Dear supporter

We won! On Wednesday evening, in a surprise move, National, New Zealand First and ACT MPs defeated the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngai Tahu Representation) Bill, a Bill that would have granted un-elected members of Ngai Tahu the right to sit and vote on Canterbury Regional Council. In the wake of the Christchurch massacre this vote was symbolic of our need for unity.  Unity, the sense that we are New Zealanders ahead of any particular "identity" can only be maintained if we share the same democratic rights.

So we want to thank each and every one of you for signing our petition, your thoughtful comments and donations. Each petition milestone allowed us to remind the ECAN Councillors that their Bill was not only profoundly undemocratic but would create a conflict of interest placing Canterbury’s environment at risk and contribute to the growing number of laws creating a wedge between Maori and non-Maori.

We also wish to acknowledge the role of National, New Zealand First and ACT parliamentarians. Please consider emailing the Party leaders to thank them for their principled stance in voting the Ngai Tahu Bill down:  [email protected], [email protected] &  [email protected] – it is our Parliamentarians who are responsible for shaping our future.

Hobson’s Pledge, which sponsored this petition, has a vision in which all New Zealanders enjoy a single standard of citizenship. If you have witnessed the increasing number of laws dividing us as a nation, in particular the Marine and Coastal Area Act, with dismay then please consider supporting us by logging on at www.hobsonspledge.nz or you can follow us on Facebook.com/hobsonspledge/

We are considering launching petitions on the Parliamentary website concerning significant areas of law, where every single voice is important, so please stay tuned.

Once again, thank you!

Casey Costello, Nga Puhi (co-spokesperson Hobson’s Pledge Trust)

He iwi tahi tatou