May 02, 2024
Neutrality best stance for Māori says Ngarewa-Packer
Meanwhile, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer says Aoearoa New Zealand needs to reject AUKUS and go down a path of military neutrality.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says at this stage New Zealand is just looking at Pillar 2 of the nuclear submarine agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, which could involve signing up for some of the technology adopted by New Zealand’s traditional defence partners.
Ms Ngarewa Packer says the lessons of Parihaka and Princess Te Puea are that neutrality means being anti-war – and Māori historically don’t do well from war.
“We have seen what happens when we go into other nations’ wars and seen the impact it has on our people. We don’t do well from it,” she says.
Ms Ngarewa Packer says New Zealand needs to avoid blind relationships where it can be drawn into inhumane conflicts, such as the destruction of Gaza which is being facilitated by UK and US weapon sales.