Tag: Treaty of Waitangi
Rewriting history: how the Treaty ‘principles’ evolved and why they don’t stand up to scrutiny
With ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill imminent, how much do we know about the current principles? And were they ever a proper reflection of the text and intent of te Tiriti?
‘Room for everyone’: how Kīngi Tūheitia’s message of unity offered an alternative to divisive Treaty politics
With the death of Kīngi Tūheitia at a time of heightened tensions around Māori-Crown relations, the Kingitanga movement’s founding principle of kotahitanga – unity – remains as relevant as ever.
Some say the Treaty of Waitangi divides NZ – a new survey suggests the opposite is true
Modern interpretations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi cause sometimes bitter political debate. But new research shows New Zealanders – especially younger ones – see the Treaty largely as a positive symbol.
How the fast-track law could expose future NZ governments to expensive trade disputes
If a future government wanted to block fast-tracked projects, it could trigger investor-state dispute settlement clauses built into existing trade agreements, with billions potentially at stake.
Māori political systems are the oldest in Aotearoa – it’s time university politics courses reflected this
Just 1% of politics education in New Zealand is focused on the Māori dimension, new research has found. How can the country discuss Te Tiriti o Waitangi when very few understand it?
Waitangi Day 2024: 5 myths and misconceptions that confuse the Treaty debate
Decades of Treaty scholarship have failed to arrive at a consensus about its meaning and purpose. Dispensing with various mistaken interpretations would improve the chances of productive discussion.
The idea of ‘sovereignty’ is central to the Treaty debate – why is it so hard to define?
If Māori did not explicitly cede sovereignty in 1840, neither did they fully retain it. If sovereignty is already being shared, where does Te Tiriti o Waitangi sit within our unwritten constitution?
Why redefining the Treaty principles would undermine real political equality in NZ
The ACT Party claims revisiting the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi is about political equality. But removing a Māori cultural dimension to New Zealand’s democracy would have an opposite effect.
Racism and democracy: why claims of ‘division by race’ in the NZ election and Voice referendum need challenging
Arguments against including Indigenous cultural perspectives and experiences in public policy have spilled over into prejudice and racism on both sides of the Tasman. That harms democracy.
A retiring NZ MP has suggested joining Australia – we should at least think about it (before saying no)
Outgoing New Zealand MP Jamie Strange used his valedictory speech to propose a trans-Tasman political union. Wondering how that might work reveals just how different the two countries really are.
