Clearing the Decks: Government replaces half of the Waitangi Tribunal
This Friday afternoon, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced an overhaul of the Waitangi Tribunal.
The government has effectively cleared house - appointing 8 new members - and combined with October’s appointment of former ACT leader Richard Prebble, that’s 9 appointees.
[I am not certain, but can only presume, Prebble went in first to assess the members and see who would be more amenable and less outspoken]
Only 5 existing members were kept.
That means they took out 10 existing members.
Those not renewed include Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Professor Tom Roa and Professor Rawinia Higgins.
Stuff reports those three professors are some of the country’s most highly regarded experts in mātauranga Maori.
Stuff’s Glenn McConnell also notes that “these changes are just the start for the Tribunal. The Government is promising to ‘refocus’ Waitangi Tribunal’s scope and purpose.”
Code: weaken and silence the formidable and intelligent Waita…