Disgust with Key's denial to return Tuhoe homeland

“The October 15th Solidarity group is disgusted with John Key's solo decision to deny the return of Te Urewera to Tuhoe, as was initially agreed on for tomorrow's (Friday May 14th) now postponed signing of an Agreement in Principle.”

“Key's action betrays the trust of Tuhoe once again and reeks of pandering to those voters who still retain racist attitudes toward Maori and Tuhoe.”

“If the Minister of Treaty Settlements, Chris Finlayson, truly believes in his “noble cause” to settle grievances between Maori and the crown then he is not doing his job by allowing the crown to reneg on their handing back of Tuhoe's homeland. It is hardly noble.”

“The agreement in principle Tuhoe were due to sign with the crown, included mana motuhake, the return of Te Urewera and around $170million compensation. To add further insult to Key's 11th hour denial of Te Urewera, the crown announced the following day that they will hand out around $400m to science and business research. This smacks of hypocrisy when Finlayson himself says what is being offered to Maori is only a symbolic fraction of what is really owed because full compensation “would bankrupt the country”.”

“The New Zealand public need to take responsibility and understand the Treaty of Waitangi grievances of Maori. The true backbone of this country's economy is not farming but the theft of Maori land and resources and the labour of the working class.”

“Our group formed in the aftermath of the state terror raids of 15th October 2007 and we continue to support Tuhoe to achieve their goal of self-determination and the dropping of charges against the remaining 18 defendants in this ludicrous court case.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media