We've been waiting for its arrival and tomorrow we will get our first look at the Treaty Principles Bill when it is introduced to Parliament.
News of this earlier introduction was allegedly leaked by the ever-combative Waitangi Tribunal.
Tomorrow, we will finally know the exact wording and be able to form our own opinions on the Bill.
Chris Hipkins hasn't been willing to wait, however, and has been handwringing on TVONE this morning. He even claimed that it would put existing Treaty Settlements at risk which has never been on the table with this Bill.
Unfortunately, I think we can expect to see a continuation of the underhanded and less than honest approach opponents to the Bill have being employing thus far. Even as I write, threats are being made to close down motorways next week in protest – because nothing expresses care for people and society like stopping kiwis getting to and from work or school.
We are holding our breath to see how the Government have shaped up the Bill in regards to Article 2 of the Treaty. There has been speculation, but we will reserve our judgement until tomorrow!
We will make sure to keep you in the loop with the Bill and are working on a tool to assist you in submitting your thoughts when it goes to the Select Committee. The consultation period will be six months long so we intend to make sure everyone takes their time and gets a thorough submission in.
Advertising Standards Authority Appeal
Not a lot to share on this today except that our lawyers are working on our appeal and we intend to challenge the decisions of the Authority. As soon as we can share our appeal documents without compromising our case we will do so.
My thanks to those of you who were willing and able to chip in to contribute to legal costs. That generosity is always appreciated and for those who still wish to help out you can do so by clicking here.
Teach your kid to be a raging racist!
We were sent an opinion piece written by Josie Pagani in August this year about a book called Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai.
Josie calls the book "a daring and delightful account" but is disturbed by how it promotes divisive race narratives in quite an adult voice.
For example, the main character says, "I will hit all the English people in the face because they stole the land”. He also says, "My Dad is Māori like me. I feel sorry for my Mum. She's only Pākehā.”
Is this really what we want our kids thinking is okay? To hit people because people of the same race as them did something more than one hundred years ago? To present races as unequal? One race being worthy of pride and one not?
Depressingly, the book has won awards and accolades. It makes you wonder about the people who give these awards out.
Royal Society gets a telling off by Māori academics
The Royal Society Te Apārangi is proposing a governance restructure which will remove dedicated Māori representation from its council. It will also entrench the power of its Academy of Fellows. The new structure halves the council’s size, from 12 to six, and removes its two existing Māori seats.
The Royal Society Te Apārangi is a not-for-profit providing funding and policy advice in the sciences and humanities.
The proposed restructure has drawn the ire of some "prominent Māori academics" who have signed an open letter to the society President, Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding.
The letter contains a not-so-subtle threat that "if there is no visible space for Māori decision-making in this reimagined structure, the creation of an independent Māori Academy may be the path forward.”
They also said:
“It feels like a major step backwards from the inclusive governance model we have been working towards and lacks any meaningful consideration of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”
The Treaty does not provide for race-based representation in any kind of governance so this is just another example of Treaty-creep where the reach and scope of the Treaty are expanded.
Needless to say, we at Hobson's Pledge think that removing race-based representation is an excellent move and we hope the Royal Society holds its nerve under the attacks from academia, media, and activists.
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I will email you again shortly with more on the Treaty Principles Bill and no doubt other matters, but in the meantime I am sure we all have our eyes cast to the United States! Here's hoping for a swift result and a dignified concession from the unsuccessful candidate. Democracy is precious and we must all protect it in our various corners of the world.