Latest news with #TreatyPrinciples
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
'I've had a wonderful life': 90 years of Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger in December 2016. Photo: RNZ Jim Bolger, who was the prime minister between 1990 and 1997, turned 90 on Saturday. He reflected on the last nine decades of his life on Sunday Morning - after having celebrated with a "big gathering" of family, friends, and neighbours. On his political career, Bolger said the biggest issue was to get Pākehā to "face up to the reality that we owed Māori". "We took big steps in the economy, and got the economy going, and all the rest, but the country and society is more than the economy," he said. "Māori ... had been badly, badly treated by the early settlers, we owed Māori redress and change. "I put that higher than managing the books, as it were, with the help of others, and of course you're always helped by others, but the Treaty principles and recognition that the early European settlers did not treat Māori fairly, I think was hugely important." Bolger said he did not understand those, such as David Seymour - who had also been sworn in as deputy prime minister on Saturday - who "want to diminish the role of Māori in New Zealand". "They were here first, they were here very much before everybody else, and they have been part of our history from that time on." He said the current prime minister, Christopher Luxon, needed to tell Seymour "to shut up with his anti-Māori rhetoric" - and to thank Winston Peters for what he's doing in foreign affairs - "because I think he's doing that job well". "Winston's a very interesting political figure, there's no question about it. He's certainly left his mark on politics in New Zealand." Bolger said his Irish ancestry helped him engage emotionally and attitudinally with Māori. "I sort of instinctively knew what it was like to be treated as second-class citizens, and Māori were treated as second-class citizens. And some people still want to do that." Bolger grew up in coastal Taranaki, and said he was not taught "a single word" about the invasion of a pacifist settlement at Parihaka, but was taught about War of the Roses in England. Parihaka Pa, circa 1900, with Mount Taranaki - taken by an unidentified photographer. Photo: Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand / Ref 1/2-056542-F, Alexander Turnbull Library, Reflecting on his life outside of his political career, he could not say what he was most proud of - "I think it'd be foolish to try and select one over another." He began as a farmer - from helping his neighbour to milk cows at nine, to leaving Ōpunake High School at 15 to work on the family dairy farm, and owning his own near Rahotu at 27. He got married and moved to a sheep and beef farm in Te Kūiti two years later. Bolger then joined the National Party and was an MP, the leader of the opposition, and then the prime minister after National won the 1990 general election. He later became New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States, was elected Chancellor of the University of Waikato, and has been the chairman of a number of state-owned enterprises and other organisations. Bolger was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993, and was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand in 1998. He also has nine children and 18 grandchildren. "They were all important and very interesting positions to have, and I enjoyed it," Bolger said. "When you get to 90, and reflecting back over my variety of positions I've had across the world, and the countries I've visited, which are without number, there's so many, that it's just been very fortunate. "I've had a wonderful life with a wonderful wife and family, and it's all been good." As for advice he would give to New Zealanders, Bolger said the main thing would be to listen to others. "Don't try and dictate to them, listen to them, see what they're saying, see what their issues are, see what their concerns are, and then you might be able to make a sensible suggestion to help their lives. "And if you approach it from that direction, you know, how can I help this person or that person, then I'm sure you'll be much more satisfied with your life, and hopefully, they will be better off." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 21 May 2025
In today's episode, The ACT party asked for advice on the full range of possible punishments for Te Pati Maori MPs following last year's Treaty Principles haka - including imprisonment, RNZ today revealed some Southland Hospital staff have been told they could only talk to each other for a maximum of five minutes a day, The Free Speech Union says Tonkin + Taylor is wrong to investigate its employee, after he heckled Winston Peters on his way to work yesterday morning and A Maori production company and film festival has been recognised at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
ACT asked for advice on imprisonment for Te Pati Maori MPs over haka
ACT asked for advice on the full range of possible punishments for Te Pati Maori MPs following last year's Treaty Principles haka - including imprisonment. The Privileges Committee ended up recommending a 21-day suspension for the Te Pati Maori co-leaders and a week for Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar, who is on the Privileges Committee, sought advice on possible penalties and asked if this could include a range of examples, including imprisonment. She spoke to Charlotte Cook. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
ACT sought advice on punishments for MPs including jail
The ACT party asked for advice on the full range of possible punishments for Te Pāti Māori MPs following the Treaty Principles haka - including imprisonment. Government members on the Privileges Committee have recommended suspending Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days as punishment for their part in a haka at the conclusion of the First Reading of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill on November 14 last year. MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who started the haka Ka Mate but had since expressed contrition, faces a one-week suspension. The committee found the MPs had behaved in an intimidating manner when they moved from their seats to face ACT MPs. Introduced by coalition partner ACT, the Bill aimed to clarify the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and to establish a clear legal framework for how these principles should be understood and applied in New Zealand law. Some critics argued the Bill undermined Māori rights and would disrupt established interpretations of the Treaty. The Bill was defeated at its second reading last month. The committee sought advice on possible penalties while preparing its recommendations. ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar, who is on the committee, asked if this could include a range of examples, including imprisonment, to "help put any proposed penalty in context". "ACT did not argue for imprisonment, but we like to keep our options open," a spokesperson for the party said. "The committee sought advice on possible penalties, including international precedents with explanations of what actions led to those penalties. Dr Parmar asked if this could include examples along the full spectrum of responses, from the minimum up to imprisonment." When asked whether the coalition party considered imprisonment an acceptable punishment for protest, the spokesperson said it supported the right to peaceful protest and to representation in Parliament. "ACT supports the right to peaceful protest. We also support the right of all New Zealanders to representation in a Parliamentary democracy. "Te Pāti Māori threatened that right when they delayed the tally of a crucial vote by leaving their seats, out of turn, in an intimidating manner." Yesterday a debate on the Privileges Committee's report in Parliament was adjourned. Leader of the House Chris Bishop moved that it be adjourned until June 5 to focus attention back on Budget, to be delivered on Thursday. "This week is Budget week, and frankly, the New Zealand people expect us to focus on growing the economy and getting back to some sort of fiscal sustainability." Opposition parties opposed the motion yesterday. - additional reporting ODT Online
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
ACT asked for advice on range of punishments for Te Pāti Māori MPs
Te Pāti Māori's Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke interrupted the vote on the Treaty Principles Bill's first reading with a haka taken up by members of the opposition and people in the public gallery. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The ACT party asked for advice on the full range of possible punishments for Te Pāti Māori MPs following last year's Treaty Principles haka - including imprisonment. The government members on the Privileges Committee recommended suspending Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days as punishment for their part in a haka at the conclusion of the First Reading of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who started the haka but had since expressed contrition, faces a one-week suspension. The Committee found the MPs had behaved in an intimidating manner when they moved from their seats to face Act Party MPs. The Privileges Committee sought advice on possible penalties while preparing its recommendations. ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar, who is on the committee, asked if this could include a range of examples, including imprisonment, to "help put any proposed penalty in context". "ACT did not argue for imprisonment, but we like to keep our options open," a spokesperson for the party said. "The Committee sought advice on possible penalties, including international precedents with explanations of what actions led to those penalties. Dr Parmar asked if this could include examples along the full spectrum of responses, from the minimum up to imprisonment." Privileges Committee member and ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar. Photo: Supplied / NZ National Party When asked whether the party considered imprisonment an acceptable punishment for protest, the spokesperson said it supported the right to peaceful protest and to representation in Parliament. "ACT supports the right to peaceful protest. We also support the right of all New Zealanders to representation in a Parliamentary democracy. Te Pāti Māori threatened that right when they delayed the tally of a crucial vote by leaving their seats, out of turn, in an intimidating manner." Earlier on Tuesday, the debate on the Privileges Committee's report was adjourned until after the Budget. Leader of the House Chris Bishop moved that the debate be adjourned until 5 June to focus attention back on the Thursday's Budget. "This week is Budget week, and frankly, the New Zealand people expect us to focus on growing the economy and getting back to some sort of fiscal sustainability." Opposition parties opposed the motion. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
