Labour chose a pākehā over a Māori as president at its annual conference in the weekend. Some believe this could have ramifications for a sector of the party and a demographic feeling ill-served by the party and the Government. Commentators have argued that this is symptomatic of bigger problems in the Labour-Māori relationship, which could …
The extraordinary Māori land protest at Ihumātao in Auckland is symbolic of our time. It is unlikely to have occurred, say, five years ago. It perfectly reflects heightened concerns and increased radicalism over racism, economic inequality, and the history of colonialism in New Zealand. This meant that when the police moved in last week to …
2019’s Waitangi commemorations will be mostly remembered for two debates – whether the Prime Minister should be able to recite the detail of the Treaty of Waitangi, and whether the teaching of the Treaty and colonial history in New Zealand should be compulsory. PM’s unawareness of the Treaty Articles Jacinda Ardern’s awkward answers about the …
There has been a striking mood of positivity and optimism in the commentary about Waitangi Day, and race relations in general, this year. It’s as if we have turned a corner as a nation. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern epitomised this in her prayer yesterday in which she said God “made us of one blood, now …