Maori Party Raises the Flag of Self-determination in Parliament today
Dr Pita R Sharples, Co-leader of the Maori Party
Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Dr Pita Sharples, co-leader of the Maori Party, today used the opportunity of the Parliamentary General Debate to
initiate some questions about the concept of self-determination, a concept which has gained international traction
following the adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on 29 June
of this year. The Declaration is now being sent to the United Nations General Assembly for adoption at the end of this
year.
Article 3 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that :
‘indigenous people have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political
status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”.
“I chose to give profile to the concept of self-determination, as I see it as absolutely critical in this time, that all
New Zealanders consider how we can enhance the relationship between Tino Rangatiratanga and Käwanatanga as provided for
in Te Tiriti o Waitangi” said Dr Sharples.
“Essentially, it is about the relationships we value as New Zealanders”.
“Rangatiratanga, the authority of whanau, hapu and iwi in our own rohe, is an ideal that tangata whenua are consistently
looking to uphold” said Dr Sharples. “We in the Maori Party are aware of the dedicated commitment of so many of our
people, to achieving self-determination - in order to manage their own destinies”.
“As such, the Maori Party has been aware of the considerable anger expressed by many Maori groups and individuals, about
the way in which New Zealand joined forces with the United States, Australia, Canada and the Russian Federation in
opposing the text of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” said Dr Sharples.
“When self-determination is such an important aspiration for tangata whenua, it is both irresponsible and discriminatory
to fail to talk to Maori about the position New Zealand is taking on this issue overseas”.
“We have received a large number of objections about the way in which New Zealand has represented the position of Maori
overseas” said Dr Sharples.
“New Zealanders have told us that they believe the Government has acted deliberately, in such a way as to weaken the UN
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They have also expressed their concerns about the repeated refusal of
the New Zealand Government to actually consult with Maori about the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples”.
ENDS