Coalition government declares open war on Te Tiriti.

The coalition government has declared open war on Te Tiriti.

Ngāti Ruanui totally rejects this government’s move to not carry over the clause requiring the principles of the Treaty be upheld in its Resource Management Act replacement.

Today, the government unveiled its plan to replace the RMA with two new laws: the Planning Act and the Natural Environment Act, and confirmed to RNZ Te Tiriti requirement would be removed.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust Kaiwhakahaere Rachel Arnott said Ngāti Ruanui was not opposed to improving the resource management system, but this was an open attack on Māoridom.

“The truth is simply that this Government has an ideological and political commitment to gut Tiriti-guaranteed rights of iwi, hapū and whānau.

“This move breaches both our settlement and the Government’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi.”

If passed, this would be a significant breach of Te Tiriti, as mana whenua will be excluded from key aspects of resource consent applications impacting cultural considerations.

“By any measure, removing the treaty clause is an abomination and embarrassment to all who are associated with it.”

Arnott said the avalanche of anti-Māori policies over the last 12 months was by design.

“Māori rights are being systematically erased by this government.

“They are nothing if not consistent. It is racist step, after racist step throughout every proposed legislative change.”

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust manager Graham Young said the deliberate exclusion of a principles relating to te Tiriti was unacceptable.

“Make no mistake, this is not about balancing a flawed act and growing the economy, this is about trampling key protections to the benefit of big business.

“The ideological shift threatens the very partnership of sovereignty developed through Parliament, the Waitangi Tribunal and Courts.

“I must stress our extreme disappointed that more robust discussions haven’t occurred when it matters the most.”