January 27, 2015
Treaty pundits put on the spot
They’ve put their views on the Treaty of Waitangi out in the public, and now the people who see themselves as guardians of the treaty have asked them to come and defend those views.
Te Kotahitanga o nga Hapu o Ngapuhi is holding a hui at Otiria Marae in Moerewa this Friday and Saturday at which authors Gareth Morgan and Paul Moon will speak, along with Annette Sykes, Valmai Toki, Moana Jackson and Tukoroirangi Morgan.
Co-chair Pita Tipene says the debate about what Te Tiriti o Waitangi means in 2015 and beyond is a response to the Waitangi Tribunal’s finding that the treaty was about Maori sharing power and authority with the crown rather than ceding sovereignty.
He says Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson’s off-handed dismissal of the finding as having no effect won’t shut off the debate.
"If people like Chris Finlayson are going to continue to put their heads in the sand it is not going to do this nation any good and that's why we've invited people like Paul Moon. We may not agree with what he's coming our with but it doesn't stop us having a conversation and listening to what he has to say, and for him to listen to us," Mr Tipene says.
The hui should provide meat for next week’s debate at Waitangi.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH PITA TIPENE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjU3NjM=
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com