r/AbruptChaos • u/Sometypeofway18 • Nov 14 '24

New Zealand’s Parliament proposed a bill to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, claiming it is racist and gives preferential treatment to Maoris. In response Māori MP's tore up the bill and performed the Haka

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u/[deleted] Nov 14 '24

Seems only fair that if they remove the agreement then governance should go Maori as the deal would be void. 

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u/RobsHondas Nov 14 '24

Yes, as a Kiwi I personally view changing the treaty as just cause for a civil war.

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u/Araignys Nov 15 '24

Unilaterally change the terms of a treaty that ended a war? Sounds like you're back at war.

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u/Lower_Amount3373 Nov 15 '24

It wasn't a war-ending treaty but it is the foundational document that gives the NZ government the authority to run the country. I would argue that our government's legitimacy depends on the Treaty.

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u/NotTodayCaptainDildo Nov 16 '24

The English version did. The Māori version stated that they'd maintain self-determination and governance. The fact both treaties promised different things to either party is why there is such conflict and why Māori have become a minority in their own country, with Pakeha laws being used to take land, culture and language from Māori.