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PM could face Waitangi Day protest

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Fri, 03 Feb 2012 8:43a.m.

Prime Minister John Key (file)

Prime Minister John Key (file)

Prime Minister John Key could face a hostile reception at this weekend's Waitangi Day commemoration.

Controversy over asset sales and job cuts at Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development, have raised tensions ahead of the annual event at Waitangi's Te Tii Marae in the Bay of Islands.

It's in Mana Party leader Hone Harawira's Te Tai Tokerau electorate and he's the most strident critic of the way the government is handling the partial sale of four power companies and the TPK cuts.

Party organiser Malcolm Mulholland says feelings are running high and there could be demonstrations.

Mr Key is going to take the initiative and raise the asset sales issue with iwi leaders on the marae.

He says they're being "bamboozled" by misinformation about treaty clauses in the legislation covering the power companies that are going to be partially sold.

There was confusion earlier this week about the government's intentions, which led to the Maori Party threatening to pull out of its support agreement with the government.

Ministers said on Thursday they were going to put options in front of iwi when they start a consultation process, which appears to have headed off a potential split.

NZN

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Comments

05 Feb 2012 08:40a.m.

Bill wrote:

Why should maori have more say than every one else in so far as the sale of assets. That loop hole was bought in by the labour government going back to 1984, The same government sold assets after 1984, maori had no problem with it, why is there an issue now.

04 Feb 2012 10:07a.m.

Proud white guy wrote:

I'm sorry but I gotta say max I'm sick of people using the term "non maori".. this is a disgusting racist term which is derogatory to all other races and suggests maori are somehow at a higher level... Not being maori does not mean you are worth less as this phrase suggests... You make me sick. How would people like it if I termed all dark people "non whites".... Or even better "blacks" What a clown.

04 Feb 2012 08:30a.m.

Fellowes wrote:

Land should not be a commodity that is bought and sold. It should belong to all people. I suggest we nationalise all farm land into community land trusts so all people can own it. With a decrease in mechanisation it would also provide as much employment as we need and people would have a sense of satisfaction in being close to Mother Nature.

04 Feb 2012 08:01a.m.

Brad wrote:

The annual circus rolls into Waitangi once again. We have had eggs, shotguns, jostling, abuse and taunting - what party tricks have the clowns got in store for their Treaty negotiation partner this year?

03 Feb 2012 07:28p.m.

Wills wrote:

Just as long as he doesn't lose his shoe like poor Gilliard. He might ask taxpayers to fund the mission to recover it.

03 Feb 2012 04:36p.m.

Gary wrote:

@Paora...I am very supprised at such comments. This is NZ history. The treaty exists due to Maori fighting for their land when the English invaded, if they had not then possible Maori would no longer exist in NZ, possable all shot or imprisoned to die out. They veiwed them as savages. I thought there were more than two versions but what ever this is something that all Maori should stand up for and stronly protect. There are many laws passed that has a lot of BS or not quite the true representation but it stands and that is very valuble indeed. Once you lose it, or give it away it is gone forever. The crown will graciously accept your defeat and swiftly move forward to your demise.

03 Feb 2012 12:59p.m.

Martin wrote:

Yup. Another PM same radicals. Australia day celebrates Australia. Waitangi day celebrates big shopping discounts and relaxing at the beach or a cafe.

03 Feb 2012 12:36p.m.

Robo wrote:

Wouldn't seem normal without any kind of protest on Waitangi Day. Generations of protestors now celebrate the protesting.
The day makes more news headlines about protesting than about actual celebrations of the signing and how the country has developed and grown as a multi culture country.

03 Feb 2012 12:26p.m.

Paora wrote:

It would serve the radicals right if they hassled the PM at Waitangi and cause him to scrap the contentious Waitangi Treaty once and for all. There are two different versions of the Treaty and neither have been signed by all the people they were intended to represent so it is an absolutely ridiculous suggestion that the Treaty, (which ever version this is referring to), should continue to receive the focus it does, or form the basis of any constitution because a document that does not represent more than a part section of people, cannot possibly be used to apply to everyone. It is time to call a halt to this ridiculous situation, toss the contentious Treaty into the compost bin of historical blunders, and move on without it or any reference to it. Ko te amionga te kaiwhanako o te wa.

03 Feb 2012 11:23a.m.

Kim wrote:

@Chris..another one of your well thought out comments. I will point out however that having Anzac day as nz day has a major problem.. The A stands for AUSTRALIA.