Two emails objecting to our Vote 2019 summary of where candidates stand on race issues shine a light on the Orwellian world of race policy in New Zealand.
The adjective “Orwellian” derives from 1940s English writer George Orwell, who pinpointed government manipulation of language that led to redefinitions like “war is peace”, “freedom is slavery”, and “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.
Our Vote 2019 classification was colour-coded where green was against separatism, red supported race-based policies, and grey showed that the stance was either unknown or unclear.
One candidate emailed to object being shown in green as being against separatism and wrote “you have no idea what my views are, but your listing effectively presents me as racist, which is bullshit.”
Another candidate, who could be a poster child for a politically correct education, asked to be changed from “unclear/unknown” to “supports race-based policies”, adding that he wanted to be seen as “acknowledging and respecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tangata whenua and history” too.
One would think that any policy based on race would, by definition, be racist.
But in our Orwellian world, racism is not racism and equal treatment is.
Podcast: Tribal appointees in local government
Leighton Smith’s latest podcast featured a conversation with Casey Costello, from Hobson’s Pledge Trust, about transparency and accountability in local government. The promo for the podcast described it as an attempt underway to undermine the political system that most voters are unaware of. Search for newstalkzbleightonsmithpodcast and it is included in podcast at the top of the list.
Petitions update
The Endeavour replica flotilla arrived at Tauranga on Friday, welcomed by dozens of people. Thank you to all who signed our petition to welcome the visit. We set up the petition to counter another petition to stop the visit, claiming it was racist. They collected 3235 signatures, while we have so far collected 4599. Our petition may be signed at http://chng.it/jKMjXXMwGd
We launched another petition which asks Parliament to amend the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 to restore public ownership of the coastal area, put all claims through the High Court, repeal customary marine title, while affirming customary rights. We have picked up 4179 signatures to date. We need your support. The petition may be signed at http://chng.it/stXwrrtFLY
Meanwhile, our petition to evict protesters at Ihumatao, and for the Government to allow both Te Kawerau a Maki and Fletchers to proceed with their lawful business, has collected 2602 signatures. We suspect that a clash of wills is going on at Cabinet level between those who want the Government to buy the land and give it to the protesters and those who don’t. The petition may be signed at http://chng.it/xPN6P55k
Frequently asked questions
- What is Hobson's Pledge? Hobson’s Pledge supporters think it is absurd to argue in the 21st century that people who chance to have a Maori ancestor, always with other ancestors too of course, should have superior rights to those who don’t. And utterly absurd that there are politicians who want to be taken seriously who still push this nonsense.
- What are the issues we're facing today?
- Who are the people behind Hobson's Pledge Trust?
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