RenewNZ is the personal blog of Ewen McQueen. Established in 2012, it is aimed at stimulating thoughtful and considered debate around some of the key issues facing our nation – issues that need to be addressed if we are to see cultural, economic and spiritual renewal in New Zealand.
It also brings forth some of the wonderful stories of faith and courage hidden in our history. Not only because they make great reading, but because our past can help frame our future. And unbeknownst to many New Zealanders, we have a rich cultural and spiritual heritage which, if we look to it, can help us chart a positive way ahead together.
I welcome feedback and comments on all my posts. Because of this there will be comments on this site which do not necessarily reflect my views. However in the interests of free discussion I allow such comments provided they are expressed respectfully and make a genuine attempt at dealing with the issues in a reasoned and intelligent manner. Concise comments are encouraged.
Ewen McQueen
September 2020
RenewNZ 
Dear Mr McQueen,
Thank you for your article in the Herald today (1/6/16) It is refreshing to have someone in the media who will talk about the elephant in the room. Keep up the important work you are doing.
Sincerely,
Christine Barnes
LikeLike
Hi Ewen, I have enjoyed your book – One Sun in the Sky
It seems to me that both ‘sides’ are going to point to evidence for their position, /however my position is that:
The Treaty was negiotiated/signed after significant discussion/consensus done on a voluntary basis. Obviously this was done in the context of the time, which we can argue about but never totally define/substantiate over 180 years later. If we are to revise the Treaty, then surely we should go through the same process of dialogue/consensus in todays context. Not too hard an argument to project. Even if you agree with the joint sovereignty position, attempting to have this introduced through political revisionism/correctness is inviting problems. (which is what seems to be happening now) Normally, in the modern world, these types of issues are resolved with nationwide discussions followed by a super majority vote (75% ?) At least then we all get to hear discussions about what sovereignty/partnership/co-governance mean in a modern context.One thing that will happen at some time is the question of whether or not we still accept the sovereignty of the Crown (replublicanism) it would appear to me that issues of Maori sovereignty and co-governance will certainly be part of the discussions then.
One of the major issues for me in all this is how do you define Maori? Genetically and culturally we are quite mixed now, which was not the case in 1840. Often joint sovereignty can be defined by the use of autonomous regions within a larger state. Given that the maori land holdings are essentiall the same as ‘Pakeha’ freeholdings except for the oversight of the Maori Land Court and ‘shareholdings’, I have two observations that would impact any autonomous regions within a sovereign partnership.
1) Many Maori are not included in Freehold Maori Title, they just missed the boat of inclusion, because the way titles were set up. I dont know what percentage, but I suspect it is considerable ( I tried to find out through Google but with no luck)
2)Multiple ‘shareholding (many times in the hundreds) with any use of the land being at the whim of the Maori Land Court, is a ‘dogs breakfastr’ and is a large handbrake on economic development which is necessary for any meaningful sovereignty.
My larger sense is that given the corporate control of our lives, environment and economic resources, and the increasing inequity in how we share governance and
wealth, we are long overdue for a discussion about what is sovereignty, for us (individuals, communities, local authorities, the nation) For me looking back is avoiding the more important discussion of going forward (yes the past will play into this) and that it seems to be more about ‘jockying’ for position within the neoliberal narrative (which for me is increasing leading us back to feudalism, with corporate masters rather than the monarch/lords etc. This equally effects pakeha, maori, asians etc. Sovereignty is not just an issue between Maori and the Crown
My hope is that we can sit down in the ‘tent’ again and , vent , empathise, discuss and see whether we can construct a new narrative/structure going forward – kotahitanga.
I agree that the Treaty of Waitangi was hugely shaped by ‘spiritual’ realtionship between Maori and the missionaries (if you like the spirituall advisors to the Crown)
It is difficult to see how this might play out now because we don’t have a christian ‘consensus’ however their is a nascent spiritual narrative emerging in NZ (including christians) that might hold the centre.
This is our hope, raw political machinations won’t hold it together.
Thanks for writing your book, and giving me the incentive to reply.
Look forward to reading your blog more often
regards Bob Corker
LikeLike
Hi Bob, thanks for your thoughts. You make some interesting points and yes I agree any way forward needs proper debate and broad consensus, rather than change by imposing revisionist interpretations of the Treaty. Unfortunately it is increasingly difficult to have proper debate as anyone with a different view from the modernist narrative on this issue is simply shouted down as a colonising racist. So it is hard to see a way forward. As you say – raw political machinations won’t do it. A spiritual awakening is perhaps the only way forward. After all, that’s how our journey together began.
Kind regards
Ewen
LikeLike
Hello Ewan McQueen
I have read your book “One Sun in the Sky” and agree with you.
I am getting suspicious of modern histories of this country. Where can I find some instructions on how to access source documents online? (I have tried for Rev John Hobbs’s diary re John Heke’s two flags – where you and Claudia Orange appear to disagree).
Thanks, and all strength to you,
Philip O’Brien
LikeLike
Hi Philip
Thanks for your comment. You won’t find the John Hobbs diary reference online – I had to physically go to the Auckland Museum Library to check it. However there are plenty of online resources with original historical documents. Probably the best is the NZ Electronic text collection at Victoria University. That is where I found the proceedings of the Kohimarama Conference. Also the Early NZ Book Collection of Auckland University Library. Both of these have references on page 245 of the book. The Papers Past collection of the National Library also has good electronic resources.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Ewen McQueen
LikeLike
Hi Ewen
I greatly appreciated reading your book “One Sun in the Sky’ having also read ‘The Bible and the Treaty’, ‘The Musket Wars’, ‘History of NZ’ and ‘The Story of the Maori People’.
I believe that most NZ’s just want to know the truth, own up to the truth, and ensure there is redress for historical injustice. Unfortunately, most of us are swayed by popular opinion and in the process are robbed of the truth.
I have been prompted to send you this note having just read Rob Rattenbury’s article published in the NZ Herald this morning and titled ‘The Treaty of Waitangi is bigger than petty politics’. While the title sounds good the content is typically popular opinion and as a consequence, I have sent a challenge to the Whanganui Chronicle via the NZ Herald. Maybe some of your followers will do the same.
Kind regards, Bob
LikeLike
Hi Bob
Thanks for your comment. Yes it seems it is hard to get anything in mainstream media now which isn’t the standard “approved narrative”. Anyway good on you for giving them some feedback.
Kind regards, Ewen
LikeLike
Just finished reading One sun in the sky. I will need to read it a few times to fully digest all the info. A great on-site to the treaty and how people are trying to change it to there own gain
LikeLike