korero

“the concerns of Maori must not be brushed aside again” said mrs Turia today, responding to statements she had made about the impact of the government’s immigration policy on the creation of the Maori electoral districts. the Maori party has fielded many calls from constituents, who believe that the fact Maori did not achieve an eighth electoral seat is a direct consequence of high overall population growth that has arisen through the influx of migrants to Aotearoa. “these callers have reminded me that tangata whenua are the only people in Aotearoa who cannot increase their numbers by immigration” said mrs Turia. “as such, they believe it is a question of justice that present and future immigration is managed in such a way as to prevent Maori from becoming an even smaller minority in their own land”. “It is appropriate that as we approach Waitangi day, we look again at the impact that immigration has on national identity” tangata whenua often refer to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the treaty) as being the first immigration policy document for this nation. dr Ranginui Walker has described the preamble of the treaty as the original charter for immigration; in that it allows immigration to Aotearoa (nz) from europe, australia and the united kingdom, but requires consultation with Maori as treaty partner for any variation. Walker argues that the government has ignored the notion of partnership by unilaterally deciding who can enter Aotearoa without consultation with Maori.
“the Treaty sets the scene by which all subsequent migrants and communities can survive and prosper in Aotearoa” Tariana Turia.
more to do, more to discuss, more to think about. at least we are still trying to get it right.