This letter is written by P.L.U.G. on behalf of all citizens of New Zealand, who are concerned at the lack of information, the misinformation and fear about co-governance.

What is co-governance?

Co-governance in todays’ context increasingly means the sharing of governance roles of elected (openly public elected) Councillors with local Iwi (Maori appointed ) people who then jointly make decisions on the long-term strategic directions for all to follow.

Co-governance does not confer ownership but is sets requirements for Management to follow.

Currently, Agreements at local and regional council level are mostly only about co-management (covered by JMA’s – Joint Management Agreements) but it is not surprising that there is confusion, given what we believe is the almost indecent rush to try to enact “Co-Governance” agreements before the implementation of the Resource Management Act reforms.

​​How does co-governance relate to the Treaty of Waitangi?

​The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement between some Maori tribes and the Crown for mutual benefit. There is no provision for co-governance made in the Treaty of Waitangi.

We see some so-called elite Maori representatives looking to gain representation on local and central government controlled organisations in co-governance roles

Some people are saying, that regarding and treating individuals with equal respect would be divisive.

Yes, based on this fantasy view many of those pushing the co-governance agenda are using their versions of Treaty obligations.

There has been some debate over the years about what, exactly; Maori believed they were signing in 1840 and did Maori cede sovereignty to the British Crown when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi or, as is now contended by some, did they not?

Sir Apirana Ngata prepared an English translation of the Treaty in 1922 that argued that the Chiefs had “cede(d) absolutely to the Queen of England for ever the Government of all their lands”.

Indeed the standard translation used by the Waitangi tribunal in the early 1990’s had been made by Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu.

Sir Hugh and the Tribunal in this time were in no doubt that the chiefs had ceded sovereignty to the Queen.

If ever there was a declaration that we are one people and that Maori have the same rights and duties of citizenship, surely it is Sir Hugh’s translation of the Treaty?

Efforts have been made to argue that some kind of “partnership" exists between the Crown and Maori as a result of the Treaty signing,

A simple reading of the Treaty document or Sir Hugh’s translation of that document quickly provides plain evidence that there is no mention whatsoever in either document which requires the provision of any type of partnership or co-governance role for Maori.

Sir Hugh’s translation of the Treaty surely rules out any special relationship/privilege for Maori or for their modern descendants over non-Maori.

And since there was no such thing as a properly functioning democracy in New Zealand in 1840, the question of “political rights” wasn’t an issue at the time. We believe some people are just trying to re-write the Treaty to suit their current agendas?

There most certainly was no implication of special rights, “political” or otherwise for Maori. Their land was protected, but so was the right of Maori to sell that land on agreed terms. And Maori had the same “rights and duties of citizenship” as non-Maori.

​What is the current situation in regard to co-governance?

Racial harmony is currently one of the biggest issues for all New Zealanders and with approximately 200 different ethnicities, is it conducive to social harmony to accord special political status to those with a Maori ancestor or provide them with a co-governance role?

The short answer being NO!

Yet, currently it seems that decisions are being made by local and regional councils behind closed doors with the public excluded, in relation to the direction of JMAs and Co-governance, which are providing for the application of co-governance roles for Maori.

In fact we believe the reality is that these extremely important decisions are being made in haste so as to be in place prior to the implementation of the RMA reforms which the coalition government has signalled will be ready late this year.

No matter what view people hold, there can be no mature discussion about our future as a country until everybody accepts that the Treaty provided for the government to have final authority, with all citizens - no matter their ancestry - having equal rights as stipulated in the New Zealand Bill of Rights.

In New Zealand we have one of the world’s oldest democratic societies which we should rightly be proud of.

It is time this current government under Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, decided to “Fully” implement their campaign promises to do away with all race based legislation and stop all talk of co-governance at any level.

Race based governance has never succeeded anywhere and it would not be any different here in New Zealand if it was implemented.

We can have co-governance without democracy.

We can have democracy without co-governance.

But we cannot have democracy and co-governance.

Democracy will only prevail if we oppose any moves towards legislated race based co-governance policies. We need to oppose co-governance for Democracy to prevail.

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