At the recent Dubai Future Forum there was one thing people wanted to ask me. What on earth is happening in New Zealand? We thought NZ was a leader in race relations and that your Treaty of Waitangi was what underpinned this. Hell yes…oh no…wait…
This post isn’t a reiteration of what you can find online about the Treaty of Waitangi conversation. I have a unique view which is a blend of futurist, great grandmother and Pākēha New Zealander. I’m known as the #futuresaunty which means I can say what I want, whether you agree or not. So for my many futures colleagues across the globe here goes – not a history lesson just my world view!
The Treaty Principles Bill thingy
The Treaty Principles Bill has been introduced by a small party that happens to be a coalition partner in the current government. It was reportedly one of their non-negotiables for supporting the National Party to form a government. It changes the nature of Te Tiriti ō Waitangi, even if they say it doesn’t. There is an English version (The Treaty of Waitangi) and a Māori version (Te Tiriti ō Waitangi). They are not the same and I am not going to get in a debate about the why, how or their history. Check out some of the extra links at the end of this post. Back to the Bill though -there are a number of reasons why this isn’t okay:
- The Treaty is a partnership between Māori and the Crown. I do believe that the Treaty gives us all a place to stand rather than being divisive. I am strong enough in my culture to believe that we are working together and am happy with the bicultural nature of this treaty sitting within the multicultural context of our country. I will explain more of my thinking about this shortly.
- In putting this Bill together Māori did not sit as partners at the table. They weren’t consulted or considered. Imagine this scenario: Your daughter’s husband makes demands/seeks to change the marriage agreement without asking for her view or working together for an outcome. He presumes to know what she thinks and has been listening to what other people think about the marriage. Seems a bit underhand to me.
- Past politicians, the judicial system, those who have the highest honours in the land all argue that this Bill is flawed and shouldn’t see the light of day.
If a small party with only 8% of the vote is allowed to introduce a crude, misleading bill on key constitutional issue, those who did the deal should accept responsibility for the disorder.
dame ann salmond – anthropologist, NZer of the year 2013
Disrespect in Parliament – that haka thingy
While in Dubai I was constantly asked about the haka performed in parliament, which occurred in the lead up to the final vote for the first reading of the Bill. It has been claimed by some that this haka overstepped the mark, that it was disrespectful and needs a harsh punishment. Yet parliament is often the space where behaviour is ridiculous, petty and confrontational.
I see the disrespect coming from parliamentary process, illustrating the tension between the old ways and new ways, stretching and flexing what happens when words and whakapapa meet. I recognise how hard it is to be Speaker of the House, to stand for the old ways when times have changed, but this represents the power of the past. How might we combine the best of both worlds?
A haka is completely acceptable, in my view, when all other avenues of expression had been thwarted. Yet Act Leader, David Seymour, describes this haka as thuggery and a war dance inciting divisions. Those I spoke to at the Dubai Future Forum did not see the haka as ridiculous, on the contrary they were in awe of Māori standing up for their rights. That is the same conversation I have had across the country, with the overwhelming majority of everyday people from all ages and backgrounds concerned about the Bill and the increased tension it has created. I recognise that there are diverse views on this, not just two but many! I depends on who you talk to and who you interact with. World views are influenced by our pasts and influence our next steps.
An increasing number of young Māori have Māori as their first language, understand their whakapapa (ancestry) and are proud of their heritage. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke represents this generation, and as she stood I could feel her ancestors walking with her. What I see in this video is an acceptable approach to a hugely significant milestone in our history. It’s not some piffling issue, it is constitutionally historical.
“If the New Zealand Parliament has been brought into disrepute over this Bill, it is a self-inflicted wound.” It stands to reason that there is more than 1 party to a treaty & that treaties cannot be changed unilaterally without mocking the rule of law.
dame anne salmond – anthropologist, NZer of the year 2013
Hikoi to parliament – that peaceful thingy
Approximately 42,000 people took part in this hikoi (walk or march) from across the country. This was intergenerational, with Māori and Pākēha walking side by side standing firm against the Treaty Principles Bill. Many of these were every day Kiwis and our young people were key drivers in this space. This hikoi was peaceful and provided an important message to the world that protest can peaceful.
The hikoi presented a petition to Parliament and then dispersed but many will now write submissions against the Bill. Who knows what might be next. Futures come in many forms…
Lessons to Leaders – that coalition thingy
The lead up to the next election will be an important reflection time for all political parties. As they juggle for position and create voting sound bites I wish to make three recommendations:
- Be careful what you sell your soul for. Know when a coalition agreement will destroy more than it creates.
- Never ever make Te Tiriti a referendum issue. It’s not black and white or simple. Treat it with respect.
- Build the wellbeing economy and seek to work together to create a future vision that we can all work towards.
So what is next?
I think there is a need to continue the Treaty conversation. It is a foundational part of our history and I believe is at the heart of being a New Zealander. What about 2050? 2100? Generations into the future?
Consider what our country will be like in 2050. Our population is changing. 20% of our population is Māori. They are young. Our population will also be increasingly Asian and Pacific. At the same time we will have a growing population of older folk. And we also know that globally there is a growing divide between the world views of women and men. We are in for even more interesting times so let’s think about future generations now.
As our population changes what impact might this have on Te Tiriti?
What does it mean to be a New Zealander? What are we prepared to sacrifice? What must we hold on to?
The Dubai Future Foundation has published their Future Opportunities Report 2024, summarising 50 opportunities for the future. Amongst these are two ‘What if’ questions that I think are particularly relevant to this conversation, as shown below. If we had a chief sociologist how might this keep the focus on people and how we shape New Zealand society together? How might we honour the unique cultural heritage of our country and show the world how public policy can be developed in civil ways, where dialogue leads to just decision making?
Let’s continue the conversation and start with the type of Aotearoa New Zealand we want for today and generations to follow. That’s a great space for futures thinking and foresight to play a role.
I just despise people who want to use a treasure – which is what the Treaty is to me – and use it as a political tool that drives people to the left or the right, as opposed to inform us from our history and let it deliver a future that is actually who we are as New Zealanders.
Dame Jenny Shipley – NZ’s first female prime minister 1997–99
Position Statement
So where does my world view come from?
I am a tauiwi Pākeha descending from four generations of English and Scottish ancestors. I grew up in Ōtautahi Christchurch, the youngest of three sisters. I am step-mother, grandmother, great grandmother and wear many hats.
When I went to school there was no acknowledgment of Māori in any of our learning. I went to school with Māori but they were ‘just like us’. I learnt about Captain Cook, Abel Tasman and the ‘First Four Ships’ that brought English settlers to this place. I never learnt about the Treaty of Waitangi or any other aspects of Māori history, either local or national. It is only in recent years that I have learnt about Kemp’s Deed, Te Kēreme and the Ngāi Tahu histories.
I live in a city where most of our schools include Māori names, and where schools understand their cultural narratives; where Māori history is represented in community spaces in partnership; and where our civic buildings have Māori names and pūrākau. Maybe you can meet me at Tūranga and then we can head to Te Pae for a kōrero… Can our political leaders acknowledge that this is quite normal conversation for lots of us – including elder female Pākeha like me who don’t feel we are listened to by any parties.
I have no political affiliations and best describe myself as a swing voter with a mixed view tending towards the centre. My assumptions and worldviews have changed over time, especially as I learn more and experience more. I know they will continue to change.
I am a futurist, known as #futuresaunty. I believe that a futures mindset starts as a personal journey and that this is at the heart of our considerations for futures studies, foresight and future generations. Now is the time for kotahitanga, for unity.
Extra Links
David Seymour: Implications of Treaty Principles Bill Interview on Q&A with journalistJack Tame
For David Seymour to be correct, Jim Bolger, John Key, Bill English and Helen Clark must all be wrong. Every judicial decision relating to Māori interests must be wrong. The majority of the academic, legal and historic opinion must all be wrong.
Alternative worldviews on the Treaty Principles Bill as reported by RNZ on 29 November 2024 and a Tik Tok video from Riana Te Ngahue in reply.
Government to change or remove Treaty of Waitangi provisions in 28 laws – Newsroom 14/10/24
David Seymour criticises Te Pāti Māori – NZ Stuff via Instagram
Intergenerational Fairness: Hopeful Futures
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
The closing date for Submissions for the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill
is Tuesday 7 January, 2025.