Dear Ministers
I approve of Principles 1 and 3 of this Bill because they mandate that all people should be treated equally, without exception.
However, Principle 2 establishes a glaring contradiction.
Principle 2 leaves the door open for Maori to continue to receive special privileges, not afforded other citizens.
If special rights for Maori are imbedded in Treaty Settlements, past or present, then they must be stripped out.
Most importantly, principle 2 is not faithful to the original intent and meaning of the Treaty.
Principle 2 leaves the open wide door, a loop hole, for the continuation of apartheid, separatism, and racism.
Principle 2 dishonours the Treaty.
Separatism, apartheid, racism, and a two-tiered society were never intended by the British when they established the Treaty. Therefore, this door must be slammed shut.
To accept Principle 2 is a vote for the continuation of the status quo. As such, Principle 2 is completely unacceptable and must be rejected.
So what is the solution?
David Seymour’s original 3 principles must be reinstated and made law. These original 3 principles were as follows:
1. that the New Zealand Government has the right to govern all New Zealanders (a faithful summary of the the true meaning and intent of the Preamble and Article 1 of the Treaty).
2. the New Zealand Government will honour all New Zealanders in the chieftainship of their land and all their property; (a faithful summary of the the true meaning and intent of the Article 2, sentence 1 of the Treaty)
3. and that all New Zealanders are equal under the law with the same rights and duties. (a faithful summary of the true meaning and intent Article 3 of the Treaty)
Accordingly, and above all, we demand that the government initiate a binding referendum on David Seymour’s original 3 principles of the Treaty. Let the people speak. Let their views be known.
This is the only fair and democratic way for politicians to truly know the will of all the people (not just a minority) they were elected to represent. If the majority of the electorate put you into power, it must be the same majority who has a say on David Seymour’s original 3 principles.
If you reject the idea of this referendum, expect to be punished at the next election.
Kind regards