David Seymour “referred to himself as an ‘Indigenous New Zealander’ . . . He was employing a tactic we’ve seen domestically many times: invoking his ancestry to deflect criticism of his racist behaviour.” — Tina Ngata.
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“I was recently quoted as saying the Regulatory Standards Bill ‘will stop lawmakers considering broader public health.’ This exchange led Minister Seymour to question my sanity in a public forum. I stand by my statement.” — Dr George Laking.
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“Aotearoa deserves a lawmaking system that reflects its people, landscapes, and histories, not one that repeats the exclusions of the past.” Jodhi Warwick-Ponga on the Regulatory Standards Bill.
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“The bill may very well open the door for corporations to force Māori to pay for their own exploitation and the erasure of their Indigenous rights and lands.” — Ryan Ward.
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“Despite all their protestations, there can be little doubt that our government is inherently racist, and blind to the the contorted ways it enacts that prejudice.” — Brian Tweed.
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“One approach is about truth, evidence, and accountability. The other is about control, efficiency, and convenience.” — Lawyer Roimata Smail, comparing the Waitangi Tribunal and the Regulatory Standards Board proposed in ACT’s new bill.
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“The ACT Party has tried to pass a version of this legislation three times since 2007 and has failed each time. Now it’s forcing the bill through as part of the coalition agreement.” — Melanie Nelson on the Regulatory Standards Bill.
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“David Seymour creates a shadowy force controlling our society, when in reality being tangata Tiriti or tangata whenua is a simple recognition of historical fact — not a set of restrictions.” — Brian Tweed.
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The lobby group Hobson’s Pledge “has turned Hobson’s incidental remark to chiefs into a weighty pronouncement that justifies the suppression of Māori rights and identity.” — Susan Healy, Tim McCreanor, Ray Nairn.
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“The real motive behind the bill is related to Act and its backers’ long-term strategy of deregulating business and opening up New Zealand to corporate investment, extraction, and exploitation.” — Ryan Ward.
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“Outside of its impact on Māori and race relations in Aotearoa, a significant long-term consequence of this bill will be the removal of one of the most important protections the New Zealand public have to the unwanted and harmful privatisation of state assets.” — John Murrie.
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“Apirana Ngata’s views on the Treaty in 1922 are historically important. They speak to the dominant attitudes of Pākehā, and undoubtedly some Māori too. But his was not the only voice speaking for Māori.” — Historian Matthew Cunningham.
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“It is important that there is strong and visible opposition to the bill so that it is clear to politicians that there is no political advantage in progressing it.” — Carwyn Jones.
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“It was like a glimpse of the country as we want it to be: diverse and respectful and Māori-led.” — Catherine Delahunty on the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti.
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“David kept arguing that there are no examples anywhere in the world where people have successfully shared sovereignty under one nation. Well, he’s wrong.” — Helmut Modlik on his debate with David Seymour.
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“All the values our old people gave us to live by enhance the successful pursuit of economic endeavours. Our story has proven that that’s so.” — Helmut Modlik, chief executive of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.
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“Once you’ve seen the reality of considering ethnicity and the impact that can be made when we consider it, that’s not something easily unlearned. You can try to ignore the evidence, but you can’t deny its existence.” — Dr Anthony Jordan, former Pharmac director.
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“The time has come for us to have a referendum on whether the people of Epsom should be allowed to have an electorate MP.” — Carwyn Jones.
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“I agree with Helen Clark that it would ‘rip us down the middle’, and with Jim Bolger that it’s a ‘bloody stupid’ idea.” — Dame Anne Salmond on Act’s proposed Treaty referendum.
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“There are always people who say I’m not a proper Māori because I don’t go to a marae. Well, the way I look at it, some people have a religious faith but don’t necessarily go to church every Sunday.” — David Seymour.
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“Reverting to the articles of Te Tiriti is something a lot of people might prefer over the rather anaemic Treaty principles because it would definitely get New Zealand ‘back on track’.” — Moana Maniapoto on Act’s proposed Treaty referendum.
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“Seventeen Māori leaders spoke up a week ago ‘calling for an end to race-baiting and racist comments in our countries’ election campaigns’. They pointed at New Zealand First, Act and National — but, in my opinion, Act is by far the worst.” — Nicky Hager.
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“Racism — which is to discriminate on the basis of culture, racial or ethnic origin — means democracy can’t give everybody a fair go.” — Professor Dominic O’Sullivan, on challenging racism in political campaigns on both sides of the Tasman.
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