Gareth Morgan lays down challenge on Treaty and Maori seats

Gareth Morgan plans to challenge Pakeha over their failures to live up to the Treaty. Picture / John Borren

Philanthropist and economist Gareth Morgan has set out two challenges to the Government at his first visit to Ratana Pa.

The first was not to flinch from ensuring Pakeha were told of the relationship the Treaty of Waitangi set out and the duty of care that would continue after the settlement process was complete.

The second was to push through constitutional reforms to ensure true co-governance.
He described the current political structure as offering Maori only "trinkets of political office", which fell short of shared governance.

He also delivered his own pledge: "My undertaking is to do all I can to persuade my fellow New Zealanders that we need to honour that commitment."

Mr Morgan was welcomed on to Ratana in the lead-up to weekend celebrations for the anniversary of the birth date of prophet Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.

He told those gathered he had been researching his book on the Treaty - Are We There Yet? - for the past five years. "The title is a reference to the strong perception by Pakeha that once the claims are done we can get back to normal - whatever normal is."

He said the reality was that many challenges lay ahead. Those included addressing social and economic disadvantages.

Each time he had written about the topic, such as in his recent four-part series in the Herald, he had received abusive emails. "That tells me we have a high level of ignorance about the document. We have a major job ahead of us to convince Pakeha that the job is not over."

Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe, who was among the morehu (Ratana followers) when Mr Morgan spoke, agreed there was a lack of Treaty knowledge but disagreed on the issue of Maori seats, saying they should stay as long as Maori wanted them.

Mr Rurawhe, a descendant of the prophet, said: "I think he raised some good issues. I think overall he presented quite well, so good on him for coming here. My own experience is that what he's saying is correct. There's not a lot of understanding and knowledge around the Treaty amongst most New Zealanders. They see it in a particular way. So I suppose one good thing is if it's promoting good conversation around the Treaty."

After his address, Mr Morgan defended his decision not to raise the Maori seats in his speech, saying he was not there to lecture Maori. "That's the last thing I want to do. But I feel quite within my rights to talk to Pakeha about it."

He said his main message had been for the Government to ensure the Treaty was at the centre of constitutional debate. "We are heading towards a written Constitution but all we've done with the Treaty so far is make partial amends - a few cents in the dollar - for some of the most gross violations of it. We're paying it lip service. Most Pakeha I talk to think that once we've written the last cheque here it's all over. Back to the races."

The Ratana morehu will welcome politicians including new Labour leader Andrew Little and Green Party and Maori Party MPS tomorrow.

Prime Minister John Key is overseas so it will be the first year he has not attended - National's delegation will be led by deputy Prime Minister Bill English.