Waitangi Day

[rowan]

For those of you not familiar with this hitory:

The Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealand's founding document, an agreement between the Crown and Maori, the country's indigenous people.

It was signed on February 6, 1840, at Waitangi in the Far North, by Governor William Hobson, on behalf of Queen Victoria, and the Maori chiefs who gathered there on that day. Eventually, around 540 chiefs, or rangatira, signed the Treaty.

However, a number of chiefs challenged the Crown's right to rule and refused to add their names.

The document itself has three articles, which lay out the principles on which the two groups would form a nation and build a government. It covers sovereignty, land and rights.

However, the English and Maori versions do not convey the same meaning. Essentially, Maori did not believe they were giving up their sovereignty; or their authority over their lands.

The conflicting interpretations have long been the subject of debate, and protest, as Maori argued for the terms of the document to be upheld. The differing views between Maori and the Crown are also believed to be one of the underlying causes of the Maori Wars.

The exclusive right to determine the meaning of the Treaty now rests with a commission called the Waitangi Tribunal, which investigates alleged breaches by the Crown. More than 2000 claims have been lodged and major settlements reached, aimed at righting land grievances of the past.

Since the 1970s, there has been a surge in awareness of what the Treaty means. Protest - at Waitangi, but also occupations like Bastion Point and Motoa Gardens, brought Maori greivances to the fore. In modern times, the wrongs done to Maori are more widely accepted and it is common to talk about the "spirit" or "intention" of the Treaty as viewed through a Maori lens.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=11583909

[morepork]

eight_col_tino_rangiatiratanga16x10.jpg

[rowan]

[rowan]

Looks like a bit of controversy this year, with the Prime Minister's non-attendance, a media ban & all

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/ ... -'shambles'

Also agree with this guy. Revert to Maori place-names!

http://sobserver.ws/en/06_02_2017/colum ... ountry.htm

[rowan]

Shameful

The ethnic makeup of New Zealand's new intakes of prisoners has set new records.

Māori now make up a higher proportion of all new prisoners than at any time in recorded history.

Ministry of Justice figures released last week showed 56.3 per cent of people imprisoned last year were Māori - the highest proportion since records were available from 1980.

The proportion of Europeans imprisoned dropped to its own record - falling below 30 per cent of the total for the first time.

In the last decade, there has been a significant drop in the number of people convicted in court. At its peak in 2009, around 100,000 people were sentenced. Last year, that figure had fallen to less than 65,000 - a 35 per cent drop.

However, the number of people imprisoned has not reflected the decrease in convictions.

Compared to 2009, there was just a 9 per cent fall in the number of people sent to jail.

Proportionally, those convicted in 2016 were 40 per cent more likely to end up in prison than those convicted in 2009.

Auckland University senior law lecturer Khylee Quince said New Zealand courts were "incredibly punitive".

She said there was "no doubt" New Zealand needed to reduce the number of people being put behind bars.

Continued below.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=11828500