New Zealand independence

In his letter (April 12, 2019) R Baker researcher for the One N.Z Foundation makes a claim for the celebration of New Zealand Independence on May 3, based on his personal opinion.

His problem is clear. Firstly no Royal Charter/ Letters Patent issued by Queen Victoria could possibly have been valid in the absence of the Treaty of Waitangi, which in turn could not have been valid in the absence of the Maori declaration of Independence.

In 1846 the first attempt at a New Zealand Constitution failed, due in part to the Governor's rejection of the voting requirement linked to land ownership, and the subsequent disadvantage to Maori.

The New Zealand Constitution Act of 1852, section 71, provided for regions set aside for Maori to practise self-government, law and all social development. This provision existed until the 1980s but was never implemented by the Crown.

Surely it is time for the One N.Z Foundation, Hobsons "pledge", One Law for All, to drop their lexical semantics and defer to facts rather than fantasy.

There are at least a baker's dozen of possible dates for Independence that include Waitangi day. Take your pick!

R Bell, Omanawa

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