May 13, 2020
Missteps for Maori in COVID Response Bill
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A member of Māori pandemic response group Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā says the lack of Treaty of Waitangi reference in the COVID-19 Public Response Bill going through parliament under urgency today is a major misstep.
Dr Rawiri Jansen says it appears not to recognise the crown has special obligations to Māori.
“I can’t see that we go through another pandemic with all of the response from Māori communities and Māori health providers and iwi with respect to services and protecting their rohe, that clearly has to be elevated in any legislation in the future,” he says.
Dr Jansen says restricting tangihanga to just 10 people at a time while pubs and restaurants can have 100 people is also a misstep, and will have to be fixed sooner rather than later.
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