September 30, 2020
Treaty policy sets long term course for Maori Party
Māori Party co-leader John Tamihere says the party’s mana motuhake treaty policy is a pou in the ground for the next eight elections.
The policy released yesterday at Waitangi includes setting up a Māori parliament, automatically enrolling new Māori voters on the Māori electoral roll so it becomes opt out rather than opt in, overhaul the treaty settlement process and abolish full and final settlements, make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding on the Crown, and return conservation land to whānau, hapū and iwi Māori.
Mr Tamihere says Māori are used to taking a long term view.
"One day they said we couldn't have kōhanga reo. One day they said we couldn't have kura. One day they said we couldn't have wharekura. One day they said we couldn't have iwi radio, Māori radio that we're using right now. One day they said we couldn't have Māori TV. One day they said we couldn't have Bastion Point. One day they said we couldn't have Ihumātao. It's what's justifiable in terms of our constitution is what we say, not what you say any more," Mr Tamihere says.
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