Toitū Te Tiriti hīkoi organisers are unfazed by the shift of date to introduce the Treaty Principles Bill earlier than expected to the House.
The Bill was originally set to be introduced on November 18, a day before the nationwide hīkoi was due to arrive at Parliament, but the date has been brought forward to tomorrow.
Eru Kapa-Kingi of Toitū Te Tiriti said the change won’t affect any plans already in place for the nationwide hīkoi that’s set to take its first step on Monday from Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) at the top of the North Island.
“Ehara i te mea koia tēnei te aronga nui, te pire, e hoa, he pire nahe anō. E kī ana te kōrero, he hīkoi tēnei mō Te Tiriti, ehara i te hīkoi mō te pire.
(It’s not as if our main focus is the Bill, mate, it’s just a bill. As we’ve been saying, the hīkoi is for Te Tiriti, not the Bill).”
He said they had discussed the possibility of a date change during the planning stages and had already decided on staying the course.
“Kahore [mātou] i te oho i tēnei peke wawetanga o te pire. I āta matakite mātou i tēnei tūāhuatanga i roto i ngā marama nei i a mātou e whakariterite ana ki te hīkoi, ā, ka mārō hoki i a mātou te whakaaro, te perēne hoki, inā peke wawe te mea nei, inā tutungia ngā rangi e whānau mai ai te pire ki roto ki tērā whare, e hoa, ka ū, ka ū, ka ū.
(We’re not surprised by the Bill’s introduction into the House being brought forward. We predicted this happening in recent months as we prepared to march, and we determined that the plan go ahead regardless if it should happen [that is] if the dates to introduce the Bill were meddled with, and mate, we’re standing firm and holding fast).”
“Anei mātou o Toitū Te Tiriti, otirā te motu, e tautoko ana i te kaupapa o te hīkoi mō Te Tiriti e ū tonu nei ki ngā ritenga kua roa e hanga mārō nei
(We of Toitū Te Tiriti, and indeed the country, support the purpose of the hīkoi for Te Tiriti and we will continue as per our longstanding plans).”
The change of date was reported yesterday prompting the Waitangi Tribunal to release the second part of its interim report into the Treaty Principles Bill so that it was received by parties prior to the Bill being introduced.
The report was scathing of the Bill, saying if it were enacted “it would be the worst, most comprehensive breach of the Te Tiriti in modern times”, and that if it remained for a considerable time “it could mean the end of the Treaty” and “any formal relationship between the Crown and Māori”.
The minister responsible for the Bill, David Seymour, said it “provides an opportunity for New Zealanders — rather than the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal — to have a say on what the Treaty means”.
“Did the Treaty give different rights to different groups, or does every citizen have equal rights? I believe all New Zealanders deserve to have a say on that question.”
National and New Zealand First have both said they would not support the Bill beyond its first reading.
While he understands the thought behind the findings, Kapa-Kingi said he disagrees with the notion that the Bill would be the end of the Treaty.
“Kāhore au e hoatu i tērā mana nui ki tēnei pire me te kī māna ka mate, ka moe te mauri i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, kāhore. Ko tērā mauri kei roto i ō tāua hinengaro, ngākau, nō reira i te wā e mauri ora ana tāua te iwi Māori, e mauri ora ana Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
(I don’t give credence to the Bill such as to say that it will kill or put the mauri of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to rest, no. That mauri is within us, our minds and hearts, so as we as Māori still live and breathe, so does Te Tiriti o Waitangi).”