Yesterday afternoon we received an apology from the Justice Select Committee for the incorrect public statements the Chair James Meager made about Hobson's Pledge. James Meager also made an apology on the livestream later in the day.

We appreciate the acknowledgement from the committee and understand that miscommunications happen. Unfortunately, however, despite being eager to report when we were being called political opportunists and liars, the media are unlikely to run stories on the apology.

That's life in New Zealand in 2025 when the media don't agree with you!

Anyway, this was just a quick update so that at least you know that we got an apology.

The Justice Select Committee haven't given Hobson's Pledge a slot to speak at the oral submissions for the Treaty Principles Bill.

Yes, you read that right – the largest, most vocal, and organised organisation advocating for ‘one law for all’ – and with more than 140,000 supporters – has not been given a speaking slot, while the likes of John Tamihere and Lady Moxon have been.

We are very grateful therefore to the team at Democracy Action who gave us their speaking slot today. We had anticipated that if not given a formal slot on Monday, then it was a given that we would be given a slot on Thursday. We therefore agreed to swap with Democracy Action. Just this morning though, the Democracy Action team got an email from the Committee Clerks saying no slot has been given to Hobson’s Pledge and so no swap is currently possible.

We view this is as totally outrageous. As I noted above, Hobson’s Pledge is a leading voice in this debate and supported by thousands upon thousands of kiwis. It is incomprehensible how our leading organisation could be ignored by this committee and it does beg serious questions about this whole process.

Again, our thanks to Democracy Action for giving us their slot and we will be advocating that they be given a time to also speak. The committee seems very happy to allow voices in opposition, but it appears less helpful when it comes to those in support of this Bill.

Tune in via the Parliament website or RNZ's livestream from around 2.20pm to hear our presentation and get in touch – be it via email or on our social media – to let us know what you thought. Only ten minutes have been allocated, so it will have to be direct and to the point.

We received almost unanimous support for our idea for a boycott of National membership until Christopher Luxon makes the Treaty Principles Bill a conscience vote. So, it is full steam ahead and we will be rolling out a social media campaign.

But, you may have noticed that we aren't shy of fighting on multiple fronts when necessary. So I will set aside Boycott for the Bill for a moment and direct your attention to a matter that is simmering away largely unnoticed in local government.

Long story short, a stealthy iwi takeover of Whanganui District Council is underway. 

Whanganui iwi and the Crown are currently negotiating a Treaty settlement and as part of it they want to embed several co-governance dynamics into the Whanganui District Council.

This would mean that co-governance would be locked into the council via legislation. So much for an end to co-governance!

Additionally, the 'relationship agreement' is set to include a large amount of land transferred to iwi and the establishment of a charitable trust run by iwi and council.

I know you're able to appreciate the significance and finality of these kinds of decisions and how important it is that we fight them before it is too late. Once settlements are finalised in legislation, it is all but impossible to unwind them.National especially likes to put things in Treaty settlements and then hold up their hands and say "can't change it now!"

Our friends over at Democracy Action say:

While Mayor Andrew Tripe and the council appear to be largely supportive of this initiative - what the mayor calls ‘a world-first indigenous-council partnership’ - the council is encouraging its citizens to have a say on the proposals.

Under the plan iwi would participate in decision-making in the joint management of lands, resources, and socio-economic strategies. If approved the proposals would bind future councils, future generations.

This is a matter of utmost importance to the people of Whanganui, but it is also a glaring red flag and warning siren for the rest of the country. If Whanganui iwi succeed in gaining this power, other iwi groups will attempt to obtain their own co-governance powers in similar ways. Council co-governance, coming to a town near you! 

What can we do?

Take part in the public consultation. And do it ASAP. Feedback closes on 2 February 2025.

Tell the council in the strongest terms (without getting disqualified due to profanities!) that you oppose local democracy being dismantled via central government legislation. The council has set up a short survey, but you can make comments.

That is the most important thing you can do☝️☝️☝️

The next thing is for Whanganui residents to contact their councillors.

This is an example of what you might like to say:

Dear Mayor/Councillor,

It has come to my attention that a proposed Treaty settlement with local iwi is set to embed co-governance into Whanganui District Council via legislation. As a local resident, I oppose this completely. Local democracy must be protected. I have provided feedback via the council website, but I wanted to make it clear to those who have been elected to represent us that I oppose co-governance in any form.

I seek your assurance that you are committed to local democracy and intend to protect equal representation and rights at Whanganui District Council. What will you do to ensure no Treaty settlement compromises democratic process?

I will not in good conscience be able to cast a vote at the upcoming local elections for any council candidate who supports co-governance being embedded in Whanganui District Council.

Regards,

[Your name]

Here are the email addresses:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

For those not in Whanganui, you can focus your attention on contacting the relevant ministers:

Dear Prime Minister/Minister,

It has come to my attention that a proposed Treaty settlement with Whanganui iwi is set to embed co-governance in Whanganui District Council via legislation. 

I have been advised that should this go ahead iwi would participate in decision-making in the joint management of lands, resources, and socio-economic strategies. If approved the proposals would bind future councils, future generations.

I oppose this completely. Local democracy must be protected.

All three coalition partners promised an end to co-governance before and after the last general election. It was a key promise and a key issue for many voters.

If this Treaty settlement is passed with stealthy co-governance fish hooks snagging local government, it will be a huge betrayal of those who voted for this Government.

I seek your assurance that you are committed to democracy and intend to protect equal representation and rights throughout New Zealand including Whanganui District Council. What will you do to ensure no Treaty settlement compromises democratic processes?

I will not, in good conscience, be able to cast a vote at the upcoming local elections for any council candidate who supports co-governance being embedded in Whanganui District Council. Likewise, come next general election I will not vote for a party that promised to end co-governance and then went back on their word.

Regards,

[Your name]

Here are the email addresses:

Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith

NEW Local Government Minister Simon Watts

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

ACT Leader David Seymour

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters

Every single Hobson's Pledge supporter who gives feedback or contacts the people above makes a difference. Trust me, I know how tiresome it can be to send off submissions and emails to ministers and councillors. My best advice is to keep it short and simple. 

We appreciate your support as always.

After seeing our Prime Minister caught on camera gleefully promising to "kill" and "spike" the Treaty Principles Bill before a single submission has been read, the Hobson's Pledge team put our thinking caps back on. 

Clearly, Christopher Luxon has no respect for his voters. He must have seen the polling on the Bill. Polling that shows 64% of decided National Party voters support passing the Bill.

With such a mammoth response to the public consultation and support from all decided coalition party voters (53% NZ First and 95% ACT), the Government should pass this Bill and send it to a referendum.

That is an important thing to remember. The Bill will not become law simply by the Government passing it. First, it will go to a binding referendum at the next election and will only be enacted if that referendum passes.

So what can National voters do? Hobson's Pledge has written letters, sent emails, and made it pretty clear that Christopher Luxon is upsetting a large portion of his own supporters. But he has dug in. 

It's time to step things up and we have an idea, but we wanted to put it to you first and see what you think.

What if National Party members cancel or don't renew their membership unless Christopher Luxon and the Government make the Treaty Principles Bill a conscience vote?

A conscience vote means that instead of each party voting in a bloc, every individual MP casts a vote. Generally, conscience votes are used for Bills regarding controversial or 'moral' issues e.g. alcohol laws and Easter trading.

What do you think? Are you a National Party member? Would you be willing to cancel your membership in order to remind National who their voters are?

If we get enough support for this idea, we will launch a Boycott for the Bill campaign.

Click the button if you back our idea and want to chip in to fund spreading the word*.