Well Helmut hasn't met me. I'm a Maori who doesn't agree with Te Pati's view of the Treaty. The majority of Maori wouldn't have a clue about the Treaty origins. Is Modulik a Maori name?
I'm with you Peter, although this guy sounds a little more reasonable this time... usually he sounds out of control...I disagree with him also... an also agree TPM does not represent Maori... in fact after their shocking display yesterday they would be hard pressed to represent the 3% the claim to. He's a German.
My point is we Maori are now, by far of mixed ancestry. At our Marae I look around and I can't see one of the whanau who doesn't have mixed ancestry. I find Te Pati's rhetoric on pakeha disgusting.
ahh met - Hamish Allen Sigley in 1991 in Auckland and He is albino white, but in a supernatural way ahh found he had a 1850's Full blood Maori ancestor from a nobel Royal family from Tokomaru bay. We were near Kaitaia doing farm work in the Sun- He had top off and got sunburn red pronto - him been so albino white skin , But because off that ahh knew he had dark ancestors from Tokomaru bay , so we drove his german car over there and Discovered in the cemetary there my clairvoyant powers were correct- Sigley Graves going back too 1860's with Maori names before Sigley.
in the1980's in history class we were told last full blooded moari died in 1950's . . . not that it matters, unless you are racist. The majority of NZers want race not to matter in our legal system, we just want equality and peace as far as I can tell. I do not want to be called coloniser, it is just sad, I want people to be proud of NZ, it is a great place to live that has treated me so well
There are Zero 100% Maori left in NZ supposedly the last full blood Maori died in the 1970's the majority are less than 50% Maori. That should not make a difference in the real world anyway as your character and your personal Mana is all that truly matters.
Interesting Know of plenty of Maori who support the bill and are disgusted by the Maori party and Labour/Greens Maori got a treaty The Waitaha got Colonized , Enslaved and eaten-- then told they never existed
Yeah well my cousin is a well known Maori activist and apart from him and i couple of others most think its going too far, Te Pati Maori know theres nothing in that bill that can hurt them they are just using it to split the coalition government and its working because Luxons a weak leader.......
If you want a Māori view you have to go to each individual tribe because their views are all different just like if you want a Christian view you would go to different religious groups
Absolute waffle! The place for consultation, discussion and decision is obviously parliament - that's why we have it! However not every detail and nuance can be legislated, that's one way the courts come in to it so the laws can be interpreted ensuring the intent of legislation is enacted. There are other ways of contributing to the discussion - the media, opinion poles etc, It's a fairly clear structure. But when I hear 'Maori says this' or 'Maori must be consulted' I am not aware of the equivalent structure so who exactly are 'Maori' in this context?
Good question . If they cannot get one person to represent the Māori people then even they cannot be unified to begin any talks. The rest of us Kiwis have the elected Prime minister to represent us in the coalition government. I don't agree with all he says but that is called democracy.
We hear they want to "de colonize". Yet what I have seen is, that they have adopted our Corporate structures into their Marae, on their websites, in any organizations. It seems very convenient to use whatever is expedient, while giving lipservice to a rejection. Those ones in Parliament should be expelled as they're hardly ever there.
Helmut needs to read the maori version of the treaty if he can. if he cant read maori then look up Busby;s final draft or the back translation by Caprina Bron. Not the official Enlish version and not Hugh Kawhurus Waitangi tribunal version.
The treaty must NOT evolve ... it is what is it is and should never be tampered with it should be sealed ... this is the problem if it had never been fiddled with by activists and politicians we would not be having these problems now. I disagree with Her Modlik... Maori are embarrassed by the 3% Maori party.. their behaviour insults them and puts them back 200 years.
@@JustinPollock-f2sbut that’s wrong. The bill states Māori have as many rights as everyone else in NZ. Not more. Not less. The same. So how is that none in your mind?
@kiwi792 nope says same rights as signed in 1840. That means less property and cultural rights then everyone else. Those rights confiscated in 1849.reinstated around 1975
@@JustinPollock-f2s I disagree. You have the same right to purchase property as anyone else. Plus how are your cultural rights affected. You are free to speak Te Reo or practice your culture in your home as much as you want.
@kiwi792 I never asked you to agree or disagree. It was not the right to purchase land that was in question. The sa.e right as iwhen the treaty was signed . That was when the property rights were confiscated and land was stolen. That means less rights. P.s. did you think I was moari?
Indeed treaties should not 'evolve' but that is exactly what has been perpetrated with the ToW by the ad-hoc principles trotted out over the last 30 or 40 years by the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal. In the first place, the ToW text (Maori version as translated on the Waitangi Tribunal website) says nothing whatsoever about the Government of this country being a partnership between the Crown and Maori. The idea that iwi and hapu have a special consultation and law-making say above and beyond the the normal consultative Parliamentary processes open to every citizen, is a nonsense. Its time to get rid of the ad-hoc and un-consulted principles of the past and let the ToW be what it says - not what some would like it to say!
LOL, when David Seymour is Maori his claim that all Maori are in lock-step with the Maori party is patently false. Also the fact that out of ~20% of NZ that are Maori yet only 3% of the vote went to The Maori Party AKA the Maori Party does not represent Maori.
Ha! Helmut says he hasn't met a single Maori person who doesn't agree with TPM's view of the bill, then contradicts himself by saying that as in any civil society, you will get a range of views from Maori on any particular subject. The truth is that he has no way of knowing what all Maori think of the Treaty Principles Bill.
There's a lot of silly comments here, I say good on him for entering a conversation, I don't agree with his view but its really good to hear considered debate. Lets have the debate and not throw insults at each other.
Sure. Lets do just that. When the maori black power come and smash your door in and want to offer yor wife and 2 daughters a "drink" don't call the police. Woke woke fool.
Maori Party needs to represent All Maori, not just a radical protesting representatives. End of the day. The Maori Party aren’t helping Maori. Wont put more money in Maori pockets, unless your an elite. Wont help get them ahead in the 21st century. Funny even the black community in the USA are finally turning away from liberal Democrats that want them being on the plantation as welfare dependent. Same as the Maori Party and left wing politicians in NZ. Wake up Tangata Whenua! You’re getting shafted
Look i'm an active supporter of the bill. However, reading most of these comments are not helpful. This guy has come on an possibly combative environment. We need to work together to educate everyone on what the bill is trying to achieve. Commenting on his name and heredity is not helpful. I commend him for turning up and talking to us
Helmut Modlik completed an MBA in 1992 before becoming the inaugural CEO of the Poutama Trust. He has headed Telco Technology Services, Connexis, and Patients First (Health Tech Solutions) and directed the masters of management programme at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Before becoming CEO of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Toa Rangatira; was MD of management consultancy Arrus Knoble Developments. Helmut is an experienced director, executive and consultant with specialist skills in implementation change management. He is passionate about the social and economic development of Māori.
IwI are like the chiefs of a tribe or hapu, As each of the tribes are independent to a region you would have to go to each iwi. some iwis are part of the bigger tribes,
@@jasonpoihegatama1347- think again my friend. Your outliers, are creating outliers out of us, that will backlash against all of you, not just the outliers. That can't be allowed to happen. Everyone needs to now settle down, and diffuse the situation.
If was an mp yesterday (oh God help us 😬) and I had any idea that they were going to do a song and dance 🤔 I would have taken chips and a beer , as they kicked off, I would have cracked them open.... then taken me shoes off, popped me feet on the table to show them my f - ewe socks 🤣 And just given them a saucy patronising smile and a very camp style wave 🤣
Well I think we should have a maori view in Parliament i think its healthy for the nation as a whole.Instead of activists we should be encouraging open minded,interested,brightmaori to get involved and theirs plenty of them out there As a divided nation we have become distracted while overseas ideology,corporate interests etc. Food security,fuel and cheap energy is vital.we need to secure our own oil and gas then if things go sideways overseas we will be fine.
"When Power Plays Politics: Unmasking the Colonial Charade Behind Treaty Principles and Māori Representation" - The Māori Green Lantern - 15 November 2024 Kia ora ano! In this scathing critique, we delve into the ongoing political manipulation of the Treaty of Waitangi principles and the Māori King Movement. The interview between Michael Laws and Helmut Modlik on The Platform reveals a deeper narrative of how those in power continue to undermine Māori sovereignty under the guise of "partnership." By dissecting the rhetoric, we expose the colonial legacy that still dictates New Zealand's political landscape, where Māori voices are marginalized, and their cultural institutions are either co-opted or dismissed. This essay calls for a radical rethinking of how treaty obligations are honored and how Māori leadership, like the Kīngitanga, can be restored to its rightful place in decision-making processes. The interview between Michael Laws and Helmut Modlik on *The Platform* is emblematic of a much larger issue in New Zealand politics: the ongoing colonial manipulation of Māori rights and sovereignty. The discussion centers around the Treaty of Waitangi principles and the role of Te Pāti Māori and the Kīngitanga (Māori King Movement) in contemporary politics. What becomes clear is that those in power continue to treat these vital aspects of Māori identity as mere political tools, rather than honoring them as foundational elements of New Zealand's constitutional framework. Michael Laws begins by questioning the idea that the Treaty is "evolving," a statement made by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Laws scoffs at this notion, calling it "a crazy idea" and asserting that treaties should be static documents. This perspective is not only ignorant but also deeply colonial. Treaties are living agreements, meant to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining their core principles. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, was never intended to be a one-time deal but a partnership between Māori and the Crown. As legal scholar David Cochrane points out, "The treaty forms a partnership based on a duty to act reasonably, honestly, and in utmost good faith" [4]. To suggest otherwise is to perpetuate a colonial mindset that seeks to freeze Māori rights in time while allowing Pākehā (non-Māori) dominance to evolve unchecked. Laws' dismissal of Te Pāti Māori as merely theatrical further reveals his disdain for genuine Māori political expression. He refers to their actions in Parliament as "theatrics" and suggests that they are not representative of all Māori. This is a classic tactic used by those in power to delegitimize resistance movements. As Modlik rightly points out, Te Pāti Māori emerged from the foreshore and seabed controversy-a pivotal moment in modern Māori activism-and has since become "a valuable voice for the Māori community" [2]. Yet, Laws' framing reduces their legitimate grievances to mere performance art, ignoring the deep historical trauma that fuels such protests. This brings us to the role of the Kīngitanga, or Māori King Movement. Established in 1858 as a response to land alienation and colonial encroachment, the Kīngitanga was an attempt to unify Māori under a single leader who could negotiate with the Crown on equal footing [5]. However, as Modlik explains, while the movement still holds significant mana (authority) among many iwi (tribes), it has been intentionally depoliticized over time. The Kīngitanga has chosen not to engage directly in partisan politics, instead positioning itself as an intergenerational institution akin to the British monarchy [3]. This strategic neutrality has allowed it to survive but at the cost of diminishing its influence in day-to-day political affairs. What is particularly galling about this discussion is how it exposes the ongoing marginalization of Māori leadership structures. Laws asks Modlik where one would go if they wanted to "get a representative view of the Māori people." Modlik responds that there are multiple avenues-traditional iwi structures, urban authorities, and organizations like the Māori Women's Welfare League-but ultimately concedes that there is no single body that speaks for all Māori [2]. This fragmentation is often used by Pākehā politicians as an excuse not to engage meaningfully with Māori communities. Yet, it is a fragmentation largely created by colonial policies designed to divide and conquer. The principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) have been similarly manipulated over time. Initially ignored by settlers and governments alike, these principles were only codified into law after sustained pressure from Māori activists. However, even today, they remain subject to interpretation by Pākehā-dominated institutions like Parliament and the courts. As one legal analysis notes, "It is the principles of the Treaty which are to be applied, not the literal words" [6]. This allows those in power to cherry-pick which aspects of the Treaty they wish to honor while ignoring others-particularly those that would grant true sovereignty or rangatiratanga (chieftainship) back to Māori. The current political climate only exacerbates these tensions. With parties like ACT openly calling for the removal or dilution of Treaty principles from legislation [6], it is clear that many in power still view te Tiriti as an inconvenience rather than a binding agreement. This attitude is reflected in Laws' offhand comments about how difficult it is for non-Māori to understand where Te Pāti Māori fits within "the lexicon" of New Zealand politics [2]. Such statements reveal a profound ignorance-or worse, willful blindness-about the complexities of Māori political life. But perhaps most damning is how this entire conversation takes place without any real consideration for what true partnership would look like. The Treaty promised equality between Māori and Pākehā citizens-a promise that has been systematically broken for over 180 years [7]. Instead of engaging with this reality, politicians like Laws prefer to focus on superficial issues like whether protests are too "theatrical" or whether Te Pāti Māori represents all iwi equally. These are distractions from the real issue: that New Zealand's political system continues to operate on fundamentally unequal terms. This interview serves as yet another reminder that those in power have little interest in honoring their obligations under te Tiriti o Waitangi. Whether through dismissive rhetoric or outright legislative attacks on Treaty principles, they continue to undermine Māori sovereignty at every turn. It is time for a radical rethinking of how we approach these issues-not just tinkering around the edges but fundamentally restructuring our political institutions so that they truly reflect a partnership between equals. It is only through such transformative change that we can hope to address the deep-seated inequalities that continue to plague Aotearoa New Zealand today. *Please consider supporting our fight against misinformation and colonial oppression by donating here: 03-1546-0415173-000.* Citations: [1] pplx-res.cloudinary.com/.../Screenshot_15-11-2024... [2] ruclips.net/video/F2gQiwdO9mU/видео.html. [3] nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/the-maori-king-movement [4] thelawassociation.nz/the-principles-of-te-tiriti.../ [5] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_King_Movement [6] theconversation.com/do-the-principles-of-the... [7] teara.govt.nz/.../nga-mangai-maori.../print [8] waikatotainui.com/about-us/kiingitanga/ facebook.com/Themaorigreenlantern/posts/pfbid0CozN2KggtbUJcSZHfPSfybwDyWDLVYhhEeLRhzc8p1WUx6Jsr3bcHgXAA7V5qBTQl
All rubbish. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed between a Bristish Crown that no longer has any authority in New Zealand and some of the tribal leaders of Maori who no longer exist. Today's Maori are thoroughly mixed through interbreeding with Europeans etc. Helmut here is an extreme example, his father was a German migrant post WW2 late 50s or early 60s. His European ancestry is both greater and more immediate than most NZers. He may choose to identify as Maori ( culturally ) but why should his choice give him any different status or rights under the law in NZ. Until the Labour Party resurrected the ToW in the 70s for political gain and power ( effectively manipulating Maori into thinking they should vote Labour ), it had long since been relegated to history. If some one wants to be Maori, to celebrate that part of their ancestry, to learn Te Reo, to enjoy Kapa Haka, that's fine, good on you. Just don't expect me to pay for it or give you special recognition and status.
@@jeremymead8546 Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. Greetings to you all. Dear Jeremy, Your comment reveals a profound misunderstanding of both Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the nature of Māori identity. Let me address your points personally. ## On Your Understanding of Legal Succession Your claim about the British Crown's authority demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of constitutional law. The Crown's obligations didn't vanish - they transferred to the New Zealand government. This is basic constitutional law, not a matter of opinion. Regarding Your Comments on "Interbreeding" Your focus on "European ancestry" and "interbreeding" is particularly troubling. Being Māori has never been about blood quantum - it's about whakapapa (genealogy) and cultural connection. Your attempt to use Helmut's German ancestry to delegitimize his Māori identity shows a colonial mindset that measures Indigenous authenticity through a European lens. On Your Historical Claims Your assertion that the Treaty was "relegated to history" until the 1970s is historically inaccurate. The fact that you're unaware of the numerous Māori petitions, legal challenges, and protests throughout New Zealand's history doesn't mean they didn't happen. This isn't about Labour Party politics - it's about continuous resistance to colonial oppression. Regarding Your "Special Recognition" Comment Your final statement about not wanting to "pay for it" reveals more about your privileged position than any legitimate critique of Treaty rights. The Treaty isn't about giving "special recognition" - it's about honoring a founding document that guaranteed Māori rights while enabling Pākehā settlement. I invite you to engage with actual Māori history and constitutional law before making such sweeping statements. Your comment reflects the very colonial attitudes that continue to harm Aotearoa New Zealand's progress toward true partnership. Kia ora koutou. If you found this response My advice to you is dont step up to me again or you are gonna get the bash (metaphorically speaking of course). :)
@@IvorJones We just want to go forward into a bright future for all the people of New Zealand ,all equally valued and supported as one nation part of one earth.
@IvorJones no such place as Aotearoa, a name used by some North Island tribes to refer to the NI. No recognition down here by Kai Tahu.. Yes Maori were guaranteed rights as equal citizens under the Law. British Law .Why then do you object to Seymours bill which seeks to codify this in law? By the way the British Crown didn't do "partnerships" with obscure Polynesian tribes. This is a modern delusion attempting to rewrite history in light of contemporary wishful thinking. Maori keep denying " blood quantum" , but if being Maori is a choice, largely unrelated to actual ancestry, then being a " victim " of " colonialisation" is also a choice. If you make that choice more fool you. It is not my problem nor my responsibility. I am not willing to pay for your poor choices. Ask your Euro genetics to compensate your Polynesian genetics. Maybe your right hand can pass half your earnings to your left hand. If you think the ToW enabled British settlement, you are delusional. What do you think would have happened without the Treaty. More inter tribal bloodshed, probably followed by " native" suppression, much like what the US did to the American Indians . The one thing that would not have happened is Britian withdrawing and leaving the South Pacific to the French. You might like to talk to your Tahitian and New Caledonian cousins to see how that worked out.
The largest tribe doesn't acknowledge kingitanga gave them a hiding thats why my teacher beat the ngapuhi out of me and replaced it not allowed to speak cave language pigeon kingitanga here boy so i no longer speak te reo but i love to hear the old language still understand it not this varsity maori crap they speak today and give themselves Mokos that is reserved for the highest chiefs Wannabees.
2.million for the 1st reading and 2 million for the 2nd reading...for a dead bill .pointless...whangarei hospital needed 4 million for there hospital and the government slashed cuts on health ..dunedin needs money for there hospital also and the government went back on there word ...but they can spend tax payers money on a dead bill what are load of crap ...
The nz maori council is the only statutory body in nz to represent maori issues, unfortunately the council has been stifled by its outdated statute and set up to fail as the crown does not provide the council with adequate resources
Them & us.. some will have you believe Māori & New Zealanders are somehow different being that one has more rights and privileges based upon their race making all others second class citizen within their own counrty of birth when in fact kiwi are iwi.. End of story. ps..Hobson said after each Māori chief signed the treaty. "He iwi tahi tātou" "We are one people"
And how is it those iwi who never signed the treaty are the one's crying out about honouring the treaty only after they themselves have reinterpreted the treaty to suit their agenda.
@blackline-qf6fi Maori are New Zealanders do you not know that? New Zealanders are all of us who have citizenship. However, not all New Zealanders are nesseserely Kiwis.
Rawhiri is not doing maori any favours, his ideas are crazy. He wants maori sovereignty, he said just that in parliament today, he said every NZer should join the maori roll for the next election, that is utter madness. No Moari disagree with him you have met Modlik, what a bizarre statement. Nothing you say holds together, you have no integrity. You need to get out more bud.
Even his own father couldn't stand him, and cleared off back to Germany when Helmut junior was a little kid, never to return. Another product of the DPB/ welfare system. It shows.
What a cesspit this comment section is. An echo chamber of uninformed simpleton rants. The treaty is the business of Maori and the Crown. Get over it. Did you have say in any other Treaty that the crown has made? No you didn't.
Correct. And the New Zealand parliament has been empowered by the crown on 24 may 1854, to pass laws related to New Zealand. Which means the New Zealand parliament has the power to pass the bill, to redefine or interpret or abolish the treat totally if it so wishes. We the people now make laws for the country through the parliament we elect. The king of England has no powers as of now in this day and age over New Zealand, other than just the figure head of state. Neither is the treaty of waitangi a legally binding eternal agreement.
As are you. Don't forget that your people are here, because you couldn't behave in your own lands and got yourselves kick out. That's also where your traditions are, your country is, your customs, your language....it's not here in NEW ZEALAND.
New Zealand won the Americas Cup....our name was never mentioned. It got silenced by those that thought it was their right to cancel us, and ride our nation's success for their own glory. That's offensive. Won't be happening again.
Maori king idea came out of modernity which came from abroad. The Treaty of Waitangi was forged upon the Anthropic Principle, the absolute moral categories of the Bible that represents the Method of Antithesis in human reason process whereby intellectual certainty is guaranteed. Mauriora 🙏🏾💪🏾🇳🇿
In the words of the immortal James Brown, "talkin loud and sayin nothin!"
Sort of sounds like he was googling it as he was talking ...
Well Helmut hasn't met me. I'm a Maori who doesn't agree with Te Pati's view of the Treaty. The majority of Maori wouldn't have a clue about the Treaty origins. Is Modulik a Maori name?
That's what colonization did took away your culture and rights and left you dumb
just saying does maori names matter wen your a maori n a german name
I'm with you Peter, although this guy sounds a little more reasonable this time... usually he sounds out of control...I disagree with him also... an also agree TPM does not represent Maori... in fact after their shocking display yesterday they would be hard pressed to represent the 3% the claim to. He's a German.
Is hickey a maori name
@@patrickhauraki8713 No neither is Willie Jackson. You missed my point. We Maori are now, in the main of mixed descent. Mainly pakeha.
"Our People." So this person sees us as separate. Confirms the "Equality for all, some more equal than others." - Snowball
Have any of the protesters read the bill? 🤣
If they actually bothered to go to school
@@Bonsqueesquee44 KC's read it and think its worthless! If you don't know what a KC is look it up.
Yes.
And it’s doomed for failure.
@@ruenicklin turkeys don't vote for Christmas, eh?
My best friend is Maori descent and she certainly doesn't agree with these clowns
Helmut (German) Modlik (Jewish), interesting Maori make up.
brown skin ...so he can choose to more maori than a jewish German
His father was a German immigrant. So he is at least half European.
If he is Maori, it's by choice not by inheritance.
Totally agree. Socialist Jewish trouble maker.
Probably an example of colonization aye....
My point is we Maori are now, by far of mixed ancestry. At our Marae I look around and I can't see one of the whanau who doesn't have mixed ancestry. I find Te Pati's rhetoric on pakeha disgusting.
So true we are all mixed race
ahh met - Hamish Allen Sigley in 1991 in Auckland and He is albino white, but in a supernatural way ahh found he had a 1850's Full blood Maori ancestor from a nobel Royal family from Tokomaru bay. We were near Kaitaia doing farm work in the Sun- He had top off and got sunburn red pronto - him been so albino white skin , But because off that ahh knew he had dark ancestors from Tokomaru bay , so we drove his german car over there and Discovered in the cemetary there my clairvoyant powers were correct- Sigley Graves going back too 1860's with Maori names before Sigley.
in the1980's in history class we were told last full blooded moari died in 1950's . . . not that it matters, unless you are racist. The majority of NZers want race not to matter in our legal system, we just want equality and peace as far as I can tell. I do not want to be called coloniser, it is just sad, I want people to be proud of NZ, it is a great place to live that has treated me so well
There are Zero 100% Maori left in NZ supposedly the last full blood Maori died in the 1970's the majority are less than 50% Maori. That should not make a difference in the real world anyway as your character and your personal Mana is all that truly matters.
@@jeremysmith5232 My Tupuna on my mother’s side were full blooded Maori and mum died in 1983 so I guess she missed that history lesson.
NZers are getting really tired of this sh…
Interesting
Know of plenty of Maori who support the bill and are disgusted by the Maori party and Labour/Greens
Maori got a treaty
The Waitaha got Colonized , Enslaved and eaten-- then told they never existed
Im unlikely to agree with Helmut on a number of viewpoints, but i do appreciate a considered and mature approach to this interview.
Good to see.
I wonder if Helmet has made any sort or restitution for his ancestors past indiscretions...
Kiwi vs the Kraut and the Kraut said Maori incorrectly multiple times 😂. Can't hide those German Genes 😅
ahh part Spanish and get backpackers from Eurpe confuse me with been a Part maori.
Yeah well my cousin is a well known Maori activist and apart from him and i couple of others most think its going too far, Te Pati Maori know theres nothing in that bill that can hurt them they are just using it to split the coalition government and its working because Luxons a weak leader.......
@@hartley9958 You all shit mate!
If you want a Māori view you have to go to each individual tribe because their views are all different just like if you want a Christian view you would go to different religious groups
Imagine if a White person went around saying "my people this, my people that..." Oh wait, that has happened before.
Absolute waffle! The place for consultation, discussion and decision is obviously parliament - that's why we have it! However not every detail and nuance can be legislated, that's one way the courts come in to it so the laws can be interpreted ensuring the intent of legislation is enacted. There are other ways of contributing to the discussion - the media, opinion poles etc, It's a fairly clear structure. But when I hear 'Maori says this' or 'Maori must be consulted' I am not aware of the equivalent structure so who exactly are 'Maori' in this context?
Good question . If they cannot get one person to represent the Māori people then even they cannot be unified to begin any talks. The rest of us Kiwis have the elected Prime minister to represent us in the coalition government. I don't agree with all he says but that is called democracy.
so he's just affirmed it's better to be trapped in a feudal system
Pretty much explained & answered nothing.
We hear they want to "de colonize". Yet what I have seen is, that they have adopted our Corporate structures into their Marae, on their websites, in any organizations. It seems very convenient to use whatever is expedient, while giving lipservice to a rejection.
Those ones in Parliament should be expelled as they're hardly ever there.
De-colonise effectively means keeping your Lattes and Air Jordans but rejecting following the laws of the land.
@karentorkar8256 Maori also.have European ancestry. Any other lame comments why anyone shouldn't use a corporate structure that you dont own.
I would describe the behaviour of TPM in Our House of Representatives as threatening
Helmut needs to read the maori version of the treaty if he can.
if he cant read maori then look up Busby;s final draft or the back translation by Caprina Bron.
Not the official Enlish version and not Hugh Kawhurus Waitangi tribunal version.
The treaty must NOT evolve ... it is what is it is and should never be tampered with it should be sealed ... this is the problem if it had never been fiddled with by activists and politicians we would not be having these problems now. I disagree with Her Modlik... Maori are embarrassed by the 3% Maori party.. their behaviour insults them and puts them back 200 years.
So does the introduced bill. Same rights as in 1840. None
@@JustinPollock-f2sbut that’s wrong. The bill states Māori have as many rights as everyone else in NZ. Not more. Not less. The same. So how is that none in your mind?
@kiwi792 nope says same rights as signed in 1840. That means less property and cultural rights then everyone else. Those rights confiscated in 1849.reinstated around 1975
@@JustinPollock-f2s I disagree. You have the same right to purchase property as anyone else. Plus how are your cultural rights affected. You are free to speak Te Reo or practice your culture in your home as much as you want.
@kiwi792 I never asked you to agree or disagree. It was not the right to purchase land that was in question. The sa.e right as iwhen the treaty was signed . That was when the property rights were confiscated and land was stolen. That means less rights. P.s. did you think I was moari?
Indeed treaties should not 'evolve' but that is exactly what has been perpetrated with the ToW by the ad-hoc principles trotted out over the last 30 or 40 years by the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal. In the first place, the ToW text (Maori version as translated on the Waitangi Tribunal website) says nothing whatsoever about the Government of this country being a partnership between the Crown and Maori. The idea that iwi and hapu have a special consultation and law-making say above and beyond the the normal consultative Parliamentary processes open to every citizen, is a nonsense. Its time to get rid of the ad-hoc and un-consulted principles of the past and let the ToW be what it says - not what some would like it to say!
Helmut, schöner alter Deutscher Name.
Princess Te Puea Hērangi was a known Nazi sympathiser and the reason that Māori, unlike all others, weren’t subject to conscription during WWII
Ausgezeichnet !
will helmit pay reparations for his ancestors treatment of the jews
And the Poles, French, Russians, Belgians, Dutch and Norwegians? That should use up all the treaty settlement funds.
Nein!!
Good one 🎉😂
And English. I lost family members in WW2 @@peterrhodes5663
LOL, when David Seymour is Maori his claim that all Maori are in lock-step with the Maori party is patently false. Also the fact that out of ~20% of NZ that are Maori yet only 3% of the vote went to The Maori Party AKA the Maori Party does not represent Maori.
Yeah this 🤡 has got zero credibility!!.💔🇳🇿
Luxon saying - TREATING IS EVOLVING - he is a weak traitor!!
The Treaty was not intended to evolve in 1840. It served its purpose and we have moved on to a society where everyone has equal rights.
Where ever there is a helmut, there's hans
Yeah, not going to listen to this Moari. They need to be silenced now.
Hahahahahahahaha its tooooo late
You dont belong here pakeha
@@gdm4762 neither do you whitey
Michael, where would you go to get a white kiwis view of things?
The pub? the church? a barbecue, a knitting club, a cricket club
At the ballot box
Ha! Helmut says he hasn't met a single Maori person who doesn't agree with TPM's view of the bill, then contradicts himself by saying that as in any civil society, you will get a range of views from Maori on any particular subject. The truth is that he has no way of knowing what all Maori think of the Treaty Principles Bill.
So Labour Party have opened the door to this rebel rousing group. They don’t have true Maori mana
The Te Pati have shamed their own people, us Kiwis know that Maori are way better than that ugly and well rehearsed event.
Good on you both for having the conversation..
Mut
Davids clever Bill is simply the 3 articles of the Treaty for dummies, specifically for maori twisters
Can you hear that... it's the sound of front doors closing as the last of our educated middle class leave for Australia!!!.💔🇳🇿
There's a lot of silly comments here, I say good on him for entering a conversation, I don't agree with his view but its really good to hear considered debate. Lets have the debate and not throw insults at each other.
Sure. Lets do just that. When the maori black power come and smash your door in and want to offer yor wife and 2 daughters a "drink" don't call the police. Woke woke fool.
Maori Party needs to represent All Maori, not just a radical protesting representatives. End of the day. The Maori Party aren’t helping Maori. Wont put more money in Maori pockets, unless your an elite. Wont help get them ahead in the 21st century. Funny even the black community in the USA are finally turning away from liberal Democrats that want them being on the plantation as welfare dependent. Same as the Maori Party and left wing politicians in NZ. Wake up Tangata Whenua! You’re getting shafted
Look i'm an active supporter of the bill. However, reading most of these comments are not helpful. This guy has come on an possibly combative environment. We need to work together to educate everyone on what the bill is trying to achieve. Commenting on his name and heredity is not helpful. I commend him for turning up and talking to us
He is almost impossible to follow.
Treaties are specific by design and concept , Full Stop !!!😛😛😛⚒️⚖️⚔️🛡️🙏🗡️♾️
Helmut Modlik completed an MBA in 1992 before becoming the inaugural CEO of the Poutama Trust.
He has headed Telco Technology Services, Connexis, and Patients First (Health Tech Solutions) and directed the masters of management programme at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Before becoming CEO of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Toa Rangatira; was MD of management consultancy Arrus Knoble Developments.
Helmut is an experienced director, executive and consultant with specialist skills in implementation change management.
He is passionate about the social and economic development of Māori.
Would be great if he was passionate about progressing the country as a whole.
I wonder how much he is paid to represent maori?
IwI are like the chiefs of a tribe or hapu, As each of the tribes are independent to a region you would have to go to each iwi. some iwis are part of the bigger tribes,
Or not. How about you just get on with living in the now. Thrive. Instead of attacking us.
@@NA-sj9jy No that's how it is, no one's attacking you its just you
@@jasonpoihegatama1347- think again my friend. Your outliers, are creating outliers out of us, that will backlash against all of you, not just the outliers. That can't be allowed to happen. Everyone needs to now settle down, and diffuse the situation.
@@NA-sj9jy Its always been that way. Tell me has there been any other way? Your just thinking its just your way how selfish are you!
Germans are not well known for having a sense of humour, but this one makes me laugh.
If was an mp yesterday (oh God help us 😬) and I had any idea that they were going to do a song and dance 🤔
I would have taken chips and a beer , as they kicked off, I would have cracked them open.... then taken me shoes off, popped me feet on the table to show them my f - ewe socks 🤣
And just given them a saucy patronising smile and a very camp style wave 🤣
Well I think we should have a maori view in Parliament i think its healthy for the nation as a whole.Instead of activists we should be encouraging open minded,interested,brightmaori to get involved and theirs plenty of them out there As a divided nation we have become distracted while overseas ideology,corporate interests etc. Food security,fuel and cheap energy is vital.we need to secure our own oil and gas then if things go sideways overseas we will be fine.
They had every opportunity given to them...and they throw it back in our face each time. Now it's time to stop enabling them, and help them.
Winston, Shane and David are examples are they not? Open minded interested bright maori?
Māori colonised NZ, then got colonised by the British. Pot calling the kettle black.
"When Power Plays Politics: Unmasking the Colonial Charade Behind Treaty Principles and Māori Representation" - The Māori Green Lantern - 15 November 2024
Kia ora ano!
In this scathing critique, we delve into the ongoing political manipulation of the Treaty of Waitangi principles and the Māori King Movement. The interview between Michael Laws and Helmut Modlik on The Platform reveals a deeper narrative of how those in power continue to undermine Māori sovereignty under the guise of "partnership." By dissecting the rhetoric, we expose the colonial legacy that still dictates New Zealand's political landscape, where Māori voices are marginalized, and their cultural institutions are either co-opted or dismissed. This essay calls for a radical rethinking of how treaty obligations are honored and how Māori leadership, like the Kīngitanga, can be restored to its rightful place in decision-making processes.
The interview between Michael Laws and Helmut Modlik on *The Platform* is emblematic of a much larger issue in New Zealand politics: the ongoing colonial manipulation of Māori rights and sovereignty. The discussion centers around the Treaty of Waitangi principles and the role of Te Pāti Māori and the Kīngitanga (Māori King Movement) in contemporary politics. What becomes clear is that those in power continue to treat these vital aspects of Māori identity as mere political tools, rather than honoring them as foundational elements of New Zealand's constitutional framework.
Michael Laws begins by questioning the idea that the Treaty is "evolving," a statement made by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Laws scoffs at this notion, calling it "a crazy idea" and asserting that treaties should be static documents. This perspective is not only ignorant but also deeply colonial. Treaties are living agreements, meant to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining their core principles. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, was never intended to be a one-time deal but a partnership between Māori and the Crown. As legal scholar David Cochrane points out, "The treaty forms a partnership based on a duty to act reasonably, honestly, and in utmost good faith" [4]. To suggest otherwise is to perpetuate a colonial mindset that seeks to freeze Māori rights in time while allowing Pākehā (non-Māori) dominance to evolve unchecked.
Laws' dismissal of Te Pāti Māori as merely theatrical further reveals his disdain for genuine Māori political expression. He refers to their actions in Parliament as "theatrics" and suggests that they are not representative of all Māori. This is a classic tactic used by those in power to delegitimize resistance movements. As Modlik rightly points out, Te Pāti Māori emerged from the foreshore and seabed controversy-a pivotal moment in modern Māori activism-and has since become "a valuable voice for the Māori community" [2]. Yet, Laws' framing reduces their legitimate grievances to mere performance art, ignoring the deep historical trauma that fuels such protests.
This brings us to the role of the Kīngitanga, or Māori King Movement. Established in 1858 as a response to land alienation and colonial encroachment, the Kīngitanga was an attempt to unify Māori under a single leader who could negotiate with the Crown on equal footing [5]. However, as Modlik explains, while the movement still holds significant mana (authority) among many iwi (tribes), it has been intentionally depoliticized over time. The Kīngitanga has chosen not to engage directly in partisan politics, instead positioning itself as an intergenerational institution akin to the British monarchy [3]. This strategic neutrality has allowed it to survive but at the cost of diminishing its influence in day-to-day political affairs.
What is particularly galling about this discussion is how it exposes the ongoing marginalization of Māori leadership structures. Laws asks Modlik where one would go if they wanted to "get a representative view of the Māori people." Modlik responds that there are multiple avenues-traditional iwi structures, urban authorities, and organizations like the Māori Women's Welfare League-but ultimately concedes that there is no single body that speaks for all Māori [2]. This fragmentation is often used by Pākehā politicians as an excuse not to engage meaningfully with Māori communities. Yet, it is a fragmentation largely created by colonial policies designed to divide and conquer.
The principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) have been similarly manipulated over time. Initially ignored by settlers and governments alike, these principles were only codified into law after sustained pressure from Māori activists. However, even today, they remain subject to interpretation by Pākehā-dominated institutions like Parliament and the courts. As one legal analysis notes, "It is the principles of the Treaty which are to be applied, not the literal words" [6]. This allows those in power to cherry-pick which aspects of the Treaty they wish to honor while ignoring others-particularly those that would grant true sovereignty or rangatiratanga (chieftainship) back to Māori.
The current political climate only exacerbates these tensions. With parties like ACT openly calling for the removal or dilution of Treaty principles from legislation [6], it is clear that many in power still view te Tiriti as an inconvenience rather than a binding agreement. This attitude is reflected in Laws' offhand comments about how difficult it is for non-Māori to understand where Te Pāti Māori fits within "the lexicon" of New Zealand politics [2]. Such statements reveal a profound ignorance-or worse, willful blindness-about the complexities of Māori political life.
But perhaps most damning is how this entire conversation takes place without any real consideration for what true partnership would look like. The Treaty promised equality between Māori and Pākehā citizens-a promise that has been systematically broken for over 180 years [7]. Instead of engaging with this reality, politicians like Laws prefer to focus on superficial issues like whether protests are too "theatrical" or whether Te Pāti Māori represents all iwi equally. These are distractions from the real issue: that New Zealand's political system continues to operate on fundamentally unequal terms.
This interview serves as yet another reminder that those in power have little interest in honoring their obligations under te Tiriti o Waitangi. Whether through dismissive rhetoric or outright legislative attacks on Treaty principles, they continue to undermine Māori sovereignty at every turn. It is time for a radical rethinking of how we approach these issues-not just tinkering around the edges but fundamentally restructuring our political institutions so that they truly reflect a partnership between equals.
It is only through such transformative change that we can hope to address the deep-seated inequalities that continue to plague Aotearoa New Zealand today.
*Please consider supporting our fight against misinformation and colonial oppression by donating here: 03-1546-0415173-000.*
Citations:
[1] pplx-res.cloudinary.com/.../Screenshot_15-11-2024...
[2] ruclips.net/video/F2gQiwdO9mU/видео.html.
[3] nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/the-maori-king-movement
[4] thelawassociation.nz/the-principles-of-te-tiriti.../
[5] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_King_Movement
[6] theconversation.com/do-the-principles-of-the...
[7] teara.govt.nz/.../nga-mangai-maori.../print
[8] waikatotainui.com/about-us/kiingitanga/
facebook.com/Themaorigreenlantern/posts/pfbid0CozN2KggtbUJcSZHfPSfybwDyWDLVYhhEeLRhzc8p1WUx6Jsr3bcHgXAA7V5qBTQl
All rubbish. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed between a Bristish Crown that no longer has any authority in New Zealand and some of the tribal leaders of Maori who no longer exist. Today's Maori are thoroughly mixed through interbreeding with Europeans etc.
Helmut here is an extreme example, his father was a German migrant post WW2 late 50s or early 60s. His European ancestry is both greater and more immediate than most NZers.
He may choose to identify as Maori ( culturally ) but why should his choice give him any different status or rights under the law in NZ.
Until the Labour Party resurrected the ToW in the 70s for political gain and power ( effectively manipulating Maori into thinking they should vote Labour ), it had long since been relegated to history.
If some one wants to be Maori, to celebrate that part of their ancestry, to learn Te Reo, to enjoy Kapa Haka, that's fine, good on you. Just don't expect me to pay for it or give you special recognition and status.
@jeremymead8546 You all shit bro. Come here and say that
@@jeremymead8546 Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. Greetings to you all.
Dear Jeremy,
Your comment reveals a profound misunderstanding of both Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the nature of Māori identity. Let me address your points personally.
## On Your Understanding of Legal Succession
Your claim about the British Crown's authority demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of constitutional law. The Crown's obligations didn't vanish - they transferred to the New Zealand government. This is basic constitutional law, not a matter of opinion.
Regarding Your Comments on "Interbreeding"
Your focus on "European ancestry" and "interbreeding" is particularly troubling. Being Māori has never been about blood quantum - it's about whakapapa (genealogy) and cultural connection. Your attempt to use Helmut's German ancestry to delegitimize his Māori identity shows a colonial mindset that measures Indigenous authenticity through a European lens.
On Your Historical Claims
Your assertion that the Treaty was "relegated to history" until the 1970s is historically inaccurate. The fact that you're unaware of the numerous Māori petitions, legal challenges, and protests throughout New Zealand's history doesn't mean they didn't happen. This isn't about Labour Party politics - it's about continuous resistance to colonial oppression.
Regarding Your "Special Recognition" Comment
Your final statement about not wanting to "pay for it" reveals more about your privileged position than any legitimate critique of Treaty rights. The Treaty isn't about giving "special recognition" - it's about honoring a founding document that guaranteed Māori rights while enabling Pākehā settlement.
I invite you to engage with actual Māori history and constitutional law before making such sweeping statements. Your comment reflects the very colonial attitudes that continue to harm Aotearoa New Zealand's progress toward true partnership.
Kia ora koutou. If you found this response My advice to you is dont step up to me again or you are gonna get the bash (metaphorically speaking of course). :)
@@IvorJones We just want to go forward into a bright future for all the people of New Zealand ,all equally valued and supported as one nation part of one earth.
@IvorJones no such place as Aotearoa, a name used by some North Island tribes to refer to the NI. No recognition down here by Kai Tahu..
Yes Maori were guaranteed rights as equal citizens under the Law. British Law .Why then do you object to Seymours bill which seeks to codify this in law?
By the way the British Crown didn't do "partnerships" with obscure Polynesian tribes. This is a modern delusion attempting to rewrite history in light of contemporary wishful thinking.
Maori keep denying " blood quantum" , but if being Maori is a choice, largely unrelated to actual ancestry, then being a " victim " of " colonialisation" is also a choice.
If you make that choice more fool you. It is not my problem nor my responsibility. I am not willing to pay for your poor choices.
Ask your Euro genetics to compensate your Polynesian genetics. Maybe your right hand can pass half your earnings to your left hand.
If you think the ToW enabled British settlement, you are delusional. What do you think would have happened without the Treaty. More inter tribal bloodshed, probably followed by " native" suppression, much like what the US did to the American Indians .
The one thing that would not have happened is Britian withdrawing and leaving the South Pacific to the French. You might like to talk to your Tahitian and New Caledonian cousins to see how that worked out.
The largest tribe doesn't acknowledge kingitanga gave them a hiding thats why my teacher beat the ngapuhi out of me and replaced it not allowed to speak cave language pigeon kingitanga here boy so i no longer speak te reo but i love to hear the old language still understand it not this varsity maori crap they speak today and give themselves Mokos that is reserved for the highest chiefs Wannabees.
By inventing new words all the time the language is harder to understand . In cook islands maori a computer is called a computer!
2.million for the 1st reading and 2 million for the 2nd reading...for a dead bill .pointless...whangarei hospital needed 4 million for there hospital and the government slashed cuts on health ..dunedin needs money for there hospital also and the government went back on there word ...but they can spend tax payers money on a dead bill what are load of crap ...
love the fountain. just need the fountain paper Fafafafafafafafafafafafafafafafafafaaf
The nz maori council is the only statutory body in nz to represent maori issues, unfortunately the council has been stifled by its outdated statute and set up to fail as the crown does not provide the council with adequate resources
Them & us.. some will have you believe Māori & New Zealanders are somehow different being that one has more rights and privileges based upon their race making all others second class citizen within their own counrty of birth when in fact kiwi are iwi.. End of story.
ps..Hobson said after each Māori chief signed the treaty. "He iwi tahi tātou" "We are one people"
And how is it those iwi who never signed the treaty are the one's crying out about honouring the treaty only after they themselves have reinterpreted the treaty to suit their agenda.
Woke twit. Are you a school teacher by chance?? Gay guy with a maori partner??
@blackline-qf6fi Maori are New Zealanders do you not know that? New Zealanders are all of us who have citizenship. However, not all New Zealanders are nesseserely Kiwis.
multiple "yeah thats a good question"s followed by so many words without saying anything
Helm'nut 🎉😂
He seems like a nice bloke but he’s talking allot of crap, honestly nothing of substance
Rawhiri is not doing maori any favours, his ideas are crazy. He wants maori sovereignty, he said just that in parliament today, he said every NZer should join the maori roll for the next election, that is utter madness. No Moari disagree with him you have met Modlik, what a bizarre statement. Nothing you say holds together, you have no integrity. You need to get out more bud.
in both interviews, you just talk in circles
That’s one white looking Maori sounding German.
Too short
Even his own father couldn't stand him, and cleared off back to Germany when Helmut junior was a little kid, never to return. Another product of the DPB/ welfare system. It shows.
First BTW!
Now you're talking gibberish
Your just to stupid to understand
What a cesspit this comment section is. An echo chamber of uninformed simpleton rants. The treaty is the business of Maori and the Crown. Get over it. Did you have say in any other Treaty that the crown has made? No you didn't.
Correct. And the New Zealand parliament has been empowered by the crown on 24 may 1854, to pass laws related to New Zealand. Which means the New Zealand parliament has the power to pass the bill, to redefine or interpret or abolish the treat totally if it so wishes. We the people now make laws for the country through the parliament we elect. The king of England has no powers as of now in this day and age over New Zealand, other than just the figure head of state. Neither is the treaty of waitangi a legally binding eternal agreement.
So stop involving us then. Stop the f off attitude, the threats, the name calling against us then.
@@NA-sj9jy That's all these ignorant bigoted comments deserve, including yours. Get over it.
Exactly, so go and talk to King Charles if it's an agreement with the Crown.
@Rabadaga The government is the crown and does not support the Bill full stop.
Ngi tahu as i Speak , claim the lands and MANA of HAPU that lived on the Lands you now claim while being Refugees yourselves mmmmmh !?😛😛😛🤨😠😡
As are you. Don't forget that your people are here, because you couldn't behave in your own lands and got yourselves kick out. That's also where your traditions are, your country is, your customs, your language....it's not here in NEW ZEALAND.
Ka pai Helmut - he pai te hanga o āu kōrero :)
Helmut represents ALL modern maori - he's a EUROPEAN just does not want to admit it!! Lol!!
New Zealand. Worlds 3 in terms of time ahead of every other country. New Zealand last in pretty much everything else.
New Zealand won the Americas Cup....our name was never mentioned. It got silenced by those that thought it was their right to cancel us, and ride our nation's success for their own glory. That's offensive. Won't be happening again.
Maori king idea came out of modernity which came from abroad. The Treaty of Waitangi was forged upon the Anthropic Principle, the absolute moral categories of the Bible that represents the Method of Antithesis in human reason process whereby intellectual certainty is guaranteed. Mauriora 🙏🏾💪🏾🇳🇿
nutter.
Whatever. Tide has turned. It's time to stop now.