Let me spell it out. The core question for us is; do we consent to
the government selling the control and use rights of freshwater as part of its
programme of state
asset sales? Apart from Ralph
Norris, our clear answer is; no. So our bottom line is; no sales.
Looking at the Council and the Forum I see some strong
leaders on both who will hold to that. Eddie Durie (Council)
and Margaret Mutu (Forum)
come to mind. But I see many more who
will put material interest first and, either through litigation or negotiation,
will cut a deal that lets the sales happen.The core problem as manifested by the Council and Forum is not their lack of unity over making decisions, but the fact that they’re both practicing power politics while we their people hold firmly to people politics.
People
politics is based on the knowledge and experience of tangata whenua. It currently has no constitutional
recognition and, consequently, no protection. Power politics is based on the knowledge
and experience of tangata
wehenga. In essence this is
the power politics of the Crown, and it is both constitutionally recognised and
protected.
People politics start and end with the relationship between
the Gods and everything they created, while power politics start with Mankind
and end with the ability to buy and sell everything. When Māori practice power politics, we are on
constitutionally solid ground, but tikanga-wise, we’re on the sand.
I strongly believe that we do need a national representative
body, but that it’s neither the Council nor the Forum. Instead it is one based on He
Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o
Waitangi, it will have constitutional recognition and protection at
every level, and it is re-emerging even as I write.
In the meantime, we must stop being distracted by the power
politics at play and send both the Council and the Forum two simple messages. Our bottom line is no sales. Your job is to jointly hold that bottom line
until your replacement is established.
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