by John Robinson

A good question highlights the situation

On 14 May I gave a talk on my recent Tross Publishing book, Who really broke the Treaty, to the Kapiti Historical Society.

One question, polite and clearly expressed, came from a chap who disagreed completely with me.  His point was that many official figures, had apologised for the proclaimed wrongs of colonisation and that the government had set up the Waitangi Tribunal to investigate and define ‘principles’ of the Treaty, which they have done for several decades.  Who am I to speak against such a very considerable established official narrative?

I, and others, use reason, logic, facts to correct that story.  If there had been a moral code and a belief in equality, if we were all equal, this would not have happened.  But what is more important, and is carrying the day, is power – who is in control of the narrative, the media, the schools.  Truth and morality do not determine the outcome.

With that power, much of the country has been handed over, taken from us: so much of the mountains, rivers, lakes, beaches, seas, fisheries, forests, national parks, government, money, and law.  Here is the list of organisations in the ‘Treaty industry’ (page 109 of my book):

Crown Forestry Rental Trust

Waitangi Tribunal

Treaty settlements

Kingitanga movement

Maori Council

Treaty Tribes Coalition

Iwi Chairs Forum 

Maori Party

Te Puni Kokiri

Aotearoa Independent Monitoring Mechanism 

Human Rights Commission

United Nations agencies

Supreme Court

Local iwi and hapu

Labour Party Maori caucus

Maori in local government

Mainstream media

To these must be added the Maori Congress, set up in 1990 at the Maori king’s Turangawaewae marae; an associated website, https://teara.govt.nz/en/kotahitanga-unity-movements/page-4, describes many of these bodies as supporting the separate government policy of kotahitanga.

It would seem to me that reason will never win over the citadels of power.  The hope now is with the ACT and New Zealand First parties as they set off on the long struggle with their National ‘partner’.

The magnitude of the task to bring equality to New Zealand is daunting and improbable in my lifetime (I am now 84).

In regards to this article in the NZ Herald about minister Tama Potaka :-

The situation is worrying.  In Who really broke the Treaty I included an appendix listing the many positive features of the agreements between National, ACT and New Zealand First, with a chapter discussing how this gave hope for a move to equality, ‘A hopeful start; policies of the 2023 coalition Government’.  Then the following section, ‘The reality: from wishes, promises and hopes to politics’ starts with blunt statements: “No politicians can be trusted.  The National Party has a track record of reversing policies to gain power.”  There is then the moves by Luxon to distance himself away from David Seymour and a summary of the past history and recent actions Potaka, following “the appointment (on 27 November, 2023) of the Maori activist Tama William Potaka to Cabinet”.  The information in that Herald article amplifies the danger as National sets about cuddling up to Maori separatists and shredding the agreements with the other two parties – who must stand firm.  How on earth did they accept Potaka as such a powerful Minister?