Hui sends strong message to Govt

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

The fervour and emotion shown at Saturday’s hui called by King Tūheitia threatens to develop into a continuing challenge for the Government with the Treaty of Waitangi at its centre.

More than 10,000 people packed into the Tūrangawaewae Marae to hear the king advise them “to be Māori every day” and confirm that any changes to the Treaty will be strongly opposed. “The Treaty is the Treaty,” he said.

One outcome of the hui is that the mana of King Tūheitia, who has been somewhat in the shadow of his revered mother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, has been really enhanced. Different times require different leaders.

But there was a strong feeling throughout that the new Government is not a friendly one to Māori.

Putting aside the obvious opposition speeches by Te Pāti Māori and the Greens, the chair of the Waikato-Tainui executive Tukoroirangi Morgan spoke for many when he said Māori were sick and tired of being trodden on and undermined.

This furore, provoked mainly by the policies and comments of the junior coalition partners, has created an unwelcome distraction for the National-led Government which is eager to get on with what it sees as its primary purpose — getting New Zealand back on track.

Minister of Māori Development Tama Potaka earned some respect for attending the hui but he and his leader Christopher Luxon have a big job ahead of them to put out the fires that are burning so strongly.

The key issue is the introduction of the bill before the House that will allow for a review of the principles of the Treaty. This is strongly supported by Act Party leader David Seymour who confirmed his intentions to go ahead with it after the hui. Seymour knows there is a conservative block who are not happy with what they see as favouritism to Māori and have a slightly warped view of the Treaty.

Many suspect Luxon and National have reluctantly had to allow the bill to go to this stage as part of its lengthy coalition negotiations, and will find a way of quietly dropping it after the select committee stage.

However, the very fact it will even get that far is enough to enrage many Māori.

That rage will probably be on show at the two major upcoming Māori fixtures, the Ratana celebrations this week and Waitangi Day.

Luxon says he wants to deliver results for all New Zealanders, including Māori.

He will not want a heated debate on this issue to continue right through his first term as Prime Minister.

Unfortunately for him, putting out these fires is looking harder and harder all the time.