the dots join themselves

Isn't it amazing how unsurprised you can be.

Helen Clark going for the top UN job - as good as it gets I suppose, and that good isn't that good at all. I and many others haven't forgotten The Foreshore and Seabed legislation, the Terror Raids, the non endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the role that Helen Clark played in all of these things. She was the leader at the time and she blinked numerous times when it came to supporting tangata whenua. Somehow we here will be uplifted when she gets the top UN job - nah I don't think so. I don't begrudge Helen her top UN role, I'd just say it is a personal victory for her not a collective victory.

But she did get an endorsement from slippery key - some have said this is the payback for creating the impression that she supported the TPPA - who knows but when the Panama Papers show just how much the rich look after themselves - from all countries, and political persuasions, then well, the dots join themselves imo.

So I am surprised by how unsurprising I find these latest shenanigans.

the measurement will be unpleasant

There is a saying that if you lie down with dogs you will get up with fleas.

From Waatea news

"Maori Party leader Tariana Turia is expecting tough talk from the UN's top official on indigenous issues about Maori poverty and access to justice.

UN Special rapporteur James Anaya spent last week in the country talking to Maori groups and Crown ministers and officials.

Mrs Turia says while Professor Anaya was measured in his comments before he left, she is confident he won't shy away from highlighting the areas that need action.

“I know he has been stunned about the high Maori incarceration rate, poor health stats, poor educational achievement. One has to take responsibility for it. Those of us who are part of government, we are the ones that have to stand up and be counted on these issues,” Mrs Turia says." (my emphasis)

Yes the measurement is beginning and it will be unpleasant. You cannot support right-wing policies that directly negatively affect maori, that reduce maori aspirations, that tread on maori mana and then believe that you are supporting maori rights and tino rangatiratanga. They are mutually exclusive.

Our UN Review of Indigenous rights coming up

It will be interesting to see what the report says, after the visit of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples Professor James Anaya, from 18 to 23 July.

From ODT

"Prof Anaya will review the issues reported by his predecessor, Rodolfo Stavenhagen who visited in November 2005 to investigate whether the Foreshore and Seabed Act breached Maori rights."

He recommended the Act be repealed and a constitutional review to recognise Maori rights of self-determination based on the Treaty of Waitangi and international law.

The Government is now consulting over plans to repeal the foreshore law and prefers to legislate that no one owns it.

What a joke - I hope Professor Anaya sees what a no-solution this national and maori party solution is. I felt a bit sick when I read this bit from pita sharples

"This Government remains committed to building and maintaining constructive relationships with Maori to achieve better results for Maori, which will benefit New Zealand as a whole. We welcome the UN's perspective of our country's progress," Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples said.

Especially when I remembered this proposed extension to the 90 day period where an employer can fire you without even giving you a reason, from RadioNZ

"But Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell says the proposed change could add salt to the wounds of young Maori who are already finding it hard to get jobs.

He says the Maori Party will be vigorously opposing any move that further marginalises young Maori.

And I thought about what is happening in prisons to many maori, the double bunking, the reduction of rights, the increased likelihood of maori being in prison and being imprisioned. And i considered the GST rise, the cutting of night classes and the new provisions that have been put in place to restrict someone from seeking help from ACC when they have been sexually abused, and the unemployed, the abuse of Tuhoe and Ngati Porou, the destruction and desceration of our sacred places, of our rights as indigenous people, of the waterways and the land and all of the other government policies and you know what Pita - I don't agree with you. There has been a massive attact upon maori rights and the lives of all maori, along with the poor and vulnerable in this country. There is no pass mark from me.

I hope the truth is told but I somehow doubt that Prof Anaya will hear much of it around the government table.

Footnote - I have chosen to rant on about the things that need to be changed but there are some good things happening at all levels for maori and I want to acknowledge that too.

UN says it has concerns about social disparites between maori and non-maori

The UN has reviewed this countrys human rights record and the verdict?

"The UN's Human Rights Council has told the Government it has concerns about social disparities between Maori and non-Maori, high rates of Maori imprisonment and New Zealand's commitment to indigenous rights."

"Justice Minister Simon Power told the council the Government acknowledged there were challenges to meet and disparities persisted for Maori in education, health, employment, crime statistics and income.

Mr Power said the Government was seeking to remedy these inequalities, even in the face of global economic problems and the recession."

Can inequity be remedied by money? - is that all that needs to happen? - just throw some dollars at it or is it actually a deeper problem that will need a mindset change.

"The council said today Mr Power had given "a clear statement" of the Government's commitment to respecting and strengthening human rights.

The challenge now was for the Government "to reflect these commitments in legislation and policy initiatives and financial decisions", it said."

Yes how about actually working with the maori party in a constructive way for the betterment of maori and all people living here. Enough hollow words, power, it is time for action - even the UN says so.

As Moana Jackson says,

"New Zealand did not come through the review process well."

"He told Waatea News the UN agency had echoed criticisms of the Foreshore and Seabed ACT previously expressed by a UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination. "