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Dr Muriel Newman
As a result of the law changes, the judiciary is now on trial. Should they continue to prioritise tikanga, then the Marine and Coastal Area Act must be scrapped, and Crown ownership restored under the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act. New Zealand simply cannot afford to have activist judges effectively privatise our entire coastline to tribal interests.
While fixing the carnage Labour created is no easy matter, many of those serious problems that are now emerging are systemic, caused by our changing demographic - band aid solutions will help, but only comprehensive reform can save New Zealand from becoming yet another failing nation.
Biculturalism has been a colossal mistake. A policy introduced to help disadvantaged Maori has fuelled an ambitious takeover attempt by mega-rich tribal corporations aggressively seeking to dominate the Government and control the country.
Maori are now seriously over-represented in local government at 21.6 percent. As a result, when Maori elected in Maori seats join forces with Maori Councillors in general seats, through the support of sympathetic Councillors pushing environmental and social justice causes - they will often have a majority. An effective tribal takeover of local government by stealth is now underway throughout the country.
With Councils showing a belligerent disregard for the Coalition Government, suggestions will not be enough to change the extremist mindset that now dominates local government. A more direct approach will be needed to get the sector back on track: trimming the bureaucracy and operations to ensure council rate increases are no greater than the rate of inflation, instigating debt repayment plans, and undoing the grip of tribal interests - would be a good start.
The division created by Maori wards is exactly why most communities have voted against them. They have exposed an ugly side of society. Once powerful tribal groups gain a foothold in Council, through their aggressive self-interest, they demand more. Most councillors simply give in to their coercion rather than subjecting themselves to bullying and intimidation.
The new Government has announced a timetable for implementing their Coalition promise to restore the Marine and Coastal Area Act to what Parliament had originally intended. This was in response to activist judges misinterpreting the law in such a way that Maori tribal groups would have gained control of the entire coastline out to the edge of the Territorial Sea.
Why would New Zealand, a tiny country that is already one of the cleanest and greenest in the world need to do much more? We already produce 80 percent of our electricity from renewable energy sources. We have the most efficient farmers in the world. The country is awash with trees. And we are so ‘green’ that urban development and roading covers less than one percent of our land area.
What happened in Britain should be a warning to our Coalition. The euphoria of hope after their election win is fading as supporters question whether the promised reforms will be delivered. Their concerns are over their lack of headway in reversing He Puapua.
If we are to succeed the myth of racial superiority must be replaced with an overarching commitment to equality – valuing all members of our society equally and ensuring no one is left behind. Our leaders need to refocus on building success, rewarding those who work hard and condemning those who demand racial privilege.