Māori Protests Erupt as New Zealand Parliament Opens
NewMāori ZealandProtests protestsErupt againstas newNew MaoriZealand policiesParliament Opens
The Facts
The new National Party-led coalition government has pledged to review affirmative action policies, reduce Māori language use in government departments, and reassess Treaty of Waitangi references in legislation.
Te Pati Māori parliamentarians broke with protocol by first pledging allegiance to their descendants and the Treaty of Waitangi before swearing the mandatory oath to King Charles III.
The Spin
New Zealanders democratically elected a government committed to treating all citizens equally, regardless of race. The current system of co-governance based on ancestry is divisive and incompatible with a modern, multi-ethnic liberal democracy. A referendum on these matters would ensure healthy debate about the nation's future.
