Henry Williams – one of our greatest New Zealanders

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Ewen McQueen

Rev Henry Williams – Alexander Turnbull Library – C-020-005

He never won New Zealander of the Year Award. But in the two decades from 1823 to 1845 he should have – multiple times. Rev Henry Williams, former Royal Navy officer turned missionary, was an outstanding character in those pivotal years when our nation was formed. Indeed one early historian has described him as “one of the greatest men who ever influenced the destinies of New Zealand” (1). It is an apt description.

Today Henry Williams is most well known as the missionary who translated the Treaty of Waitangi and garnered Māori support for this foundational agreement. For these honourable efforts he has, in recent years, been much maligned. But Williams’ role in the forming of our nation goes far beyond the Treaty. And his character towers above the caricature of our missionary pioneers normally presented in media and academia today. Petty, bumbling, self-interested, and culturally illiterate, is now the standard portrayal. However any honest appraisal of our history gives an utterly different picture – especially when it come to Henry Williams.

In Williams we find a man of action, courage, integrity, and adventure. We find a man compelled by love to cross oceans, mountains and swamps. He was fired by a vision of bringing hope to a people who needed it as much as his own people had. He entered their world, lived among them, and learned their language and their customs. He was known and respected by them throughout the land – his reputation often going before him. One Ngati Porou chief opened meetings among his East Coast people, declaring – “I have come from Paihia, and have seen Williams of the four eyes”.(2) The bespectacled Williams was affectionately known as Karu Wha (four eyes) by Māori all around New Zealand.

Henry Williams was in no way the feeble, dog-collared distortion that some today love to sneer at. The only thing “wet” about Williams was the sea-soaked and rain-drenched clothes in which he journeyed to the far corners of these islands. He was a giant of our history. Perhaps the greatest ever New Zealander. His life is an inspiration. Over the next few weeks I will highlight different aspects of that amazing life in a mini-series of blogs. Watch this space and be inspired!

Ewen McQueen
April 2020

(1) Buick, Lindsay T, New Zealand’s First War: Or the Rebellion of Hone Heke, Government Printer, Wellington, 1926, page 276

(2) Apirana T. Mahuika and Steven Oliver, Taumata-a-Kura, Piripi, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 1990

 

Posted in Cultural Renewal, NZ History, Spiritual Renewal, Treaty of Waitangi | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Abortion Bill assumes life away

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Ewen McQueen
March for Life Auckland 2020

March for Life Auckland 2020

The Abortion Legislation Bill heads to its final reading in the next two weeks. It will completely remove all protection for unborn children. The Bill simply assumes the unborn child has no humanity or person-hood. The only person whose interests it addresses is the mother.

The last time our country made changes to abortion law was in 1977. It was done after major public consultation and serious consideration of the ethical issues involved by a Royal Commission. The Commission also reviewed the medical and scientific evidence on the issue. It concluded that life should be understood as beginning at conception. The subsequent Act was framed on that basis. It attempted to balance the interests of both the mother and the unborn child.

The current legislation has undergone no such process. Those promoting the Bill have decided no such consideration is required on the matter. The profound question of when life begins is simply ignored. The humanity and life of children in their mother’s womb, is simply assumed away. Instead of reviewing new evidence and thinking deeply on the ethical issues involved, we are merely offered the vacuous slogan that “times have changed”.

The arrogance of this position is breathtaking. And it is an arrogance that has characterised everything about this Bill. It was rammed through the Select Committee process. Nearly all those who wanted to make oral submissions were ignored. It is now being pushed quickly through its second and final readings. To make changes in this way on such a profound matter, is an insult to our democracy and to all New Zealanders.

Our Prime Minister likes to be known as an advocate of kindness and tolerance. There is no kindness here for children in their mother’s womb. And there is no tolerance for those who would give them voice.

Ewen McQueen
March 2020

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Ministry for misinformation….?

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Ewen McQueen

A Soviet chill should have run up our collective spine today. Cabinet Minister Andrew Little announced a special unit is to be established at the Ministry of Justice. Its role – to ensure “misinformation” does not cloud next year’s referendums on legalising cannabis and euthanasia.

But who will decide what is “misinformation”? Given this Minister’s track record of labeling those who disagree with his socially liberal views as being ill-informed, one has to be concerned. The extreme abortion law reform his government is promoting will allow “terminating” unborn children up until birth. When this fact was correctly noted by opponents, Little simply wrote off their concerns as “absurd” and the sort of statement made by “fanatics”. It would appear that, for the Minister, “misinformation” means views which he may not like to hear.

In light of this what can we expect in the referendums next year? The Minister tells us he wants people to focus on the facts and the real issues rather than what he calls “emotional and irrational responses”. However by whose standards will his officials judge what is acceptable in the public debate? They are ultimately accountable to him. And when Little says misleading information will be “called out’ by his misinformation unit what does he mean?

The precedent being set here is indeed chilling. When politicians and government departments start deciding what will, and what will not be allowed in public debates, alarm bells should start ringing.

Ewen McQueen
October 2019

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Prime Minister fails Treaty 101

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Ewen McQueen

The Prime Minister was lost for words – and, watching her, so was I. Two days out from Waitangi Day celebrations Jacinda Ardern was asked at a media stand-up if she knew what Article One of the Treaty of Waitangi actually said. She had absolutely no idea.

For the record the Maori version of Article One translated into English by Prof Sir Hugh Kawharu is as follows:

The Chiefs of the Confederation and all the Chiefs who have not joined that Confederation give absolutely to the Queen of England forever the complete government over their land.

The Prime Minister leads a government whose very basis is founded on this Article of the Treaty. The pre-eminent law-making authority of the Crown over all New Zealanders is established right here. It is astounding that Ms Ardern draws a blank when asked about it.

This is the PM who has established a new Office of Maori Crown Relations to facilitate the “journey from grievance to partnership”. However one has to ask what sort of partnership it will be when our leaders are ignorant of the most basic and crucial facts about the Treaty? Article One is hardly a minor detail. James Shaw the co-leader of the Greens was asked the same question and was equally blank.

The context of the media question was the issue of Treaty education in New Zealand schools. The ignorance of our leaders appeared to reinforce that more education was definitely needed. However it depends what sort of “education” we are talking about.

There can be no doubt that the PM and her colleagues have been well schooled in the new paradigm of Treaty interpretation that has become fashionable over the last thirty years. She would hardly be able to turn up at Waitangi and “talk the talk” without being very well versed in what now passes for Treaty knowledge. Yet in spite of this she doesn’t know what the Treaty actually says.

The Prime Minister’s fail this week shows we clearly need more education on the Treaty – but it needs to be education well-grounded in facts, not fashion.

Ewen McQueen
February 2019

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March for Life good – Politics for Life better

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Ewen McQueen

I joined the March for Life in Wellington last Saturday and was thankful for the opportunity to affirm the sanctity of human life in New Zealand. However whilst the march was great – what this country urgently needs is politics for life.

It was wonderful to see the event strongly supported. Over 2,000 people took a positive and multi-cultural message to Parliament about the need to protect all kiwi children. They had come from all over the nation to be there. There were several great speeches including from Simon O’Connor and Alfred Ngaro. Both of these National MPs spoke well and with undoubted sincerity. The problem is the party they represent will never do anything about this issue. Not only this, it will do its best to make sure they too don’t rock the boat.

Having spent the last decade in the National Party I am well aware of the strong internal culture of risk avoidance on controversial moral issues. It’s not just that the party does not have a policy on abortion – there is a deep-seated expectation that anyone who does have a view should keep it entirely to themselves. MPs may be pro-life but they are there representing the party – so they better not do anything that is not “on-message” with where the party machine is going.

As for the Labour Party, abortion liberalisation is part of its platform. Hence as predicted pre-election, that’s exactly where it’s headed. If there is such a thing as a pro-life MP in that party they certainly won’t be raising their head any time soon. The Greens are of course eager to save the whole planet except for children in the womb. And NZ First whilst not necessarily so keen, will maintain confidence in the Government and keep this agenda rolling.

If we are to ever see a pro-life agenda in our Parliament there is only one solution – a political party which includes respect for life as an integral part of its wider platform. Such a party would not just resist the current moves to complete liberalisation. It would pro-actively seek to implement a programme of incremental steps to affirm life. Informed consent, ring-fenced funding voted on by Parliament, facilitating adoption, reviewing the grounds for abortion – these could all be steps on a journey to ultimate protection for our unborn children.

Of course some will say we need cultural change not just politics. That is true. However political leadership is always a huge part of achieving cultural change. That leadership won’t come from within New Zealand’s existing political parties. It could come from something new…

Ewen McQueen
December 2018

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Time to break Wellington’s code of silence

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Ewen McQueen

It is an unwritten rule among the media and political elites in Wellington that MPs’ private lives are off limit. So last week when there was a threat to expose the “bed-hopping” behaviour of many of our leaders there was a tone of near panic among the establishment. MPs and journalists alike much prefer the code of silence that keeps the rest of us in the dark.

We are told the reason for the secrecy is to protect MPs’ families. It is a reason that appears noble but which is merely self-serving. Of course no one wants innocent family members to suffer the embarrassment of public scandal. However MPs who are unfaithful to their spouses have already severely harmed their families. Maintaining silence on their actions simply allows such behaviour to continue and be perpetuated. Indeed the secrecy on these matters in Wellington facilitates the dishonesty which allows such sleaze to flourish. Establishing a culture of transparency and accountability, and expecting high personal integrity from our leaders would in the long run be far more effective at truly protecting MPs’ families.

The code of silence also insults the public of New Zealand who have a right to know the true character of the people they are being asked to vote for. Many of the  electors in Botany will no doubt have a very different view this week of the integrity and suitability of the MP they previously voted for. The Wellington establishment arrogantly assumes we have no need to know and such matters are not relevant to public life. This is a lie. Those who act dishonourably with those closest to them can hardly be trusted as noble servants of the public good.

None of which is to say that we should expect our leaders to be perfect. None of us are. Neither does it mean we should rule out candidates who know they have made mistakes in life. This is not about casting stones. It is about casting a vision for our people of what is truly noble, honourable and good. It is also about affirming those values which are critical to the wellbeing of our nation. If we want to rebuild strong family life in New Zealand it needs to start at the top.

Ewen McQueen
October 2018

Posted in Cultural Renewal, Honouring Marriage | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Hon Simon Bridges disappoints

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Ewen McQueen

Last Friday I attended Family First’s 2018 Forum on the Family. It was an excellent day well attended by around 300 people from all over New Zealand. There were great speakers on some key issues. However perhaps the most enlightening moment was hearing the Hon Simon Bridges interviewed. It was a major disappointment.

Bridges is a churchgoer with who ostensibly holds personally to Judeo-Christian values. However he clearly has little understanding of how important those values are to our culture and society. He has bought into the falsehood that such values are a purely private matter and not something he should bring into the public square. Hence when asked whether he considered the institution of marriage should be upheld in public policy he  answered that it was not the role of government to tell people how they should live. The idea that nearly all social policy is normative and projects a vision and ideal of how we should live seems lost on him.

The institution of marriage is foundational to the good society. It is the rejection of this institution (apart from efforts to redefine it) over the last half century which has caused untold suffering and harm to the welfare of our people. How has Simon Bridges not understood this? Has the delusion of politics being purely about the economy blinded him to the reality of what is happening to our children?

On other family values topics Bridges was equally uninformed, evasive and  disappointing. Issues were “complex”, New Zealand had “moved on” and according to Bridges no-one was even raising these matters on his regional roadshow. The last comment perhaps cut to the core of the issue. True leadership addresses the real issues that are key to the well being of our people. It doesn’t simply massage itself around the noise of public opinion.

We won’t see true leadership from the National Party under the Hon Simon Bridges. I’m glad I left. It is definitely time for something new.

Ewen McQueen
July 2018

Posted in Cultural Renewal, Honouring Marriage, Protecting Children, Respect for Life | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Its time for new things in NZ politics

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Ewen McQueen

It is time for new things in New Zealand politics. There is an urgent need for leadership on the key family values issues that are foundational to the wellbeing of our children and the welfare of the people of New Zealand. No such leadership currently exists in our Parliament. I have concluded that such leadership is not going to come via the National Party. Hence after ten years of membership I have moved on.

It was with some sadness that I bid farewell to the local branch of the Epsom electorate committee. The Eden-Epsom members have always been respectful and supportive however even they knew that the conclusion I had come to was unfortunately true. In the wider party there is no appetite for anything other than business-as-usual politics. You can talk about the economy and perhaps some social policies to try and pick up the pieces of our broken families – but never address the root causes. That is far too controversial and risks rocking the boat.

Of course there a number of Christians and social conservatives in the National caucus, apparently even its leader counted among them. However the party offers no mandate for their views. Its ethos is increasingly socially liberal in reflection of the wider culture in New Zealand. And yet it is this very culture which is the problem.

Our Parliament needs a voice which will speak to this. After ten years and four unsuccessful attempts at candidate selection, I know that voice will not be heard from National. It’s time for something new.

Ewen McQueen
June 2018

Posted in Cultural Renewal, Economic Transformation, Honouring Marriage, Protecting Children, Respect for Life, Spiritual Renewal, Treaty of Waitangi | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Children’s Commissioner promoting ideology not well-being

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Ewen McQueen

According to Children’s Commissioner, one of the keys for the Government’s proposed new strategy on child well-being is ensuring its serves all children – including those of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. Having a stable family life with a mum and dad doesn’t rate a mention

Such is the tenor of their new report “Building Blocks” which outlines our progress in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Not surprisingly the report also references “rights” 150 times in its 32 pages. Apparently a “rights based approach” is critical to ensuring the future well-being of our children. As well as affirming their sexual orientation and gender identity,  this includes consulting with them on how policy should be developed.

This nonsense would be laughable if it wasn’t so seriously and earnestly pursued by the liberal political/bureaucratic establishment in our country. It abandons our children to a sea of ideological confusion about who they are and what they really need, and then asks them to please advise how we should proceed! It is a complete abdication of the responsibility we have as adults to provide guidance and protection for our children.

There is no excuse for this. We know the key determinants in producing good and bad outcomes for our children. It is all well researched and documented – including in previous reports by the Children’s Commissioner. For instance at the 1997 Symposium on Family Violence the then Commissioner Laurie O’Reilly stated,

“As society I suggest we need to urgently re-assess our attitude to marriage. For some time, social scientists have promoted the concept that divorce and fatherlessness are the better and more feasible options for children when there is serious disharmony in their families. It seems to me that research now points quite strongly to the view that the average child does worse not better after separation…. We continue to legitimate family break-up at our peril.”

For the sake of our children Laurie O’Reilly had the courage to say some things that weren’t fashionable. The current Commissioner should do likewise, rather than simply being a mouthpiece for an ideology than has not been a blessing to our children, and never will be.

Ewen McQueen
April 2018

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The maunga and the Cross

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Ewen McQueen

So the Easter cross and Christmas star have gone from Auckland’s Mt Roskill. For nearly 60 years Aucklanders have enjoyed the beauty of these wonderful symbols of our Judeo-Christian heritage calling from the summit of one of the maunga in the heart of our city…. No more shall it be.

To continue reading the full article published this week in Stuff Nation click here.

Ewen McQueen
April 2018

Posted in Cultural Renewal, NZ History, Spiritual Renewal | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments