With the census done and dusted, citizens of Maori descent may now choose whether to vote on either the Maori or general roll.

In calling on Parliament to deny ratepayers the right to veto council decisions to create racially-based political structures, Local Government New Zealand reveals just how totally out of touch they are with the views of the overwhelming majority of ratepayers, Don Brash said today in response to a press release from LGNZ.

The Auckland Council is seeking feedback on a 10-year budget and Auckland Plan 2050 and tucked in there is a whole series of questions on Maori identity and wellbeing.

On Thursday, Hamilton mayor Andrew King dropped his plan to get the city council to consider changing the name of the council to the Kirikiriroa City Council.

“Words” spoken between Crown/Maori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis, Finance Minister Grant Robertson, and Environment Minister David Parker on Monday prompted Stuff reporter Jo Moir to surmise on how the battle lines are drawn between coalition partners on water rights.

Another tribal rebellions day, planned for this weekend by Northland tribes to remember the sporadic armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand during the 19^th Century, is a good day to remember the 95 non-combatant innocents who were murdered during those conflicts, Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson Casey Costello said today.

A mass haka at Waitangi at 3pm on Friday, March 9, 2018, probably timed for the 6pm news, will kick off the first national tribal rebellions day.

The Green Party’s call to end referenda on Maori wards once again shows that they distrust voter opinion, Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson Casey Costello said today.

Our goal is to remove from law and practice any race-based discrimination in governance and property rights.

Ihumatao protest: please sign our petition asking Government to uphold the Treaty settlement, and police to evict the protesters

In 2015, the Ihumatao iwi Te Kawerau a Maki agreed to a full and final settlement of all their grievances and received financial redress of $6.5 million, plus forestry, forestry rentals and more. Fletchers bought private land in the area and announced plans to build 480 homes, 40 of which were to be given to Te Kawerau a Maki. But a member of that iwi (against the will of the elders) started a land occupation demanding that the Government buy the land to keep it as is.

If the Government caves in to protesters and buys the land, this will open the floodgates to similar protests, trash Treaty settlements, and erode private property rights.

The latest from Absurdistan Aoteroa

No, we're not making this up. Click here to hear Matthew Tukaki, Executive Director of the Maori Council explain why the Pope should apologise to Maori for colonisation.

Please sign our petition welcoming the Endeavour replica to New Zealand

In October 1769 Captain James Cook and the crew of his ship the Endeavour anchored in Mercury Bay near Coromandel. Cook and his men were the first Europeans to explore the country and interact with Māori. 

But some want to cancel the ship's visit, claiming that racism began here with the arrival of James Cook. This has even spilled over into an attack on Cook's statue. We think this is absurd - we should celebrate our collective heritage and culture. 

Councillors vote to allow Ngai Tahu two voting appointees on Otago Regional Council's powerful planning committee

The seven-three vote at the Otago Regional Council yesterday to include two voting un-elected tribal appointees on its policy committee shows race-based preferential treatment in action, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today... Read more

National, New Zealand First and ACT join to defeat Ngai Tahu Representation Bill

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 unelected members of Ngai Tahu the right to sit and vote on the 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....Read more 

Entrenched seats a political absurdity

Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirakatene’s Electoral (Entrenchment of Māori Seats) Amendment Bill will, if passed, require a 75% majority in Parliament to disestablish the Maori seats....Read more

Minister, we're in this together - please talk to all of us!

Dear Minister, 
We believe that the Government’s move to establish a ministerial responsibility for reviewing the relationship between the Crown and Maori is fraught with danger because it entrenches the notion that the Crown and Maori somehow exist as separate groups in partnership with each other...Read more

Iwi rights to fresh water on the government's agenda again

The Hobson's Pledge position on fresh water is that it is there for the benefit of everyone, irrespective of ethnicity, and that a special deal for Maori is out of the question... Read more

Marine and coastal area: first marine and coastal area agreement sets precedent for decades of fresh treaty negotiations

The first Agreement negotiated under the Marine and Coastal Area (Tukutai Moana) Act 2011 not only confirms widely raised fears of the Crown’s failure to represent the public interest but sets a precedent for fresh rounds of Treaty style negotiations... Read more

Labour list MP Kiri Allan should explain why she thinks Maori aren't good enough to foot it with other Kiwis and need separate wards, Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson Casey Costello said today. The Whakatane-based MP spoke out against a petition calling for a district-wide vote on a proposal by the Whakatane District Council to set up a Maori ward or wards.