Jones petition shows time’s up for racist ranting

On File

The instigator of a petition to strip property magnate Sir Robert Jones of his knighthood says it's time to stop condoning racism.

Filmmaker Renae Maihi presented the petition to Labour MP Kiritapu Allan at parliament this morning.

More than 68,000 people signed the petition which was started in response to as National Business Review column where Sir Robert suggested a new public holiday to be called Maori Gratitude Day should replace Waitangi Day.

Ms Maihi says while no one in New Zealand has ever been stripped of a knighthood, a large number of people feel Sir Robert no longer deserves the title, and the politicians need to heed that call.

"I think it's the right thing to do and I think it's important we set down a really strong wero for Aotearoa that this racism against tangata whenua that has been here since the beginning, we're over it. No more. Address it, acknowledge that it's there, then we can start to move forward and not condone it," she says.

The petition also includes a call for all New Zealand children to be taught about local hapu and iwi history, the context and content of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, colonisation and its impacts.

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