New Zealand’s political party has announced radical electoral policies to return stolen land to Aboriginal owners, including private property
The New Zealand Greens have released an election policy to return stolen land to Maori, including privately owned land.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said ‘the time is now to be brave’ and make historic amends.
‘Aotaroa as we know it today was created from Maori land, much of which has been wrongfully taken over the past 183 years in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi)’, Ms Davidson said.
In 1840 the treaty was signed by Maori chiefs and the British crown, with widespread land confiscation by settlers in violation of the document.
Recent governments have attempted to atone for historical injustices by establishing the Waitangi Tribunal in 1975, which makes recommendations on claims brought by Maori tribes.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said ‘the time is now to be brave’ and make historic amends
The government settled claims with individual tribes through the treaty settlement process,
About 120 settlements have been made, which may include formal amnesties and cultural and commercial remedies, including land transfers or cash payments.
Ms Davidson said these settlements would ‘require deep compromise’ from Maori.
The Greens policy would establish a new commission of inquiry into land dispossession and allow the Waitangi Tribunal to ‘make recommendations regarding privately owned land as that land enters the property market’.
Ms Davidson said, ‘The Green Party will show the political leadership needed to recognize tino rangatiratanga (Maori sovereignty) and repair the harms of the past.’
‘Colonial land theft caused serious disconnection and locked whānau (families) into poverty, and this fed into ongoing inequalities for Māori in health, education and the justice system.
‘Land restitution is the right thing to do to address this inequality.’
The success of the policy will depend on the party’s fortunes in the October 14 NZ election.
They need a Labour-led government to win over National and ACT’s right bloc, and the Greens to successfully argue for policy in government negotiations.
The Greens have supported a Labor government since 2017 with ministers outside the Cabinet.