November 28, 2023

Tough three years ahead for Māori and the coalition government, Tuku Morgan

Claudette Hauiti Posted On November 28, 2023

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Tough three years ahead for Māori

Waikato-whānui leader and Chair of Te Arataura Tuku Morgan says its going to be a tough three years ahead for Māori as they bare the brunt of coalition government policies that dial back the clock on 50 years of hard fought for gains.

As part of the coalition agreement the parties will remove co-governance from the delivery of public services.

Tainui-Waikato has been working with both district and regional councils for over two decades. A major project involving the partnership is the Waikato River Joint Management Agreement signed in 2010. It is a commitment to restore and maintain the mana and the mauri of the awa.

In March this year, Iwi partnered on the $128m upgrade to the Pukekohe Wastewater treatment Plant which treats wastewater from Pukekohe and into te awa o Waikato.

Morgan says removing co-governance arrangements is a smokescreen for a much bigger agenda.

“It is there to erode every smidgeon of progress of successful initiatives that goes to the heart of developing a much more resiliant Māori population.” says Morgan.

He says that while Māori will find the next three years tough so too will the coalition-government. After speaking with Iwi leaders around the motu and Māori across a number of private and business sectors, he’s confident there will be a united push back on any attempts to roll over the top of Māori.

The coalition government also plans to:

restore local referenda on Māori wards
remove te reo from public service agencies except Māori organisations
conduct a comprehensive review on legislation that includes the phrase ‘The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi’
stop all mahi on He Puapua
confirm that the coalition government ‘unrecognises’ UNDRIP, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
progress a Treaty Principles Bill to select committee
abolish Te Aka Whaiora the Māori Health Authority