Summarised by Centrist
Dr Muriel Newman alleges a stealthy takeover of New Zealand’s local government by iwi interests. According to Newman, this parallels the government’s once-hidden He Puapua strategy. It’s a situation unfolding under the radar costing ratepayers dearly.
Newman traces this back to the Labour Government’s 2019 adoption of “Vision 2040” under former PM Jacinda Ardern. She describes it as a radical blueprint for tribal rule by 2040 – the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The He Puapua report, drafted under then-Minister Nanaia Mahuta, was kept secret before the 2020 election.
Since Labour’s victory, its tenets have infiltrated the State Sector and now local government. Maori wards, established without public input, have accelerated this trend.
Citing the Northland Regional Council as an example, Newman writes that the Council’s Māori Advisory Group’s demands include increased iwi voting rights, more funding for tribal involvement, staff time for Māori engagement, greater use of tikanga and Mātauranga Māori, tribal control of freshwater, and certification funding for iwi commissioners. These initiatives will cost the Council over $1.5m annually.
Newman warns that such tribal capture is spreading, with 45 of New Zealand’s 78 councils now having Maori wards and others controlled by powerful Maori advisory groups.
She warns “Lip service will not be enough to sort out this mess. Real action and real reform is now needed.”
Editor’s note: He Puapua is a 2019 report commissioned by the New Zealand government, outlining a plan to implement the authors’ idea of what they say the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) means in New Zealand. It provides a framework for enhancing Māori rights and sovereignty by 2040. Vision 2040 represents the broader goal of advancing Māori rights by that year, with He Puapua serving as a key part of this vision.
