February 16, 2015
Treaty a two-way bridge to understanding
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis says John Key’s fearmongering about Andrew Little’s call for a discussion of Maori sovereignty is pandering to a fear of the unknown.
The prime minister described the as separatist the Labour leader’s comment at Waitangi that the future role of iwi needed to be reconsidered in light of a Waitangi Tribunal finding tribes did not give up the right to look after their own affairs when their rangatira signed the treaty.
Mr Davis says the role of parliament as the main law making body is not going to change, but there is room for a discussion around the edges.
He’s reminded of the past comments of Northland priest Charlie Shortland that the Treaty of Waitangi is like a bridge between the Maori bank of a river and the Pakeha bank.
It has always been Maori who have to cross the bridge.
"How often have Pakeha crossed the bridge in the other direction and come on to our side of the river and lived amongst us and learned our language. What they are scared of is what they don't know and they need to get to know us and have these conversations and find we are really good people but we just want a say in the way Aotearoa will move not just into the 21st century but the 22nd century as well," Mr Davis says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH KELVIN DAVIS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjYzNTg=
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