Te Pāti Māori has expressed support for a new Treaty of Waitangi claim, announced yesterday by a Tauranga iwi.
The claim, from Ngāi Te Rangi Settlement Trust, alleges the Government has breached Article 2 of the Treaty by failing to protect the taonga (treasure) of te reo Māori and tino rangatiratanga (self-determination).
It also said the Government has breached Article 1 of the Bill of Rights 1688 by "purporting to suspend the operation of the principles of Te Tiriti".
The Settlement Trust refers to the Government's commitment to ensure public sector departments have their primary name in English and communicate primarily in English.
Today, Waiariki MP and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said he backed the calls from Ngāi Te Rangi.
“The fight for te reo Māori has been an intergenerational war against a system that has oppressed its use. It was beaten out of our kaumātua, and now the government are using their force and might to strip it out of government organisations.
“Te Pāti Māori backs Ngāi Te Rangi’s decision to file a Waitangi tribunal claim against the atrocity proposed by the anti-Māori coalition government."
He said te iwi Māori and "those committed to a Tiriti-centric Aotearoa" had the right to be concerned.
"You seen the multitudes of people coming together last week who are genuinely concerned and even afraid of this Government's agenda.
“Te reo Māori is the only official spoken language in this country. The message this government is sending young tamariki is that it’s not OK to speak te reo Māori - that they shouldn’t be comfortable with their Māoritanga. That te reo Māori is not good enough."
Waititi said it would be a "clear signal" that te iwi Māori wouldn't accept "any rubbish from the new coalition Government".
"It puts all breaches of te Tiriti on notice.
“I commend Ngāi Te Rangi for leading this out. I would hope that every other settled iwi do the same to assert their tino rangatiratanga and their rights.”
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