To Members of the Justice Committee,
This submission is in support of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill.
I have an MA in Economics from Auckland University and 40 years as a businessman and entrepreneur in Wellington.
My passport states I am a New Zealander as are all people who were born in this country, or have been accepted as citizens.
I am a 4th -5th generation New Zealander of Scottish and Irish ancestry. While I am proud of this ancestry, in no way do I consider myself as belonging to another country, nor do I believe that I am entitled to anything from those countries despite many injustices having been visited upon my ancestors.
My forebears on both sides, like many New Zealanders of all backgrounds including Maori, fought for this country and the preservation of democracy.
I would remind the committee that Democracy had a long and difficult birth, starting with the Greeks, thousands of years ago, through the Magna Carta, the Renaissance, The American Declaration of Rights, and the development of Parliamentary democracy. To abandon these principles or seriously degrade them would be a dangerous step.
Recent history, such as judicial activism, and the stirring of militancy indicates that the principles must be codified and solidified into the framework of this country.
I would remind the committee that at the time of the founding of our country, the British Empire was the greatest Empire ever seen on the face of the Earth, covering at least 25% of the Earth’s surface, and a large percent of its oceans. It is not therefore credible that representatives of this Empire signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the intention of sharing power with a series of diverse and disparate tribes. Any other view is simply a re writing of history and wishful thinking.
If the members make the correct decision it is clear that Maori will be in a no worse situation, and like all New Zealanders may well be in a better position, as the nation puts behind it the division created by those who seek apartheid. This country has always prided itself on equality of opportunity. The failure to adopt this Bill would seriously devalue this concept.
Maverick
No Minister 
Have a look at your last sentence Mav.
I think it contradicts your support of the Bill as well as the previous (ie second last) sentence.
Well spotted PDM, thank you ! My wife and I wrote it so too many fingers in the pie 🙂
This will be a major test of PM Luxon as to whether he has an al dente senior manager spine or the vision and resolve needed to guide NZ to getting back on track as he promised and was voted in to do.
There are many activist vested interests in keeping the Orwellian “all animals are equal but some are more equal than others” status quo taxpayer gravy train rolling along.
Hopefully internal and external polling will help guide the way forward.