Category: Politics

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Submissions open: All Kiwis encouraged to finally have a say on the Treaty

Source: ACT Party

With public submissions now open on the Treaty Principles Bill, ACT Leader David Seymour is encouraging all New Zealanders to have their say.

“Since 1975 when the Waitangi Tribunal decided the Treaty has ‘principles’, the job of interpreting those principles has been left to unelected judges. That changes today,” says Mr Seymour.

“For the first time, Kiwis of all backgrounds are now able to tell Parliament what they think the Treaty means for future generations of New Zealanders.

“Are we a ‘partnership’ between two different groups with different rights? Or are we a modern multi-ethnic democracy united by common humanity, where each person has the same rights and duties?

“This fundamental question needs to be answered if we are to move forward and solve our problems together.

“Thousands of New Zealanders are marching in Wellington today to make their feelings known. I hope they will now read the Bill and engage in the substance of the debate via the select committee process.

“Many more New Zealanders in the rest of the country are going about their day as normal, working to provide a better future for themselves and their loves ones. I hope they will also make their voice heard by making a submission when they have the time.”

Submissions to the Justice select committee close on 7 January.

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Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors.

“While Te Whatu Ora has been ordered to make $2 billion in cuts and has frozen hiring to front line roles the bill for contractors has soared. At the same time key support staff are being offered redundancy and hospital builds are downgraded,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. 

Data released under the Official Information Act shows that costs for contractors and consultants at Te Whatu Ora have risen overall by 18 percent between Q4 2022/23 and Q4 2023/24. But this is minor compared to the eye-watering increase in People and Communications functions, the bill for which grew from $8.5 million to nearly $30 million – an increase of 243 percent.

The Prime Minister has said, “We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors”, but the opposite has happened under his watch.

“His government has cut vital support staff, which means stressed front line staff like clinicians are tied up in paperwork. Their solution is increasing contractor spend to cover the shortfall, taking total spending on contractors in last financial year of $680 million. 

“An $84m year-on-year spike in contractor and consultant costs demonstrates that this Government relies on desperate short term fixes for long term problems – an approach that will leave New Zealanders poorer and sicker in the long run.

“It’s galling that Health New Zealand has spent more on communications contractors while being less transparent in their communication with the public. They have not published their turn around plan, a workforce plan or the statutorily required Health Plan. 

“There is nothing normal about the increased contractor costs in hospital and specialist services. The hiring freeze has resulted in greater use of more expensive locums.

“The Government’s cuts are taking our health system backwards,” said Ayesha Verrall.

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RNZ host needs to at least give pretence of impartiality

Source: ACT Party

An RNZ host is exploiting her taxpayer-funded platform to support protests against ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill, says ACT Public Service spokesman Todd Stephenson.

“Mihingarangi Forbes is a co-host of RNZ’s Saturday Mornings and hosts the RNZ podcast Mata. She has joined the hīkoi, posing for photos with protest leaders and using official RNZ social media channels to post in support,” says Mr Stephenson.

“Much of the media has already dropped any pretence of impartiality when it comes to reporting on the Treaty Principles Bill and the hīkoi. TVNZ chief content officer Nevak Rogers has also joined and supported the hīkoi.

“The difference with RNZ is that it’s funded by the taxpayer, and Forbes’s show Mata has received close to a million dollars in additional funding from NZ on Air.

“As a public sector agency, RNZ is subject to integrity and conduct standards, including those of impartiality.

“It’s time these standards were enforced. RNZ bosses should give Forbes an ultimatum: stop your political campaigning, or face the same sanctions anyone else would.”

Notes to editors: If the Instagram posts are removed, screenshots are captured here and here.

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Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill’s select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it.

“The Government should just come clean, admit they got it wrong and stop work on these unwarranted and unwanted changes,” Labour’s children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

The Government is feeling the pressure, with the select committee recommending an aspect of 7AA relating to the Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki’s obligations to maintain strategic relationships with Mãori should be retained. But worryingly, crucial parts of 7AA, including the Treaty principles, and the requirements of the Chief Executive to reduce disparities and report on mokopuna under their care will still be removed.

“Make no mistake this is still a large breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Government members of the select committee ignored officials’ advice that there is no evidence to push forward with this Bill, but are feeling the heat so are watering it down in an attempt to make it look more palatable.

“This Bill takes us backwards. The Minister cannot provide any evidence for removing 7AA and submissions have stated the repeal of section 7AA carries a real risk of causing actual harm to vulnerable Tamariki.

“Just like the Treaty Principles Bill, it’s crystal clear that Christopher Luxon is helpless to stop David Seymour’s ideological attacks on Mãori and vulnerable tamariki.

“If the Prime Minister was truly concerned about the risk of harm to Mãori tamariki, then he would not be allowing the ACT Party to tamper with the protections in place.

“The Government should not take us back down a path where children have been harmed before.

“Following the Royal Commission of Inquiry report, they have chance to do the right thing for our vulnerable children and we urge them to heed the warnings and scrap this harmful Bill,” Willow-Jean Prime said.

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Fare-dodging leads to violence. Auckland Transport must take a tougher line

Source: ACT Party

ACT is calling on Auckland Transport to stop tolerating fare dodging, with a major contractor saying lax enforcement is leading to antisocial behaviour and even serious assaults on buses.

“Antisocial fare dodgers discourage Aucklanders from using public transport. They deprive AT of revenue and load costs onto rule-abiding ratepayers. They are threatening, stealing from, and assaulting bus drivers and passengers,” says Auckland-based ACT MP Dr Parmar.

“In September, I met with a bus driver seriously assaulted by fare dodgers and relayed his concerns to AT. Since then, I have been told by a bus contractor that AT has been repeatedly warned that its lax policy on fare dodging is leading to violence.

“In 2020, AT introduced a de facto ‘travel for free’ policy when it removed cash from buses and advised operators that passengers without balance on their HOP cards should be allowed to travel regardless.

“The contractor tells me AT’s policy means some people now believe they are entitled to take the bus for free. This results in disputes with bus drivers, and it means that unstable or intoxicated individuals use the bus as a free ride or shelter. These situations increase the risk of attacks on drivers and passengers.

“We shouldn’t expect bus drivers to be responsible for dealing with fare dodgers. AT needs to take responsibility for a culture it has created that invites free riders to take advantage of the rest of us.

“When we turn a blind eye to repeated fare-dodging, we send a message that rules – and basic respect – don’t matter. Is it any wonder this then leads to violence?

“There are many possible solutions here. First, AT needs to publicly change its free ride policy. Next, whether it’s sterner ‘no fare, no ride’ signage, a mobile squad of AT officers responding to fare dodgers, or greater support Police and private security guards, it is clear we need stronger security measures. AT needs to sit down with bus contractors, drivers, and Police to agree on firm actions.

“I have requested a meeting with AT to discuss these issues, and I am ready to facilitate a meeting between all affected groups if that’s what’s needed.”

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School kids should not be pushed into political activity

Source: ACT Party

“ACT has been approached by parents and students who are alarmed at school leadership abandoning political neutrality and pushing children into protest activity,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“We are aware of several schools, particularly in Wellington, formally endorsing the hikoi and encouraging students to participate, to the point of organising buses. Some students are missing exams to attend hikoi activities with the approval of school leadership.

“Schools are funded by all of us to equip young people with the knowledge to face the world with an intelligent and open mind. The school system should never be weaponised for indoctrination or to prop up one side of a political debate.

“If the Treaty Principles Bill passes into law, every young person can hope to grow up in a society that recognises them above all as a person with equal rights, not as a member of an ethnic group.

“The Bill does not harm anyone, but taking kids out of school and exams will harm their future prospects.

“ACT understands the Ministry of Education is reminding schools of their obligation to be politically neutral. We also encourage concerned parents to write to their school board reminding them of these obligations under the public service’s Integrity and Conduct standards.

“Parents may also consider whether their representatives on their school’s board deserve re-election.”

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Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today.

“Commercialising our environment risks transforming nature from being accessible to all to a privilege afforded to a select few,” says Green Party Spokesperson for Environment, Lan Pham.

“Aotearoa’s parks, forests, and wildlife are taonga—treasures—that everyone should enjoy. We should be investing in a conservation system which protects our unique natural ecosystems for generations to come.

“This proposal, however, takes us down a troubling path where access to nature and conservation are being pulled into this Government’s relentless cycle of commercialisation. We should be encouraging people to access nature, not creating barriers to block them from enjoying it. 

“Instead of prioritising trickle-down tax cuts and treating our natural world as a business, the Government should prioritise investment in conservation so future generations will be able to enjoy our environment.

“Last week we learned DOC has had to resort to calling for private donations for specific causes, such as protecting rare limestone ecosystems, and the critically endangered Alborn skink and tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern). Conservation is not a charity; it is a bottom line. 

“This piecemeal approach risks turning New Zealand’s conservation priorities into a pick-and-choose catalogue, dictated by private interests rather than comprehensive, government-backed stewardship.

“The Government’s proposals also include some extremely concerning suggestions for the conservation system–such as exchanging public conservation land. 

“The Green Party urges the government to fully resource DOC, enabling free and equal access for all to the lands that support all of our mental and physical wellbeing,” says Lan Pham.

Note: Submissions on the Government’s proposal close on 28 Feb 2025 and the Green Party is encouraging the public to submit their thoughts

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Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill

Source: Green Party

The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. 

“Today a majority of powerful people prioritised cynical politics, fanning the flame of a culture war, over the truth and the needs of our nation,” says Green Co-Leader, Chlöe Swarbrick.

“The Prime Minister has told us that there’s nothing that he likes about this Bill, calling it ‘divisive’ himself. He has told us the National Party do not support this Bill, as did every other National MP who spoke today. Then they whipped their MPs to vote against what their consciences were telling them.

“You are what you do, and today Government MPs showed us who they are. When you wear the mask for a while, it becomes your face.

“Politicians come and go. Governments come and go. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is forever.

“Yesterday, the Harbour Bridge literally swayed with the power of the people as thousands marched for Te Tiriti, and for a system of governance that supports people and planet, instead of exploiting both at the same time.

“Despite the best efforts of some to divide our nation, people are organising themselves against this Government in unity on a scale that I have never seen in my lifetime.

“The Greens are more hopeful than ever about the future we can and will create together. Toitū Te Tiriti!” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

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Stand Up for Te Tiriti

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today.

Instead of furthering the partnership between Māori and the Crown, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is failing to show leadership and allowing the Treaty Principles Bill to be introduced to Parliament.

Let’s be clear: this bill is divisive, a waste of money, and has no support from any other party in Parliament.

Stand Up for Te Tiriti

We didn’t need to have this debate, but Christopher Luxon didn’t have the guts to kill the bill. Even after more than 15,600 of you joined us in calling on the Prime Minister to kill the Bill.

You can show the government that when Māori thrive, Aotearoa thrives. Stand against this attempt to paddle the waka backwards.

Since 1975, a set of principles based on the English and Māori versions of the Treaty have been set into law. Over time, the principles have evolved and strengthened, and they will continue to do so through mature, informed, and respectful discussion.

But the Treaty Principles Bill ignores this. It seeks to have the principles of the Treaty replaced with David Seymour’s interpretation of them. We must stand up for Te Tiriti, even if the Prime Minister won’t.  

The Treaty Principles Bill will cost taxpayers millions, divide our country, and ultimately take New Zealand backwards.

Together, we can stand up and tell the government they cannot divide us.

 

Read more

 

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Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill.

“We stand with the tens of thousands of New Zealanders opposing this Government’s attempts to re-write Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“This bill is divisive, a waste of New Zealanders time and energy, and costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

“Instead of leading for all New Zealanders, our Prime Minister has yet again chosen let ACT call the shots. It is weak and cowardly.

“Christopher Luxon can still stop this today. National can choose not to vote for it. Our open letter calls for them to finally kill the Bill,” Chris Hipkins said.

Former National Party Minister Chris Finlayson calls the Treaty Principles Bill ‘pernicious nonsense.’ Current Finance Minister Nicola Willis called it ‘dangerous’ because it is one party seeking to impose new terms on another without their consent. Christopher Luxon himself says ‘there is nothing in the Treaty Principles Bill I like.’

“There is a solution. Vote against this divisive Bill today. Show the country that you are a Prime Minister that looks out for all people in our beautiful country, Māori and non-Māori. Stand up for Te Tiriti, our founding document, on behalf of New Zealand,” Chris Hipkins said.

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