Was there really less politics at Waitangi?
Politicking by politicians was less overt but whether there was less politics probably depends on your definition of the word and what lay beneath the optics
In today’s edition: leaked emails call Wayne Brown’s flood narrative into question; Hipkins to Australia, Mahuta to India; new police minister wants to removal of cigarettes for sale from retailers sped up; but first, yes there was commemoration and celebration at Waitangi but the current of political consequence and decision-making flowed through
No political bombshells but there were plenty of bombs and there was plenty of politics at Waitangi (Image: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon)
Less politicking but still, there was politics
Prime minister Chris Hipkins said he welcomed “less politics” at Waitangi after yesterday's dawn ceremony at the Upper Treaty grounds. The ceremony was a reverent affair. But I think “less politics'' might better be described as “less obvious politicking from politicians looking to win votes”. The request for “less politics'' this year came from the hosts. Politics is still just about how groups make decisions on things like resource distribution or recognition of status. I was up at Waitangi and while I did more eating than anything else, the various tents, forums and panels were alive with those kinds of conversations. It sounds like the hotel the politicians stayed at was equally lively, based on Stuff’s Glenn McConnell’s fantastic colour at the end of this piece. Politik’s Richard Harman reports on (paywalled) Willie Jackson telling Iwi chairs they would have to understand they either supported the government as it moved to water down co-governance or, if they didn’t, they would end up enabling a National-Act government.
Waitangi Tribunal report on Treaty breaches suffered by Ngāpuhi on the agenda
On Sunday, Alana Thomas hosted a forum at Te Tii Waitangi Marae on the stage two report from the Waitangi Tribunal into Treaty breaches suffered by Ngāpuhi. The iwi, the biggest in the country and on whose land the Treaty was signed, does not have a formal settlement from the Crown. The report, released in December, recommends the government return all Crown-owned land in Ngāpuhi’s tribal area and start talks about reworking New Zealand’s constitutional framework in the light of an earlier finding that Ngāpuhi chiefs did not cede sovereignty when they signed the Treaty. The government has said it won’t make any quick decisions on the report’s findings. RNZ’s Mani Dunlop and Julian Wilcox’s Waitangi Day live broadcast is now online and includes an excellent panel on the findings.
National Party hopes for “full and final” on Treaty settlements by 2030
In that panel discussion, Hinerangi Himiona wasn't that impressed by what politicians had to say over the weekend – “a lot of learner drivers,” she said. The Herald’s David Fisher has a substantive write-up about what was said by leaders and representatives of political parties at Sunday’s pōwhiri. National Party leader Christopher Luxon said he “would hope” that all historic treaty settlements could be finalised by all iwi who want to by 2030. In an interview with the Herald this weekend (paywalled), treaty negotiations minister Andrew Little said the rush to settle claims as quickly as possible was over, with the Crown needing to earn back the trust of iwi and hapū. The forum set up after the pōwhiri to continue the conversation, which all politicians were invited to - and Ngāti Hine kaumātua Waihoroi Shortland said they were expected at “otherwise, next time, I will not feed you” - wasn’t attended by party leaders.
Same, same but different
Both Luxon and Hipkins made comments about health, education and the justice system at Sunday’s pōwhiri, all of which will be big election issues. Luxon said economic success for Māori was the same as for all New Zealanders and health, law and order, and education are issues for all New Zealanders. Hipkins framed it as “the future prosperity for Māori is prosperity for everyone”. As Newsroom’s Jo Moir writes, “While they almost sound the same, Luxon is coming from a position that if everyone is invested, then Māori are too, while Hipkins is pointing out that Māori are already so over represented in the negative statistics that the focus needs to lie there.” While politicking from politicians might have seemed less overt – the optics tuned to adhere to a celebration of unity – it’s still an election year.
Investing in 2023: what you need to know
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Leaked emails call Wayne Brown’s flood narrative into question
A Herald story ran over the weekend saying staff in Auckland mayor Wayne Brown's office were understood to be “screaming” at their computers as the city flooded on January 27, while requesting and searching for internal emails sent to an emergency management distribution list. The claim is that Wayne Brown and his staff were left off a “vital” email distribution list on the night of the Auckland floods. However, internal council emails obtained by The Spinoff show Brown and his office asserting that they were getting regular updates from Civil Defence officials on the night of the city’s floods. Brown has released the terms of reference for a review of the immediate response to the severe weather event. The statement said the mayor anticipated there will be further reviews, including those commissioned by central government, but it's important to move quickly on this initial review to ensure immediate lessons are learned.
Hipkins heads to Australia, Nanaia Mahuta heads to India
Mahuta was meant to host a dinner for diplomats on Saturday night at Waitangi but it was cancelled. It was announced the following day that Mahuta was flying to India on Waitangi Day which might explain that one. Mahuta will meet with vice president Hon Jagdeep Dhankar and travel to Mumbai to promote New Zealand’s interests in the country’s commercial and industrial capital. Bit of convergence with Hipkins’ trip to Australia, given the questions about why we’ve fallen so far behind our trans-Tasman counterparts in developing a stronger trading relationship with India. Stewart Sowman-Lund has a preview of Hipkins’ first trip overseas as prime minister and will be providing updates from Canberra on The Spinoff throughout the day.
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New police minister wants plan to reduce number of dairies that can sell cigarettes hastened
New police minister Stuart Nash has met with new health minister Ayesha Verrall to talk about the issue with the aim of preventing ram raids. Nash made the comments at a police graduation ceremony in Porirua last week. Dairy and Business Owners’ Group Incorporated spokesman Sandeep Aggarwal said Nash’s plans to hasten this process would mean a loss of confidence in the third police minister in less than eight months. “This is not a retail reduction plan but decimation,” he said. Nash said last week it was his understanding that many people committing ram raids did so to get tobacco products and that many retailers had opted to stop selling tobacco already. “Ngā Tai Ora Public Health Unit in Northland did a survey looking at 25 retailers who made the choice to end the sale of tobacco, and 88% of those businesses experienced either a neutral or positive financial impact,” he said.
Click and collect
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