| One people. One people. One people. | Bruce |
| One rule for all. This absolutely obsequious crawling to race based initiatives must end. | Errol |
| If this doesn’t happen then the proposed changes will still carry the problems of the current law | Graeme |
| Stop the Maori gravy train exploitation | Peter |
| The Maori are too powerful, their wings need to be clipped. Concentrate on helping the rest of their community and stop trying to dominate the 84% of New Zealand. | LAURA |
| Yes again, we are all new Zealanders not a Separatist Society, nobody here is Indigenous, we are not Aussie | Tony |
| We are all meant to be equal with no exceptions Under the review we will have to consult Maori | ian |
| But they are too scared of Maori to do that. | mike |
| ( ABSOLUTELY ) YES, YES, YES AND THE SOONER THE BETTER, ONE PEOPLE, ONE LAW, ONE COUNTRY, NEW ZEALAND, NOTHING ELSE. | COLIN |
| Yes !! | Murray |
| Definitely | frank |
| race-based entitlements = racism | mick |
| One people one New Zealand, same rights and treeatment for all | Anon |
| if asinda ardern had done her job for n z as she pretended she was this would not have came up but as she turn maori with benefits every thing is now race related while she sits in ingland lafing at us | adrian |
| Go further. They should be removed from ALL legislation where all New Zealanders, rightfully, might expect equal standards of representation, input and decision making. | DAVID |
| The coalition committed to removing race based BS and not doing so is a breach of trust with us the citzens of New Zealand. | Doug |
| Always | Mike |
| It is a pointless exercise in any review or simplification of the RMA if one of the main sticking points requiring Iwi consent is retained in any reformation. Once again we see the Government entrenching special consideration for Maori. Its not a case for being anti Maori or anti any thing else but a statement supporting a streamlined RMA outcome and to question the need for race based provisions for any consents. Land is land and people are people all of which require the same and equal input. | chris |
| It’s time for the government to honour it’s pre election promises | Gavin |
| Race based entitlements should not exist anywhere. | BRUCE |
| This Coalition Promised to End all Race based law in NZ & must undertake. | Derek |
| Most definitely and I also object to Maori spirituality which worships false gods! No Maori prayers should ever be said in public. We do not worship flora and fauna or inanimate objects. We are not pagans! | Lynne |
| They’re cunning , always have been. There is no interest in working together to get his country moving when you can clip the ticket at every turn. Money for nothing and seats for free. | Darryll |
| Maori input has a stultifying effect on our economy. They have been acting like racketeers, extorting bribes with threats of closing down projects if they are not paid huge sums, using the argument of their spirituality being offended. Once they take the payout from the project applicant, it is clear that their so-called ‘spirituality’ of water / taonga / tapu / sacred places and so-called cultural beliefs are for sale. In other words they are hypocrites who pretend they adhere to these beliefs in order to be paid out, using the threat of closing down a project if they do not get what they want. They sit back and do nothing useful, receiving in some cases multi millions, for instance for ‘holding the water in Lake Taupo’ for the energy company to use. This escalating extortion has clearly been the result of over zealous and / or timid bureaucrats, reading in non-existent requirements of the RMA, when in fact councils are not required to give regard to the Treaty., unlike Parliament which has obligations. | Susan |
| With gutless baldy in charge we will be pushing dung up hill.Vote for someone with a decent pair! Seymore is the man. | Ross |
| We want to stay away from tribalism. | philip |
| We are all one people New Zealanders | Richard |
| Race based entitlements should be removed from ALL law. How long does it take for common sense to prevail. | Bruce |
| Remove them ASAP. | Peter |
| Without doubt! How they got there in the first place is a travesty! | David |
| Thank you for analysing and condensing the new proposed RMA provisions so that a layman can understand the implications. I personally am horrified. I feel betrayed by the Coalition Government. | Wendy |
| Areas significant to any racial group, cemeteries, battle fields, and similar, should have special consideration. | Peter |
| This is what I voted for at the last election. I voted National and support entirely the coalition agreement with NZF. | Robert |
| ABSOLUTELY! | Murray |
| There’s no place for the in planing | Carl |
| Yes unquestionably no race-based entitlements should be carried over into the new arrangements. . They must be totally eliminated from any / all proposals. I fully share the concerns very clearly expressed and set out in your very informative article. At election time National (subsequently Government) clearly and firmly undertook to rid us of Maorification, including co-governance, Maori privilege etc etc and we expect Government to accept full accountability to those who voted for them on the basis of those undertakings and to fully honour and carry through on implementing their undertakings. | Hugh |
| Of course they should. What the hell are the Coalition Government doing about removing all race based entitlements? They have had over two years to do what they promised about this problem but still it remains. | Peter |
| Absolutely – it should never have been there in the first place. I feel we are wasting our time as we have a Prime Minister who is not interested in the vast majority of New Zealanders and seems to be doing back room deals with groups of iwi who are increasingly pushing themselves into our everyday lives and there seems to be nothing we can do about it. I wonder why we bother and that is exactly what they want us to do. | Bev |
| It’s all just utter garbage and divides NewZealand | Laurie |
| Of course !! | Geoffrey |
| Why can the Government not get this right. Is it because it is impossible for anyone or is it because Maoris are more clever and devious. This co-governance should have been removed years ago, but it still drags on and on. | CHRiS |
| What is wrong with this current Government mainly National have they not got the GUTS to cancel all reference to Maori. This new RMA should remove all reference to Maori otherwise we the taxpayer will be paying. Totally pissed off with Luxon and his mob. | Ken |
| Labour and Jacinda have made New Zealand a racist country, Needs attention…… | Carl |
| WHAT ARE WE IF WE DONT | NOEL |
| 100%. Any references to race must be eliminated from all legislation | Gareth |
| All race based stuff to be given the boot. Coalition have been a let down. Where to from here as to vote in November. | George |
| The proposed new laws must be strongly adhered to and race-based current ‘entitlements’ must be removed urgently as committed by the coalition upfront agreement. | Peter |
| Most should but there will be genuine cases that equity requires an exception. | Richard |
| And media, government & Councils should stop calling New Zealand Aotearoa without a referendum! | Rose |
| The Treaty does not give consultation rights to Maori! | derek |
| I ASK EVERYONE TO SUBMIT A NO TO ANY TERMS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ALL NZEALANDERS.NO RACE BASED POLICIES LIKE THEY PROMISED & MAKE IT PLAIN HOW CAN YOU TRUST ANY PROMISES FROM NATIONAL EVER AGAIN AFTER THEY LIED & LET NZEALANDERS DOWN LIKE THEY HAVE NOW> | Cindy |
| When do the race wars begin? | paul |
| Our laws should be for all New Zealanders without prejudice to race or colour. We were founded as a Christian nation, however and I do believe that everything we do and say should be based on Christian principles. I do like to see a Chinese group forming as a part of the National party. Why? Ethnicity should play no role. What is the motive? Similarly I would strongly resist any Muslim influence because their ideology is plainly contrary to principles of Christianity. They intend to rule the world. It is time for the West to wake up and decide where it really wants to go and stop being double-minded. | Harvey |
| The government should stand by what they promised. | Diana |
| Of course. Is this about planning or is it a platform for social engineering – it can’t be both. | Faye |
| The Coalition Government will work to improve outcomes for all New Zealanders, and will not advance policies that seek to ascribe different rights and responsibilities to New Zealanders on the basis of their race or ancestry. | Tony |
| All race based privileges must be removed. This was a promise from the coalition. It would appear no govt in NZ can be trusted anymore. Hopefully Act are the major party at this coming election. They have my votes. | Allan |
| The Coalition agreement is just not being adhered to, which, I understood was to make ALL NEW ZEALANDERS equal. This is now quite apparent, such is not the case. and heads will roll at the next election. You have had your chances and you have stuffed it | Martyn |
| Time this government did what it promised and was voted in to do. Equal rights for everyone regardless of race. Maori have no qualifications to be deciding on these issues. It makesca joke of the new RMA which was supposed to speed things up. Paying Maori tomget permission to do anything on your own land is a total rort.It must stop. If they want our vote do what you said you would do . | Gail |
| We are all one people, no exceptions. | Steve |
| we are one nation of people all with equal rights to share New Zealand foreshores with each other & abide by the law of the land. | Roydon |
| As proposed the changes increase the level of corruption that exists already | Stuart |
| Talk about milking the sacred cow. They lost the 1860 wars now back for the remainder of the sav they have sucked empty. Remove everything race based on history even sports teams. We are one Nation. National had better extract um digit too or be a one race horse. | mike H. |
| the treaty crap should have been ditched as soon as this govt got in as they promised but now as the election is close by they are scared that if they kick out the treaty crap on the RMA they will lose the election so just shows how f******d up this country now is and we thought trump is mad, luxon and his brown nosing mates are well ahead of the loony bin mob and shows this country is full of corruption starting from the top right down to the bottom of govt. started by adern,key and now luxon the ba****rds should be tried for treason. | Richard |
| Totally remove ALL race based policies from EVERY legislation in New Zealand and also require all Councils to comply with this move. Also remove Iwi from every damn consultation that takes place whenever there is a local disaster or some other event. The huge majority have had a gutsful of it — also the increasing incursion of made up Maori words into our English vocabulary — EG “Wikiti” etc in the cricket. Also get rid of those announcers who support such woke rubbish. | Alan |
| With hindsight this should have been instrumented years ago; therefore the race and culture bias should be dispensed with xoonest | Ken |
| The Coalition should really have its feet held to the dire over this issue. It was a non-negotiable aspect of electikn promises and the Coalition agreement. Resiling from it is a major scandal. | Anthony |
| Any attempt to place Maori at the helm of new legislation should be reconsidered because it enables them to extort unreasonable fees. | Janet |
| Private land has nothing to do with Maori. They don’t look after their own land properly, so why should they interfere with private land ? | Robyn |
| In addition, all Maori, Treaty, and cultural references should be removed from the laws. These changes would level the playing field – Maori involvement in the planning system would be confined to the same level as everyone else. | Maurice |
| None necessary, commonsense should apply hence there must be no race based entitlements in any legislation. | Chris |
| Not only new but old ones, in fact any law, bylaw or govt contract old or new. There should be NO race based decision or decisions based on race ever | Alec |
| It is RACIST | Sheryl |
| No race based separatist laws. | Rick |
| Now | Roy |
| Without hesitation. | Alan |
| Absolutely | Greg |
| govt. promised this ! can we no longer trust them ??winston,you are letting us down ! | norman |
| Absolutely, to remove the past/ present Maori gravy train!! | Colin |
| The sooner these shenanagins are exposednationwide the better | Errol |
| They should be removed from all legislation. | Neville |
| Absolutely, it’s about time, it should never have been allowed to get this bad, New Zealand is now a broken country because of it!! | Robin |
| Get rid of all race based entitlements and stop the Pussy Footing around. The longer we leave this festering sore, the harder it will be to get rid of it. | Chris |
| This coalition promised race based law would dissapear. Get on with this promise. | Ian |
| ALL race based decisions must be removed! | John |
| This government was voted in because they said they would remove all mention of race in legislation. They don’t appear to be doing it. | Andrew |
| Most definitely! Our country has suffered long enough from privileges given to some arrogant and cunning operators, who are laughing at us all the way to the bank. | Ray |
| One law for all equale rights no special privilages. | Don |
| Absolutely again these policies are holding the rest of us to ransom for no real benefit apart from millions of dollars wasted appeasing this ridiculous policy | RUSS |
| Race based entitlements need to be eliminated from everything. | John |
| No NZer should have more rights than others | Lyn |
| There should be no race based laws, bylaws or agreements under any circumstances. All of those that are currently in force or agreements should be cancelled immediately | Alec |
| One country. One people. One rule for all. Simple. | Allan |
| I have already made a submission on this and reflects all as you have stated Muriel | Murray |
| For the sake of NZ’s future | Clare |
| Absolutely!! | Alastair |
| Absolutely ! | Craig |
| Completely and absolutely but at the moment it doesn’t look that way. | Roger |
| We are ONE country. Maori are NEVER grateful for the civilisation of New Zealand, the health, welfare, education etc that are available . | Lyn |
| We are one people | John |
| “race-based” entitlement is surely contradictory ? | MIKE |
| 1100% ….The Treaty has been amended,pulled,, stretched,amended and generally stuffed about with by so many pressure groups and racist organizations that it has lost all meaning and intent. I reiterate the country is stuffed. God defend New Zealand. The Politicians can’t or wont. | Bruce |
| Definitely – do we have a politician who is strong enough to stand up to this? | Lynn |
| Absolutely YES! As was promised by the Coalition before the election. | Grant |
| that was the coalition’s election pledge and the reason I changed my vote to them, now it’s time they took a courage pill. | Russel |
| Definitely | Geoffrey |
| Definately | Gerry |
| The longer we retain special rights for Maori the bigger the division grows. I have Maori friends and a Maori brother-in-law and they are becoming more and more embarrassed to be Maori. | Mark |
| Race-based entitlements should be removed from all NZ laws. | Neville |
| In an endeavour to reduce Apartheid here in NZ | Warren |
| ABSOLUTELY | Peter |
| Of course – David Seymour is right – we should ALL be equal as New Zealanders. United we stand – divided we fall… | Patricia |
| end this opportunity for endless diversion of $$ to certain groups based on supposed cultural reasons | Mike |
| All New Zealanders are to have equal rights. There is no such thing as co-governance. Local Government has no right or authority to be working with iwi or happy to make any decisions at all. | Lee |
| The country is being controlled by IWI. The tail is wagging the Dog!! | Bruce |
| Yes without exception, there is no place for race based law of any kind. One people one law for all | gale |
| Most definitely | John |
| If this is not done pronto, we will sink so deep into this morass we will never get out again. | Michael |
| All New Zealanders should be treated as equal under the law | Neale |
| Absolutely – Who is blackmailing the current Govt to retail | Bruce |
| We are one people equal law land citizenship | John |
| should be no race based entitlements in anything as they gave sovereignty away | alf |
| There is no place for anti democratic laws in this country . We are supposed to be a democracy and laws that treat one sector of the community differently than others especially when such laws are based on race are clearly undemocratic | William |
| we are all New Zealanders | mark |
| Didn’t Winston Peters Campaign on this 3 elections back – I voted for it then and he raised it in Parliament but his Labour govt co-government partner voted it down Why hasn’t he brought it up again – is it not popular now??????? | mike |
| Nzders must grow up and use their brains when considering the race based changes that this coalition appears to be includibg in its attempt to improve the RMA. there are simply too many examples of iwi participation in treaty of waitangi concerns thst are being thrown into RMA matters. It is nothibg short of a grasping attempt to extort money in return for iwi approvals . Shameful self serving intrusions to extract processing and monitoring fees thst have no positive impact whatsoever. The treaty interpretations are being used to justify fictitious claims that ideologues and academic activists have interpreted from the simply unambiguous clauses of the treaty. | Greg |
| No comment necessary | Bryan |
| No such thing as a discrete, separate, Maori ethnic group. Everyone alive today claiming to be Maori- no matter how brown their skin and Polynesian their features – actually has more of the blood of the coloniser than of the colonised. Time for this ethnocentric nonsense to end, as we all thought the Coalition had committed to implementing. | Peter |
| The Treaty signed by the 500 iwi/hapu was to ensure we were all, present and future, citizens of Great Britain – now New Zealand. Frank Newman has written a very clear historical analysis. Thank you Frank. | Rochelle |
| same treatment for everyone. | Chris |
| This issue arose from a soft pc judiciary . Now I see they have Maori motif on their gowns ? Who sanctioned that tokenism | John |
| As promised at the last election | Bruce |
| Im sick of this,this coalition promised to get rid of govt waste and race based laws but its now worse than ever,the only way to get politicians to act as promised is to defend this election marketing,no money for national,not one cent,Luxon Willis are not Leaders its just carry on the 50 yr mismanagement by national and Labour,any more and Aussie here I come | Maurice |
| Clearly any form of discrimination based on race must go. | David |
| yes, absolutely, its time to remove the apartheid and be as one | john |
| For God’s sake stop co governance | Michael |
| This was meant to be stopped by this government – equal rights for all NZrs.Why does it continue unabated? | sandra |
| Do as promised in the coalition agreement | David |
| Absolutely, about time | Dominic |
| The judiciary do not want a level playing field as that concept means many of their “profession” will be out of work – nothing to do. | Rob |
| Yes, yes, yes, yes but it will not happen with our present batch of politicians and public servants. This country’s bunch of manipulators are for whatever reasons determined to create apartheid with one dominant albeit primitive group. Many citizens are either “Ah Well” or emotionally unsound people. Hence 79000, many skilled nzers leaving last year alone. A good start to recovering our beautiful country must be to remove race, religion, gender and dei for all laws and rules. I have been named a racist for believing everybody is equal, with the same rights and obligations. | Leonard |
| YES…to simplify after you understand the details is Genius… A complete lack of this exists in the current coalition. So the ‘iwi’ scam continues on for another 50 years . | Chris |
| Absolutely | Bruce |
| Yes Yes Yes Laws are for all NZers.. Not just the early settlers | Alister |
| All must be equally treated and not upon race c | Malcolm |
| If we’re all equal then they should be. | Andrew |
| We The People have had enough of the pandering. “Why is it even happening?”, so many comment. It’s over-reach to appease is sucking this country dry. Stop putting these people on a pedestal. Too many years have gone by, integration should be over and done with. | Anne |
| My husband is of Ngai Tahu and Ngati Porou descent,I am Tainui/Tuhoe and we are ashamed and embarrassed by Govt duplicitous,deception and spineless policy.We detest racial descrimination. | Pattie |
| there are no 100% Maori left in NZ.You only have to ‘feel’ you are a Maori to be able to get on the gravy train!Unbelievable.! | linda |
| The sooner the better | Richard |
| That is what we voted National, ACT and NZFirst into Government to do. Unfortunately National are hell bent on Co Governance and Partnerships as far as the Treaty is concerned while NZFirst as always will only do waht is best for their Leader Winston Peters. Only ACT is trying and they are regularly stymied by the other two Coalition partners. | pdm |
| We are all equal under the law | Raymond |
| As promised by this Govt. | Janette |
| Most definitely as they are not relevant to the planning function | David |
| I’m just sick and tired of all things Maori that are concerned with the interpretations of the Treaty. | Wayne |
| Race based laws should not be imposed on any multicultural society and race based entitlement where vested interest Iwi can charge exorbitant fees for any reason should be banned! Neither Central Government or Local Government should have more expense added to their taxpayers and Ratepayers costs of living by greedy activist radicals who are in the minority! | June |
| Racist laws have no place in today’s society. | Rod |
| It’s just a scam another cash cow meaningless twaddle | Peter |
| This not what this government promised when elected | Ross |
| Only one law for everyone | Dominique Greenslade |
| Should never have been allowed in the first place. We are one people …. Remember? | Robbie |
| Absolutely 100% along with every other piece of legislation in line with the commitments all three coalition partners gave NZ voters at the last election. | Neil |
| One country. One rule for all. | Carl |
| As has been pointed out by many commentators the treaty has become a gravy train for iwi. | Malcolm |
| Of course they should. We voted this coalition in on the understanding that they were going to remove all ‘race-based’ anything. They just seem to be making everything worse. | Lee |
| The degree to which this country trips over itself is laughable. | John |
| Citizens should insist the coalition partners uphold their previous pre election promises of removing mandatory Iwi consultation in any form in the revised RMA. Maori involvement should be on the same basis as all other New Zealanders! | Glen |
| Absolutely no need for race based entitlement s nor any special requirements for a specific group of people | Peter |
| Absolutely, we are one people, one country, NEW ZEALAND! | Neil |
| That is what we voted for. | DOUGLAS |
| There is no place in our society for any laws based purely on race | Peter |
| There will be no peace until all references to treaty and iwi are removed from all Local and Govt legislation, maori were never first here, they were never conservationists and all these claims are just lies and used to rip of the population, and why do the Govt keep giving in to them is it because of intimidation or are they getting back handers. In other words it is Corruption | Colin |
| Sick of these race based demands and submission | Alan |
| New Zealand cannot afford a society where grifting is seen as a right. Utter nonsense in a 2026 economy. | Terry |
| The reinterpretation of the 1840 Treaty is becoming entrenched and has to be corrected or our society is no longer a well functioning democracy | Sue |
| Yes – of course they should. This issue is a clear demonstration of how weak and self serving our NZ political system has become. | Andrew |
| Removal is a TOTAL MUST for our once wonderful Country which is now being SUFFOCATED by this REVERSE racism. We are ALL EQUAL – until we misbehave towards the other. – and MOST Maori agree with me. | Brian |
| It is imperative all race based entitlements be removed. Otherwise the pathway to apartied continues for New Zealand | Margaret |
| Unelected and unqualified Maori have no basisvon which to assert knowledge that is superior to properly educated andvexperienced planners and scientists when it comes to managing the NZ resources. If Maori want to influence they need to be properly employed on a best for the job basis same as everyone else. | Mike |
| Everything race based should be removed from all legislation in NZ. It isn’t fair and it’s not right. | Koreen |
| The Coalition Government’s priorities for this term include ending race based policies. | Bill |
| Let’s all be one people. Let’s work together to improve our nation without the eternal grievances from the past being revisited ad infintum. Maori are NOT indigenous to New Zealand. This is fact. Accept that fact and move on. | Amy |
| time hasn’t long gone when these prejudices should be removed. | Gary |
| Democracy and equal rights for all New Zealanders. | Brian |
| The Government of New Zealand is awash with racists. It can only get worse while good men are silenced. | Peter |
| All New Zealanders should be treated equally, lets stop living in the past and live in the now for NZ’s future prosperity. No minority should ever be empowered to better their own position over others. | Bruce |
| Who within the coalition government is pushing the retention of Maori involvement? Please find out who are the weak links and expose them | Richard |
| The fine words in the Coalition agreements between the parties to the Coalition should be followed if credibility is to be retained. | Peter |
| What is wrong with NZ?. We just can’t seem to shake the yolk of APARTHEID and Maori aren’t even genuinely indigenous. | Geoffrey |
| Absolutely. The Maoris are not indigenous. They are settlers the same as the rest of us, only they settled sooner than the rest. I don’t see why that gives them the privileges they keep claiming. The current Government is a disappointment in terms of what it promised and what it is delivering in the matter of resource planning. Only fools would let this race-based discrimination we currently see in Councils actions and decision making. The Treaty promises equality and the Coalition promised the same.. For the sake of all New Zealanders, kick race-based entitlements into touch! Some scrutiny around exactly why the Coalition is failing to meet its promises is needed. e.g. Who is pulling their chain? | John |
| Absolutely | Evans |
| The Treaty promised the same rights and privileges as British subjects | Bill |
| And re-define race. Maoriness is unbelievably nonsense | Laurie |
| The coalition government should simply do what it committed to do. | Peter |
| One people | Robert |
| Any race-based entitlements for any race, must be kicked into touch. | Pete |
| Absolutely | Liz |
| There is no justification nor entitlement ANYWHERE for race-based entitlements in this country, NEW ZEALAND. | Jim |
| I already voted for this at the last general election. Why do the MP’s need telling again? | Jill |
| We are one country | Ken |
| No brainer | Graham |
| Indeed, from all legislation. | Vic |
| One people, one law for all. No race based legislation AT ALL giving any race superior powers. This is what was promised and it should be clearly stated. | Carol |
| If we pay the bill we should get what we paid for. | Jules |
| Self explanatory and justifying | Anthony |
| Yes they should be removed from all government and local government rules laws and policies | Jeffrey |
| It is sad that so many of our politicians are such a two faced and cowardly bunch. What they promise us in the build up to the election should really only be taken with a pinch of salt. It is one day in the not so far away future that the masses of New Zealand public who have no idea what is going on in this country will have a very rude awakening to just how underhanded our politicians really are. It will by then of course be too late and the white European I beleive will run out of this country on mass. We are run by the weak and the stupid and none of them will do anything about all of this. I really can;t believe that this country has come down to this level. I’m sure overseas would roar with laughter if they new the full extent of what is going on here. They to would be shocked at what a spineless bunch we are. | Paul |
| I, for one, am sick of being treated as a second class citizen by parliament and the bureaucracy in this country, New Zealand. What’s so difficult about sticking to the commitments made by the three parties to the coalition agreement? The way it is ignored by National in particular it would appear to be a sham to appease the electors! | Alan |
| Having worked with the Act I agree that the original Act was good but it was amended as you point out and ended up a mess. | john |
| Absolutely – all race-based references should be removed from the new laws. There should not be any question about this. It is why we elected the Coalition – and what they promised to do. | Donald |
| I can’t understand why the Coalition left all those iwi agreements in place instead of cancelling them. It is madness! | Maureen |
| Who are the Coalition working for – iwi or all New Zealanders? It certainly looks like they have been captured by iwi. I’m disgusted. | Phil |
| I find it amazing that National, ACT and NZ First could be so clear in their coalition agreements that they would not continue race-based policies but at the first real test, they have caved in. I would have expected far more courage and commitment than they are now showing. | Harry |
| Yes, yes, yes – the new planning laws should be colourblind! | Simon |