Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Submission opposing the Governments Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill
Link below to view the submission
KEY STATEMENTS FOR KAHUNGUNU
OUR RIGHTS AS KAHUNGUNU ARE INHERENT
The absolute mana and rangatiratanga of Ngāti Kahungunu over our lands, waters, taonga and ourselves precedes the arrival of Pākehā to Aotearoa. Ngāti Kahungunu has NEVER CEDED SOVEREIGNTY - not by our Ngāti Kahungunu rangatira who signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi between 5th May and 24th June 1840, or at any time before or after.
Our history and traditions tell us that our tīpuna were politically astute and quick to assert their position and rangatiratanga when required. Since 1840, Kahungunu has met and led resistance in ongoing ways both locally and nationally whenever our pre-existing rights and authority have been threatened, denied, or disregarded.
DECLARATION OF NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU RIGHTS
Between 1997 and 1999 the Ngāti Kahungunu Constitutional Review Committee, Dr Moana Jackson, Mereana Pitman, Mere Ruru, and Taanga Lawrence, met and spoke with 17,000 Ngāti Kahungunu descendants. Through the review process, the committee drew together a Bill of Rights that gives expression to our Ngāti Kahungunu mana and rangatiratanga. This set of fundamental rights for the descendants of Ngāti Kahungunu is titled the Declaration of Ngāti Kahungunu Rights. In 2001 this declaration was adopted at an Annual General Meeting of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.
THE NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The new coalition government of National, Act, and NZ First has announced an opening round of targeted actions and repeals that intentionally threaten and directly breach the pre-existing and enduring rights of Kahungunu hapū and iwi. The proposed changes announced by the government are a concentrated attack on Māori rights and several Government Acts, services, and commitments to address the many losses and ongoing inequities suffered as a result of colonisation.
In joint announcements, the Government seeks to redefine Māori rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and remove ratification of the United Nations Declaration of Indigenour Peoples Rights. They have also indicated the removal of:
-
The Māori Health Authority
-
Te Mana o te Wai from the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020
-
Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 – a Tiriti o Waitangi-based provision that ensures Kahungunu tamariki-mokopuna remain in the care of their own whanau, hapū, iwi.
-
The use of te reo Māori in government departments
-
Power and authority of the Waitangi Tribunal
-
Māori Wards from local councils
The proposals themselves are racist in nature and will further intensify systemic oppression, and institutional and interpersonal racism. As our history and traditions teach us, Ngāti Kahungunu will continue to rise, and resist attempts to reduce or disregard our rights.
NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU IWI INC HELD FIRST OF ONGOING HUI-A-IWI
On the 16th of December 2023, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated held a Hui-ā-iwi at Waimarama Marae to listen to the concerns of hapū and NGĀ URI O NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU, affirm our rights and position, and discuss our response to governments proposals. The themes and priorities echoed by speakers and across the livestream and online forums included:
-
Reaffirming that Kahungunu did not cede sovereignty.
-
Repeated declarations and statements of no confidence in this Government
-
That Ngāti Kahungunu:
-
Will determine its own strategy;
-
Will support the actions of other iwi/rōpū that align with our own Declaration of Kahungunu Rights;
-
Will work with other groups to protest the repeal of 7AA and the repeal of Smokefree Aotearoa;
-
Insist that councils and government continue to acknowledge and give effect to te mana o te wai, te oranga o te taiao;
-
Insist upon the continuation of Māori Wards; and
-
Will ensure our people remain informed - and continue to support hapū and whānau through hui, education, and regular communications.
SUBMISSIONS TO THE IWI TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL
The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill has been introduced to Parliament. The Justice Committee generally has a period for public consultation and has called for public submissions on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. The closing date for submissions is Tuesday, 7 January 2025.
The submission process for the Iwi Treaty Principles Bill is an essential part of New Zealand’s democratic and legal processes, allowing people and organisations to voice their views on how the Treaty is interpreted and implemented through law. By submitting feedback, stakeholders play a role in shaping the final version of the Bill and ensuring that it respects Māori rights and obligations under the Treaty.
Now is the opportune time to submit your thoughts, opinions, concerns, and suggestions about the Bill’s provisions.
Key Points about the Iwi Treaty Principles Bill and the Submission Process:
1. Purpose of the Iwi Treaty Principles Bill:
-
Clarification of Treaty principles: The Bill aims to define and incorporate Treaty principles in a manner that respects Māori rights and ensures the Crown upholds its obligations.
-
Strengthening iwi involvement: The Bill could include mechanisms for better engagement between iwi and the government regarding Treaty-based issues, such as land, resources, and cultural matters.
-
Legislative impact: It aims to solidify the understanding of the Treaty in New Zealand's legal and political systems, potentially affecting policy, government actions, and interactions with iwi.
2. Submission Process:
-
They're Calling for Submissions now!
-
How to Make a Submission:
-
Submissions can usually be made in writing or, in some cases, through public hearings or oral submissions before a parliamentary committee.
-
Interested individuals or groups can submit written documents outlining their views, either in support of or against specific parts of the Bill.
-
Some parliamentary committees may hold hearings where submitters can present their views in person or via video conferencing.
-
-
Consideration by Parliamentary Committee: Once submissions are received, they are reviewed by a parliamentary committee, typically the Justice Committee or a related committee, depending on the Bill’s specifics.
-
The committee considers the submissions, conducts further consultation if necessary, and may recommend changes to the Bill before it is read again in Parliament.
-
-
Second and Third Readings: If the Bill passes through the committee stage with amendments, it will proceed to the second and third readings in Parliament for final approval before becoming law.
Who Can Submit?
-
Any individual, group, or organization with an interest in the Bill’s provisions can make a submission.
Outcomes of the Submission Process:
-
The outcome of the submission process can result in amendments to the Bill. If the committee finds strong support for specific changes or if it identifies areas of concern, it may recommend modifications before the Bill is passed.
OR
-
The Bill may also be shelved or postponed if there is significant opposition or if further consultation is needed.
UNDERSTANDING THE BILL AND WHAT'S AT STAKE. WHAT DOES THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL PROPOSE?
Click Here to compare the current with the proposed Treaty Principles
“The government’s plans to dismantle the foundations of our culture, redefining Te Tiriti o Waitangi, minimising our taonga, te reo Māori, and removing protections for our mokopuna is damaging. The future of our mokopuna, depends on us, we are already advancing new iwi pathways for our whānau - we have the knowledge and we hold the solutions. This work must continue.”
“This is a moment in history we will look back on – where we responded to the call to action as leaders to stand united for the wellbeing of our Marae and our whānau. We acknowledge those hard fought rights from our tupuna - to revitalise our language, to hold Māori services and for the settlements we now care for”, Bayden Barber, Chair of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc.
“We stand today, to uphold, to protect and advance towards a better future for our tamariki and mokopuna – to enhance the mana and wellbeing of Ngāti Kahungunu”
“United we stand. We condemn actions that undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our language and our culture”,
NEED HELP WRITING YOUR SUBMISSION
If you've never written a submission, this is your chance to learn how to do it. Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Staff are working on their submission to the Treaty Principles Bill and will share this on our Website, Social media and through Panui ki te Iwi once completed.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRINCIPLES OF THE TREATY OF WAITANGI BILL
ONLINE WORKSHOPS - Click on the workshop links below to build your confidence
-
Te Herenga waka at Victoria University is running a workshop on the 27th November 12 - 2pm.
-
NZEI is also running an online workshop on the 26th November from 3.30pm.
MEDIA RELEASE – 16 December 2024.
Ngāti Kahungunu submits in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill.
Ngāti Kahungunu has sent its submission in opposition to the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill to the Justice Select Committee.
Chairman of Ngāti Kahungunu, Bayden Barber says, “Ngāti Kahungunu never ceded its sovereignty. Ngāti Kahungunu has exercised the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of rangatiratanga in our rohe from well before 1840 to the present day. The rangatiratanga of Ngāti Kahungunu does not derive from the Crown or Parliament.”
The Ngāti Kahungunu submission clearly states the reasons why it opposes the Treaty Principles Bill, “due to its inherent contradictions and potential for detrimental consequences. Each principle, while seemingly benign, harbours flaws that necessitate their rejection.”
Barber continues, “This Bill is a dangerous precedent that sets out to reinterpret not only the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi but the specific kupu (words) that were used in the original Māori version. My ancestor Harawira Mahikai Te Tātere understood exactly the intent and meaning of every word of Te Tiriti when he signed it along with Te Hapuku and Hoani Waikato in 1840 at Waipūreku. The Treaty Principles Bill blasphemes the intentions of these rangatira, and indeed those of the crown partner.”
Earlier on the 16th of November thousands of Ngāti Kahungunu turned out for the hīkoi against the Bill in Heretaunga and again in Pōneke the following week with over 50,000 whānau walking in solidarity to protest the introduction of the Bill to Parliament.
Submissions have now been called for the Bill with the close-off date of 7 January at 11.59 pm.
Chief Executive of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi, Chrissie Hape says, “We encourage all of our whānau, marae and hapū to submit in opposition to this dangerous Bill. The submission can be as simple as ‘I oppose the Bill because it degrades my/ our rangatiratanga as promised in Te Tiriti o Waitangi’. The more submissions we can get in, the more they will have to consider, giving added weight to scrap the Bill.”
