On a fence on Huia Road

Mid afternoon we went to a Jazz concert at Avondale College; Young L is a drummer in one of the small Jazz groups the school has. It was really good, and they had three female singers, who showed true Jazz singing talent. They are going to Tauranga which hosts a Jazz festival each year. He's a busy young man. 

Later I went for a walk which took me up the longish hill to Woodlands Park Store. I had earlier seen this as a bumper sticker on a parked car. Te Tiriti (also known as The Treaty of Waitangi) is largely regarded as the founding document of New Zealand. It was generally ignored by most governments in New Zealand until the 1970s, since when the country has been redressing the taking of Maori land. The ACT party believes that that is wrong and that Maori are treated better than non-Maori by the process of restoration.

Restoration happens in two ways. Public land is returned to the Iwi (tribe) from whom research has shown it was illegally taken. When land which was taken illegally and is now in private ownership, a financial settlement is agreed. Daughter C worked for the Waitangi Tribunal researching rgese issues, and we understand to appropriateness, the rightness, and the fairness of the process. Most New Zealanders accept and approve of the process.

The ACT and National parties in Government have been claiming that this process is unfair and is treating Maori better than others (although largely 'others' means Pakeha). They have refused the recommendation to make bowel screening free for Maori from age 50 when others qualify for free screening from age 60/65. The reason is that Maori have been shown to have a much higher rate of 'early' cancer of the bowel. This is not giving Maori more rights; it would have been an appropriate clinical action. But a new Minister of Health said we can't afford to do what is clinically appropriate for Maori. That is then followed by ACT trumpeting that this is unequal. Their approach is inequitable. Our news media do nothing to explain the difference between equal and equitable.

The poster in my blip is a statement of ordinary citizens valuing the Treaty. Over 300,000 submissions were made on a Bill aiming to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti; 90% were opposed. A past Narional party Prime Minister was one among the many (300,000) opposing the Bill that our weak, cowardly, ignorant Prime Minister allowed to be put before a Select Committee. 

The Select Committee reported back to Parliament last week recommending that the Bill not proceed further and that no referendum is required. A chance for PM Luxon to show leadership; a chance I expect him to avoid.