Answers questions on the Auckland Super City and Maori representation..
Q: Whats your opinion on the Auckland Super City do you agree with it.
A: Yes and no. I can see the point of having a central body to focus on Auckland's infrastructure. water roading etc.. But no if the communities and their boards only have token input. I'm also worried on have much political power the Super City Management Board will hold and who they will really represent Big Business or the wider Auckland community.
Q: Do you think Maori should be alligatored seats on the new Super City Board.
A: Yes .. off course.. Maori should be represented on all local body boards.
Q: Don't you think that is undemocratic.
A: Yes.. Democracy has nothing to do with it... we signed a treaty with Maori in good faith.. And that treaty (The Treaty of Waitangi) gave Maori certain customary rights the rest of as don't have. Their rights as the indigenous people of this land... over this land their land..
Q: Are you suggesting the Maori have more rights than the rest of New Zealanders. therefore privileged.
A: Yes .. the same as all New Zealanders are privileged to live in New Zealand, but after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi... Maori because they where the first here and indigenous to the land.. the signing also gave them customary rights to the land that non Maori. the rest of us don't have.
Q: The Government doesn't see it that way.
A: The Government never did.. They also keep talking of democracy and Maori should be treated the same as everybody else.. that would also be a good start.... and is also in the treaty.. But the government and the rest of us that are non Maori should also recognize that the treaty is a partnership with Maori. that also gives Maori certain rights within that partnership.... We just need to honor it (The Treaty) and get on with being New Zealanders.
END
Rusty Kane
ReplyDeleteRusty Kane. Born December 2, 1953.
Rusty Kane is a New Zealand advocate for local democracy. Kane has campaigned for the advantages of having independent political representation instead of MPs who are affiliated with major political parties.
His tenacity for this cause, including standing (more than ten times) for election for central government, regional and district councils, and the district health board earned Kane the epithets: Mr tenacious and a stickler for democratic transparency.
Kane with Doug Wilson collect 52,000 signatures as part of Wilson’s 1998 protest walk to Parliament, seeking the removal of the Government. This instigated them forming of The People’s Choice Party in 1999 (Taranaki’s first ever registered political party and NZ’s 21st political party).
Under the People’s Choice banner starting in 1999 until 2022 Rusty stood unsuccessfully in ten elections. The People’s Choice Party was also the first political party to oppose the MMP system of Government. Again in the 2009 Mt Albert by-election Kane campaigned that Citizens initiated Referendums should be binding on the government.
In the 2002 elections, Kane stood as an independent in the Taranaki-King Country seat, and was one of six candidates in the Te Tai Hauauru by-election in 2004.
Mr Kane said: “It’s not about winning. Campaigning is a cost effective way of raising awareness for the efficacy of having an independent Member of Parliament that is not affiliated with a major political party. An independent MP provides better political leverage. As an independent MP is not controlled or beholden to any of the major political parties.”
“Independent candidates don’t have to tow the party line.”
The People’s Choice Party (which de-registered in 2003) was the first political party to field a Pakeha candidate in a Maori Ward (Te Tai Hauauru seat). In 2005 Kane stood in the New Plymouth electorate against Labour incumbent Harry Dyunhoven despite him having the biggest majority in the country. And in the 2008 election he helped National Party candidate Jonathan Young defeat Harry Dyunhoven.
Rusty Kane has strong community ties, particularly in Taranaki. He was part of the Waitara Lease Holders Association from 2004-10. A founding member of C.E.P.R.A (Chemically Exposed Paritutu Residents Association) who helped former power station employees and harbour board workers get free medical health care. He was also part of the Taranaki Dioxin Advisory Group.
Rusty is also an artist and has had several exhibitions including his controversial exhibition “Hands On” in 2006 at the Pune Ariki library foyer, and “Seven Beds and Fourteen Heads.” These exhibitions courted controversy as they were political referencing dioxin contamination.