During the many hui that Matike Mai o Aotearoa held, everyone they heard from acknowledged
how difficult it would be to effect constitutional change. But nevertheless they remained keen to
explore what a Tiriti-based constitution might mean, and in a quite inspiring
way they imagined solutions[1] –
“My aunties and uncles
always talked about the treaty being the only hope they had whenever they had
to fight for something. They were
disappointed lots of times and had their hopes dashed because the treaty was
never seen like this sort of constitution would see it … like the foundation of
everything.”
“I was really
disappointed but not surprised when the Crown just rejected the (Waitangi Tribunal’s Te Paparahi o Te Raki Stage 1) Report … That was really arrogant and
flies so much in the face of all the evidence let alone what is right that I
wonder how long it can be sustained. I
hope that this mahi might help us all move away from those sorts of arguments
and accept that Te Tiriti gave us the foundations for a different constitution
… a better way of doing things.”
“It’s not a valid
argument against constitutional change just to say that it won’t happen because
the Crown is in charge … it’s not any sort of argument and doesn’t detract from
what Te Tiriti says.”
“Normally I don’t use
words like ‘constitution’ but I talk about Te Tiriti … and I think that in that
relationship between us and the Crown there was never any intention that the Crown
would be our sovereign … and without the Crown assuming it’s in charge we have
the seeds of a much different constitution.”
“I am confident that
the only real constitutional solution lies in what Te Tiriti guaranteed, a
place for everyone and an absolute place for mana and rangatiratanga … but how to do that in light
of our history since 1840 I can only hazard a guess, although for my mokopuna’s sake I hope we will try.”
“Our group agreed that
this will be really hard because there will be all kinds of practical problems
like voting and setting out the different areas of responsibility, but … we agreed
that with time and good will, we will get there.”
“It will be difficult
to change things but it won’t be impossible because Te Tiriti shows us the way
… to a different political order where we actually find a better way of making
law that benefits everyone. It’s an
exciting challenge really and the next step in getting the treaty honoured.”
“Te Tiriti has still
not been honoured by government, but that doesn’t mean its real promises no
longer exist.”
“I wish my old people
would still be alive if we get there, when we get there, because that would
give them hope.”
[1] Sixteenth
edited extract from pp. 55 – 57 of He Whakaaro
Here Whakaumu Mō Aotearoa – The Report of Matike Mai o Aotearoa
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