Flawed Select committee

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee dropped the ball today.

They did receive an orline submission. But didn't follow through with an Oral submission as I had so arranged yesterday with their Clerk.

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Here are my typed thoughts that I wanted to give in my Oral Submission.

These have been sent on to some MPs and Media as of the Evening of the 28th of November 2014

Tena Koutou katoa, nga mema o te Komiti Whiriwhiri

Good afternoon Honourable members.

Thank you to the Chairman and the committee for allowing me to speak.

Special Greetings to him.

Kia Ora Dr. Reti MP of my home town Whangarei, Mr Benett, an MP from the Town I studied.

I acknowledge all committee members especially Dr Kennedy Graham.

Nga mihi nunui.

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Thank you all for reading my online submission on this Bill.

 

Please know that I am not legal expert, my field is more Education.

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But I address you all today, based on my submission and on my commitment as a New Zealand Citizen and indeed a Global citizen, and I have a strong commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, you Mr Shearer having worked previously fof the UN will know this well, as I expect all the other Honourable members will know.

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Today, my first korero before you  is in the defence of the Freedom of Movement.

 

I believe it is a fundamental Human right, upheld in national and international law, to be able to move freely without hindrance. In fact, any of us who read the cover page of our Passports will know that the Governor General himself and our Head of State, whom he represents, BOTH uphold this fundamental freedom.

 

Therefore, I completely fail to understand, why issuers of this Passport (ie the New Zealand Government) would in 1 breath grant a passport and in another take it away.

Yes it is their property, but why issue it, if that desire so exists to take it away, based on the assumptions of some government official.

 

The taking away of someone’s passport or Uruwhenua is a contravention of tikanga, in so much that the Maori Warrior in the Coat of Arms of that very Passport, defends the tikanga and the mana of somebody to move freely upon the face of Papatuanuku, Tawhirimatea and Hine Moana.

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This proposed legislation contravenes all of that. And this is a gross perpetuation of Human Rights abuse.

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Secondly, I wish to remind the Committee that I can find NO ‘Special Circcumstance’ that would

Warrant No Warrant.

My home and my whanau are tapu to me. I know that every single one of you on the other side of this phone call also hold your homes, your own homes where your partners, tamariki and whanau are…. These are special to you.

 

Therefore I can not understand why this legislation seeks trample on the tapu of our homes, by potentially allowing some SIS to watch our kainga without a warrant.

 

I have no doubt, that there are people we need to protect the rest of New Zealand against.

 

But I am satisfied, that the current Law which makes the SIS and/or other get Warrants to watch us…. I am satisfied with that law and policy as it stands there.

 

We must not empower agents to watch our homes for up to 2 days, because ‘they think we are terrorists’.

This extends to our cars, our places where we associate and go. I don’t want my fundamental privacy and tapu to be trampled on by this Bill.

 

If there is a need for surveillance, there is always a need for a Warrant.

 

Illegal Spying has happened before.

 

This happened in Operation 8 in Tuhoe, and we can not let something like that happen again.

 

I know the Law is not intended to target specific groups… but it needs to be known… that if Abuses of power can happen in the Past, like in Tuhoe.. they can happen AGAIN.

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Third and most poignant for me

 

Is the Human Right to be totally Free from Discrimination.

 

As my submission brings out, I have been investigated by intelligence agencies.

 

I have never been a Terrorist. I have never wanted to be one. I have never supported terrorist groups. I will never support Terrorist attacks or other actions. I am emphatic about this.

 

I love.. I believe in Peace.

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But none of that stopped me from being interrogated and interviewed over a 2 year period by Intelligence Agencies

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This was between 2008 to 2010.

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If that happened under Former Laws… I can’t imagine what would happen under this Proposed Law.

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As such.. This is my Oral Submission.

 

I am happy to take questions. Thank you

Who does the Maori Party work for

This is just my opinion.

26/10/2014

Kia Ora.

This flowing off my fingers, just the very way I think it.

I am typing late at night, having just been woken from a dream. In the dream, I was having a poignant conversation.

New Zealand’s General Election happened just over a month ago. The New Government has been sworn in, as has the 51^st Parliament, which is now sitting.

We have something unprecedented in New Zealand history; that is that 30% of the New Zealand Legislature (people who make our laws) are Now, all MAORI.

We can be grateful that that Legislature has something Unique. What is unique is that we have seats that are there for MAORI. There are 7 MAORI Seats. All these 7 MAORI Seats are there, so that the people sitting in them work for MAORI.

Unfortunately, in that Legislature of 121 MPs, we have (since our inception 10 years ago) the lowest number of MAORI PARTY MPs. We only have 2.

THE RUB

If we are real with ourselves, the reason why we have the lowest number, all comes down how we told people our message. Who do we work for? Do THEY know what we do? Do THEY know who we are?

I now wish to make a simplistic statement about political perception and messaging in New Zealand.

See tables below

I will name all the Parties represented in the Parliament (as well as others that ran in the General Election, but who didn’t make it in).

PARTY	WHO THEY WORK FOR???
National	Business people, Corporations
Labour	Workers
Greens	Environmentalists
NZ First	Elderly people
United Future	Fisherman, “Middle New Zealand”
ACT	Taxpayers, Consumers

PARTY	WHO THEY WORK FOR???
Conservative Party	Conservative people
Internet Party	Internet Users
ALCP	Cannabis Users
MANA Movement	Poor People

We see in the 2 tables above, that messaging tells us who we think political Parties work for, and what we associate them and their names with.

Again, I come back to 2 questions;

 Who does the Maori Party work for? Do “they” know we work for them?

Above, on the first page, you’ll see MAORI in bold 5 times. But you’ll notice if you re-read those sentences, that I don’t explicitly say the MAORI PARTY works just for MAORI.

That’s because I fundamentally don’t believe that. It is an untrue statement to say that the MAORI PARTY works only for MAORI.

It is more accurate and more true to say that those in the MAORI SEATS work for MAORI.

The 26 MPs of MAORI descent can also work for MAORI.

Look carefully at the sentences just above. Maori is written 7 times, Maori Party is written twice.

We have 2 Maori Party MPs. We have 7 Maori seats.

Again, the 2 questions;

Who does the Maori Party work for? Do “they” know we work for them?

You may say, “Hang on, 6 of the 7 Maori Seats are with Labour, we only have 1 out of 7”.

Yes, that’s obviously true. What may not be obvious though, is that, parties aside, every one of the 7 Maori people in the 7 Maori seats all have whakapapa Maori, have Maori families and in each in their unique ways are committed to Kaupapa Maori. And whether we like it or not, Maori voters voted for these 7 Maori people to represent them in the 51^st Parliament.

What is critical is that the way all votes fell in the 2014 New Zealand General Election, meant that we have 30% of our Parliament made up of Maori.

Crucially for the Maori Party, for the first time, we have victory not just with voters in the Maori seats. Proportionately, a percentage of voters on the ‘General Roll’ have helped to gift us List MP.

This to me, shows that a percentage (though very small) of New Zealand voters overall, know who we work for and thus gave us that confidence.

The Maori Party does NOT work for Maori, The Maori Party works for WHANAU.WHANAU are at the heart of our policies. WHANAU are at the heart of who we are. WHANAU are our focus. We are WHANAU. We are a WHANAU. WHANAU are our yardstick, WHANAU are our gauge. WHANAU tell us where to go, WHANAU tell us what to do.

That is who I believe, the Maori Party works for. I believe the Maori Party works for Whanau.
I am sure you believe that too. We need to tell WHANAU that we work for them. WHANAU need to know that we work for them. If all WHANAU knew who we worked for, and voted accordingly, then the MAORI PARTY would not just be the Largest Party in the NZ Parliament, we’d be the only Party in NZ Parliament. That is because, everyone has a WHANAU. If from now on, we work with this in mind, we will always do better.

Kia Ora.

Blatant Racism of Garth McVicar

(READ THIS EMAIL EXCHANGE FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP)

Mr McVicar

Nobody denies that Criminal things happen in the criminal world. More to the point, we must all work to find workable solutions.

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But importantly;

What many Maori are asserting (and Minister Flavell simply makes public)

Is that there is IN FACT Institutional Racism in or Justice system.

Those who deny THAT, have Their heads in the sand

TeRata Rangi Hikairo

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Subject: Re: Blatant Racism
From: garth.mcvicar@conservativeparty.org.nz
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 18:07:38 +1300
CC: office@conservativeparty.org.nz; bev@conservativeparty.org.nz
To: terata@hotmail.com

Thanks for your email. I'm not sure if you are aware that presently gangs in prison are actively recruiting members by getting them hooked on drugs and indebted to them while in prison. Once released many of these young people have no option but to commit crime to pay their debt. Anyone who ignores this problem does indeed have their head in the sand. Mr Flavell makes no mention of this problem but alludes to the police actually targeting offenders based on race. That suggestion is a nonsense and does nothing to deal with the root cause of the problem. 

Kind Regards

Garth McVicar

Sent from my iPhone

Garth McVicar

On 14/10/2014, at 1:52 pm, Te Rata Hikairo <terata@hotmail.com> wrote:

http://www.waateanews.com/Waatea+News.html?story_id=ODA5Mg%3D%3D&v=745#.VDxqRGIsf8c.facebook

Tena Koe Mr Mcvicar

I am seeking clarification about your statements in this article.

Does the article, accurately reflect your views??

If so, then it is utterly racist against young Maori and does Nothing to help young offenders of Maori descent.

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In contrast, Minister Flavell's comments, seek to change conditions and make things better.

You only seek to quash such efforts.

Possibly out of pakeha ignorance.... I'm not 100% sure.

Either way...

I find what you (reportedly) said, reprehensive.

Kia Ora ra.

Naku na,

TeRata Rangi Hikairo

Email to my Leader

To: mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz

RE: Tena Koe E Te Minita


I'm so happy to be able to write those words in the subject line of this email.

On the night of September 20th, we were obviously a bit deflated about Papa Rangi not getting in.

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BUT, I was so glad that I gave 2 Ticks to the maori Party (as I have been since my first time voting in 2008).

Those 2 ticks meant that I (and 37000+ other New Zealanders) help send a kaiwahina for you in that House.

Papa T.U.

I look up to you as my rangatira. I now count you and Whaea Marama as maatua for the motu.

Both of you have my respect and admiration.

I am delighted to have read the column in the Rotorua newspaper. I agree, 150%

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Papa T.U.

Please know, you and Whaea Marama have my dedication, my love and my willingness to continue to tautoko and serve.

Naku na,

TeRata Rangi Hikairo

E TU TAINUI, 2 FOR TAINUI

My very last post was about about my abiding respect for the Kingitanga.
I am a descendant of Hoturoa, Marutuahu and Hikairo.
My whakapapa links me to Pare Hauraki.
Our waka is Tainui.

The people of Waikato-Tainui are one people.

We are the guardians of the Kingitanga.

We all look to the sacred maunga of Taupiri and the Waikato River is our life-blood.
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Our Koroneihana fast approaches.
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Whanau.

The Hauraki-Waikato Electorate is vast.

It goes from south Auckland all the way to Te Awamutu.

This electorate is our heartland and is in the heart of Aotearoa.
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It is this electorate which has had my attention and focus this weekend.


These 2 wahine toa must work together.
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We can achieve this.

We can have 2 Wahine working for Hauraki Waikato.
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In my humble opinion,

We can help Susan Cullen (Wetere) get in as the Candidate, and Nanaia Mahuta can get in on the List.

We can have 2 Wahine serve us all.

We as the Tainui people deserve this.

KINGITANGA

He uri ahau no Hoturoa, no Marutuahu, no Hikairo hoki.

No Manaia au, no te Pare Hauraki.
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On my Dad's side, we whakapapa to Tainui Waka.
Our marae is in Manaia.

I didn't grow up there, but my tupuna TeRata Hikairo is buried there.
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Our links to Tainui, mean that our hapu and Iwi are with the Kingitanga.
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On Mum's side, I am Ngapuhi. That's where I grew up amongst Ngapuhi and in Te Tai Tokerau.
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I am a Ngapuhi.

I am also Ngati Hikairo and Ngati Maru.

I have a deep, abiding love and respect for the Kingitanga, even though I admittedly have so very much to learn.

That's my whakaaro. Kia Ora ra

My opinion

This is all my own opinion.

It is just what I think.

It's all just my own opinion. It's my own thoughts.
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I cast my mind back to the 2008 Election.

For Maori, alot had lead to them electing 5 Maori Party MPs in the Maori seats.

Primary among them were the Tuhoe raids, and the rejection bu the NZ Government of the U.N.D.R.I.P

The Maori Party had been in Parliament for a full term, since the 2005 Election. They had debated every issue and opposed many many things, voting many many things down.

By giving the Maori Party 5 MPs, Maori voters at that time, were giving there confidence and their trust to the Maori Party.

Let's remember, Parekura Horomia was still alive. Hone Harawira was a Maori Party MP. (I voted for him in 2008)

We had no way of increasing Labour's bloc, and thus helping them get in to Government. And of course, we have no assurance they would've even asked, had they still been in Government.
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Now, let's explore the possibility, 6 years ago of STAYING in Opposition.

We'd still be in Parliament. We'd still have 5 MPs.

But the Maori Party were the unheard of, Maori lot.

And what could we have done. We had a bigger team. We had a strong membership. We had a firm Party structure, up and down the country.

BUT; No power. No real say. And we could effect NOTHING!!!!

All the aspirations and hopes given to us, would come to nothing, as we had no way to achieve them.

The other factor to consider, was that National had run a campaign on getting rid of the very Maori seats that the Maori Party (and Parekura and Nanaia) had won.

National were about to team up with ACT and United Future.

The Global recession was destroying Maori hopes, Maori dreams, Maori jobs and Maori livelihoods.

We had a fairly New Maori King.

We had a Maori Council, but I am not sure that grassroots really knew who they were.
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So the Maori World, Maori people and the Maori Party were set up for lack of leadership, lack of resourcing, lack of help and alot more to lose.
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The Free market could've destroyed us, and both major parties wouldn't care who we were or What we said or did. Five little fish in a big Pakeha sea.

The Maori Party had made NO Law changes, they had NO Funding for projects of initiatives.
They talked alot, but didn't do much.
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And so....

IN MY OPINION, I believe, that considering all of that;

If the Maori Party had NOT Gone in to Government in 2008;

They would've been out of Parliament in 2011.

Hone gone, Pita gone, Tariana gone, Rahui gone, Te Ururoa gone...

They'd be gone too early.. without having made any great gains

No Maori Party, no Mana Movement...

No one to fight for Mana Motuhake, No Champions of Tino Rangatiratanga,