Massey University has become a hot-bed of activism. I am not referring to the students enrolled at the University, as one might expect, but to the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Maori.
In an article headed Article Four Activism Lindsay Mitchell exposes the activism within the governance of Massey University, emanating originally from the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Maori. (See the article https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/ as well.)
First, a snap-shot of the governance structure of the Massey University. According to the University’s website the Deputy Vice-Chancellors (DVCs) are the second most senior staff members of the University. One of the four DVCs is the Deputy Vice Chancellor Maori.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori is a key role that supports the university to honour te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi is one of New Zealand’s founding documents), and in all areas of te ao Māori. This role oversees our relationships with local mana whenua, iwi and hapū, and has close links with Māori staff and students.
The link to the te Tiriti o Waitangi above takes you to the NZ Government’s Archives site. That site includes copies of the Treaty which show, for the record, three Articles in the Treaty.
The lower link takes you to the a page that is dedicated to the Treaty and Massey University which itself links to pages which explain how the University and the Treaty are inseparably linked. It is an "education" in itself to see how almost every aspect of the University is entrenched in Treaty concepts.
The draft Policy that Lindsay Mitchell refers to can be found in the Agenda of 16 May 2023 for the Academic Board meeting, at page 20. The agenda item begins with some background information. Massey University’s current Treaty of Waitangi Policy was adopted in 2003 following Sir Mason Durie’s appointment as inaugural Assistance Vice-Chancellor Māori in 2002, and following the development of the University’s first Maori@Massey strategy to provide an overarching policy for the various Te Tiriti commitments the University had made to date.
Sir Mason Durie is an exceptional academic and a highly-regarded leader in public and Maori health, wellbeing and education. His eldest son, Meihana Durie is now the current Deputy Vice Chancellor Maori. It is therefore not surprising that there is quite a lengthy review of the legal situation relating to the two versions of the Treaty, what constitutes the principles of the Treaty, and whether the principles are binding on educational institutions. The well-argued review illustrates how in the last twenty years the Treaty claims of Maori have become much broader, how they are more deeply entrenched in New Zealand institutions, and how the expectations of Maori have grown.
The 6 page draft policy itself is on page 27.
Policy:
The University acknowledges the following Te Tiriti o Waitangi provisions and associated principles:
- From Article One: the provision of Kāwanatanga (Governance) and the principles of Good governance and Fiduciary duty.
- From Article Two: the provision of Tino Rangatiratanga (Independence) and the principles of Māori self-determination and Partnership.
- From Article Two: the provision of Taonga (Māori treasures) and the principles of Active Protection and Development.
- From Article Three: the provision of Ngā tikanga katoa rite tahi (All the rights) and the principles of Access, Participation, Options, Equity and Equal outcomes.
- From Article Four: the provision of Te ritenga Māori (Māori customs) and the principle of Honouring Māori cultural-spiritual values and practices.
The first three bullet points reflect the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal, which are claims which we have come to expect.
The fourth bullet point, relating to Article 3, shows how a simply worded provision granting all New Zealanders the equal rights of British subjects can be reinvented to include special rights for Maori including Access, Participation, Options, and Equity and Equal outcomes.
However, as Lindsay Mitchell points out, it is the last bullet point that casually sneaks in a claim that there is a fourth Treaty Article. Such a claim has been around for decades but cannot be substantiated. The Treaty of Waitangi has now been defined in the Schedule to various statutes such as the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 and the Local Government Act 2002. In all cases the English and Maori versions are shown and both have only three Articles. Parliament has spoken. End of story.
I use the expression "sneaks in" deliberately in the paragraph above. I referred earlier to the the link to the Treaty page which states quite clearly that the Treaty had only three articles. And nowhere in the extensive and sensible discussion on the Treaty in the Agenda item is the fourth Article mentioned. Also, those involved in this subterfuge are fully aware that including the fourth article was a "try-on". They knew that there was no justification for it but no doubt hoped that it would be slipped in unnoticed and be embedded in the final Policy. Opnce in place it would be very hard to remove. Unfortunately, that one piece of arrogance has destroyed any semblance of good faith in all of the other claims.
It is likely that the sleight of hand will have been noticed by some members of the Academic board. But who would dare, in the climate of fear that we find ourselves in, raise their head above the parapet, put up their hand, and risk their career?
Footnote
The draft policy was discussed at the Academic Board meeting on 16 May 2023. The Agenda item states on page 26 that it welcomes feedback. It also notes that:
Consultation closes on the 19 May 2023.
