November 26, 2023
Colonisation good for Māori says newly appointed Treaty Negotiations Minister
The member of parliament who says colonisation was good for Māori because it brought literacy, freedom and democracy is the newly elected Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.
Paul Goldsmith the National list member MP for Epsom made the declaration in an opinion piece in 2019. He doubled-down on the comment in an interview with Newshub in 2021.
Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon refused to comment on Goldsmith’s attitude toward Māori and colonisation instead stating he will be a hardworker.
‘He’s going to go around and make sure we do the work, and the remaining treaty settlements get closed out. After working at the Waitangi Tribunal as a graduate he’ll do that job effectively well.” says Christopher Luxon.
In an extensive one-on-one interview with Newshub in 2021, Paul Goldsmith said, “The reality is, that New Zealand was isolated from the rest of the world for centuries which happened in the 19th century which was always going to be traumatic experience.
“With it came all sorts of wonderful things such as literacy the freedoms and democracy that have come through so there’s good and bad.
When pressed again about whether colonisation was good for Māori he stated, “I think on balance it has been yes.”
The coalition government has also listed as part of its policy schedule to amend the Waitangi Tribunal legislation to refocus the scope, purpose, and nature of its inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation.