Messages both striking and safe delivered at Waitangi
By and large, everyone was able to speak, in all manner of ways, and do so uninhibited and safely at Waitangi. Whether everyone felt heard is up for debate.
Mōrena, and welcome to The Bulletin for Wednesday, February 7, written by Anna Rawhiti-Connell.
In today’s edition: Government warned about ‘hard landing’ for housing; abandoned and forgotten — nearly a year on from Cyclone Gabrielle; deputy PM and Pacific People’s minister on Pacific mission; but first, four days of pōwhiri, speeches, food, commemoration, hikoi and protest at Waitangi
Split focus and split pōwhiri
Being at Waitangi over three days is hard to summarise. There are the vibes, the food and the family-friendly festivities on the road in and at Ti Tii Marae. There are the forum tents where big conversations are had. Then there’s the Upper Treaty grounds and Te Whare Rūnanga, where most of the political action, activism and commemoration is focused. Focus was split further this year, with separate pōwhiri for the opposition (Saturday), Kiingitanga and Te Pāti Māori (Sunday), and the government on Monday. Mad Chapman recapped Sunday’s events here, noting the anticipation and alignment ahead of the government’s arrival on Monday. Adam Dudding captures some of the action from the forum tent for The Post this morning. Chapman also liveblogged the government’s arrival and events yesterday if you need to catch up. RNZ’s photographers have some great shots from Monday and yesterday, as well.
The workings of a three-party coalition on display
As Stuff’s Tova O’Brien reported on Monday, the origin of the decision to have separate pōwhiris seems to be a bit muddy, with prime minister Christopher Luxon saying the Waitangi National Trust sets out protocol. Trust chairman Pita Tipene told Stuff he wasn’t sure “who led the request from government.” In a summary of Monday’s speeches from representatives of the government (dubbed the “three-headed taniwha” by some), O’Brien argues they revealed the divergence inherent in a three-party coalition. “That was them, exactly as they are, perfectly representing and talking to their individual policies and constituencies,” she writes. “Sure, they don’t tessellate but they fit. And after the enormous challenge they were presented with at Waitangi, they showed they can make it work.” The challenge to Act at Waitangi in response to its proposed Treaty Principles Bill seemed the most enormous. Act leader David Seymour was heckled and booed, while Act MP Nicole Mckee’s speech was cut short by waiata (as tikanga allows).
Luxon’s speech draws criticism
Many words have been spilled in reaction to Luxon's speech from the marau (porch) of Te Whare Rūnanga on Monday, in which the prime minister steered clear of directly addressing concerns raised by other speakers. The Herald has compared the speech with his speech at Waitangi last year. Parts are identical. This year’s speech has been described as subdued, banal, dishwater dull, pedestrian and beige. There is precisely zero disagreement from reporters and commentators about that. There is divergence (a theme emerges) on whether it was politically astute. Chapman argues it was so boring it became insulting. “Thousands gathered at Waitangi this morning to voice their concerns directly to the new government. And the prime minister made it clear he wasn’t listening,” she writes. Newsroom’s Jo Moir writes that Luxon was “unable or unwilling to think on his feet and respond to the challenges laid down before him. O’Brien suggests the speech “landed about right and seemed the appropriate approach to take”, perhaps diffusing the tension that emerged after Seymour spoke. The Herald’s Simon Wilson agrees (paywalled) that it was insulting for Luxon not to acknowledge the outpouring of concern and that the prime minister didn't rise to the occasion but that there might be something clever about it. “The hopeful way to look at the speech is that Luxon was signalling he will now shut down attempts by Act, NZ First and some of his own ministers to inflame the issues.” Speaking to Moir, National MP and Maori Affairs select committee Dan Bidiois said Luxon’s speech was deliberate. “There’s a saying from an old professor of mine, get off the dance floor and onto the balcony… I think the prime minister got on the balcony, got off the dance floor, out of the noise and actually tried to articulate a wider perspective of where we’re heading as a country.”
Many spoke but who was heard?
Wilson, continuing in a hopeful vein, writes this morning (paywalled) that “a decent chunk of the nation has come together. This is us.” As we left Waitangi yesterday, we were flagged down by a member of Te Hīkoi o Te Kotahitanga ki Waitangi. He politely told us horses were coming through as part of the hikoi and we joined a few dozen cars in slowing down as they did. It was a striking image to leave Waitangi with, rivalled for me only by the Tame Iti-led hikoi. The group joined the thousands upon thousands who converged at Waitangi over four days to say something and be heard. By and large, everyone was able to speak, in all manner of ways, and do so uninhibited and safely. It’s a testament to the maanatikanga of the hosts, volunteers, and all involved. Whether everyone felt heard is up for debate. The final word goes to Tipene, who considered Luxon’s speech to be lacking in addressing the concerns of Māoridom, but accepted there had been “glacial” progress. He looks forward to further discussion.
More Waitangi reading:
Carwyn Jones provides some much-needed context to an eight-page advertorial featuring Apirana Ngata’s 1922 explanation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi that ran last week.
Morgan Godfery analyses the arguments in Ned Fletcher’s meticulously researched book, The English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi (originally published in 2022).
The Spinoff’s Te Tiriti reading (and watching and listening) guide
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Ministry warns government about ‘hard landing’ for housing
As the Herald’s Thomas Coughlan reports (paywalled), officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have warned the government that the construction sector “is headed for a “hard landing”, which would see the number of new homes built every year plummet by thousands.” The warning was delivered in the briefing to incoming housing minister, Chris Bishop, last year. On Friday, Stats NZ reported that the number of new homes consented in 2023 fell by a quarter on 2022 figures to 37,239. The officials warned that “the downturn may only exacerbate the existing housing crisis, pushing up rents and the price of homes at the very same time as the country heads into a period of Reserve Bank-induced high unemployment.” Labour market figures are out this morning. The Heral’s Liam Dann has a preview from economists.
Nearly twelve months on from Cyclone Gabrielle
As the one-year anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle lashing the Hawke’s Bay approaches, Rachel Morris has an in-depth and powerful longread in New Zealand Geographic this month. Morris and photographer Lottie Hedley spent several stints in Hawke’s Bay over four months, working with the silt clean-up crew and spending time with cyclone survivors. Many, whose homes were deluged by flood water on February 14, have felt abandoned and forgotten as official support and media focus ebbed. Many were left to tackle the massive silt clean-up job on their own — until a network of volunteers began digging out houses. After her late November visit, Morris writes: “What I’m most struck by is how many people still need help with the silt, 10 months after the storm. A visiting neighbour mentions that his place was cleared by a rugby club from Taihape, seasonal workers sent by their employer for the day, and ‘some dude in a Destiny Church T-shirt’ (part of a large contingent from Man Up). Conspicuously absent from his list is any national or local government authority or major charity. I hear the same thing over and over again from residents of Pakowhai and Omahu and Esk Valley: the only people they could find to help were volunteers. ‘Without them,’ one told me, ‘we’d still be knee-deep in mud.’”
Click and Collect
Deputy prime minister Winston Peters and Pacific People’s minister Dr Shane Reti touch down in Tonga for the first leg of this year’s Pacific Mission trip.
Prime minister Christopher Luxon joins leaders around the world in wishing King Charles a speedy recovery following news of the King’s cancer diagnosis yesterday.
RNZ’s Eloise Gibson reports on hybrid owners trying to remove plugs to avoid road user charges. Elsewhere, SUV owners in Paris will soon pay €18 (around $31NZD) per hour to park in the central city.
Local government minister Simeon Brown says the government is working at pace on implementing its Local Water Done Well policy and will announce plans in the coming weeks.
What Auckland got for the millions spent on the ill-fated light rail project
Feeling clever? Click here to play 1Q, Aotearoa’s newest, shortest daily quiz.
As the new government faces scrutiny over plans to wind back proposed smoke-free legislation, Stewart Sowman-Lund walks us through the history of our efforts to curb cigarette use. Joel MacManus takes a whistle-stop tour through the latest report on the future of Wellington’s housing. A project manager who just got on the property ladder tells us about their relationship with money for the Cost of Being. Tara Ward recaps the return of Shortland Street for 2024, while Alex Casey has an update on the show’s mystery baby search. Liv Sisson has some advice for anyone with too much summer veg. Sam Brookes rounds up everything coming to streaming services this week. Grace Yee and Emma Sidnam both have books that have been longlisted for the Ockham Book Awards and talk to each other about their work.
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
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