I believe that Margaret Murray-Benge (The Weekend Sun, March 5, page 19) is misleading us with her comments about Article 3 of the Treaty of Waitangi. Article 3 granted Maori the rights of British citizenship, but that was in addition to and did not take away the partnership rights granted to Maori in Article 2.
Ms Murray-Benge is suggesting that when Maori became equal British citizens that they could not be Treaty partners, which would be ignoring Article 2. That seems wrong, and parliament and our courts have agreed. Maori partnership rights are now New Zealand law.
We are not one people, and the Treaty does not say that we are one people. Maori have separate partnership rights that other ethnic groups do not have because the Treaty was signed only with Maori. Maori have their own separate identity. We are not one people but two people working together.
Peter Dey, Kawerau.
2 comments
What treaty ?
Posted on 12-03-2021 17:22 | By crazyhorse
What about the tribes that never signed the treaty like Tuhoe they have been given treaty settlements, but, never signed the treaty, none of you arguments hold up,you just constantly make excuses.
What about Tuhoe?
Posted on 13-03-2021 17:35 | By Peter Dey
Crazyhorse, the Government wronged Tuhoe so a settlement was made. There is no reason for you to object.
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