THE TREATY AND THE QUEEN
Tuesday 7th February 2012

MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira certainly isn’t letting any opportunities to promote the Treaty go by.

The first order of business on the first day of Parliament in 2012 was a notice of motion congratulating the Queen on the 60th anniversary of her reign. Harawira’s response was to say “On behalf of the MANA movement, I congratulate the Queen on achieving this historic milestone, and I urge this government to invite her to reaffirm her commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a guide to how this government might act in all matters pertaining to the indigenous people of Aotearoa and the lands and resources that it holds on behalf of all New Zealanders”.

Harawira later reflected “In the week leading up to ‘celebrating’ the signing of the Treaty, this government announced plans to ignore Maori rights affirmed under the Treaty and to slash jobs in the only ministry dedicated to dealing with Maori rights and needs. Maybe she should have a word in John Key’s ear about how the Treaty is supposed to work”.

ENDS

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