G R Scown and Don Brash (January 7) opine that Danny Keenan (January 4) is wrong in insisting Governor Hobson did not say the words, "We are one people", that William Colenso attributed to him.
However, G R Scown´s argument is based on his "guessing Colenso still had notes from that occasion" — while Don Brash accepts it may not be true, exclaiming "So what if they weren't", and it is on this nebulous ground his Hobson´s Pledge movement is based. Now he maintains — these (purported) "words reflect the reality of what the Treaty provided".
Don Brash fudges the issue that, "if it´s something, while not actually written in the Treaty, is said to reflect its intent, you are, in reality, stating 'its principle purpose' or, more simply 'its principles'." Here is a case of someone who is on record vehemently denying our Treaty has any "principles" now finding it has.
However, unlike our courts' determinations, his principles are admittedly based on wishful thinking, not what is written.
When Don Brash suggests our TOW is "unique in the world", he appears ignorant of the "First Nation People" of North America. They have a status predicated on treaties made in colonial times, carried over into constitution and domestic law.