February 08, 2016
Key’s decision to stay away from Waitangi is cowardly
Key's decision to stay away from Waitangi is cowardly
MARTYN BRADBURY
John Key's decision to not face the wrath of Maori over the signing of the TPPA days before Waitangi is cowardly and beneath the position of the Prime Ministership.
The role of being Prime Minister obligates his presence and the decision to sign up to a forced trade deal that will rob Maori of their Treaty rights demands he turn up.
He didn't.
It is not acceptable to excuse him for not turning up because leaders at Waitangi were angered at what he has done by signing up to the TPPA. The manner his Government have rammed this through with no consultation could only provoke one response – and that was anger. To point to that as a justification is beneath our collective right to express anger over a righteous grievance.
The Government claim that because the Treaty is referenced in the TPPA, that somehow protects their Treaty rights. Nonsense. What adding the Treaty into the TPPA means is the Government has the option of spending tens of millions to defend any overseas corporation taking us to an overseas court. Maori know first hand that Governments are always happy to dump Maori interests if the price tag is too high. Who believes that the Government would be prepared to spend $50million to defend Maori?
Of course Maori are angry, they have every right to be angry and Key skipping away from having to face that anger is gutless.
Martyn Bradbury
Editor – TheDailyBlog.co.nz
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