Ngā Toki Whakarururanga is a Tiriti-based entity created out of Mediation with the Crown during the Waitangi Tribunal inquiry on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (Wai 2522), and is a claimant in the Constitutional Kaupapa Inquiry.
Co-convenor of Ngā Toki Whakarururanga, Pita Tipene, said today that “we join with Māori across the motu to condemn the ACT Party’s assault on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and National and New Zealand First as complicit in allowing the Treaty Principles Bill to be introduced.”
“We have always been clear that Te Tiriti o Waitangi, affirming He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni is the only legitimate reference point for Aotearoa that defines the relationship between ngā Hapū me ngā Iwi and the Crown – not the ‘principles’, however the Crown defines them.”
This constitutional fact was the basis for Ngā Toki Whakarururanga’s arguments before the Waitangi Tribunal. As the Treaty of Waitangi Act requires the Tribunal to judge the Crown’s actions against the “principles”, those principles can only legitimately be derived from Te Tiriti.
Pita Tipene pointed out that “this understanding defines our relationship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). For that reason, we have also consistently rejected references to Treaty principles in trade negotiations and agreements”.
“The rushed introduction of the Bill to pre-empt the protest hĪkoi confirms this is a political stunt designed to provoke Māori and appeal to the racist vote. We fully expect ACT’s allies in Hobson’s Choice or Taxpayers’ Union to launch a citizen-initiated referendum to ramp up this provocation leading into the next election, whatever its coalition partners do, and irrespective of the har it will cause.”
“It seems another part of the strategy is to repeat the 1981 scenario of confrontation and a ‘law and order’ issue that provides ACT with more political capital.”
“We intend to treat ACT’s stunt with the contempt it deserves, and will maintain the integrity of Te Tiriti o Waitangi whatever happens with this illegitimate Bill”.