New Zealand Deputy PM Faces Outcry Over 'Positive Colonisation' Remarks Amidst Māori Tensions

New Zealand - Ekhbary News Agency

New Zealand Deputy PM Faces Outcry Over 'Positive Colonisation' Remarks Amidst Māori Tensions

New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister, David Seymour, has found himself at the centre of a national controversy following his assertion that colonisation brought positive outcomes for the country's Indigenous Māori population. The contentious remarks, made just ahead of the annual Waitangi Day commemorations, sparked immediate and vocal protests, highlighting the deep-seated divisions that continue to plague discussions about New Zealand's colonial past and the future of Māori rights.

The backlash culminated on Friday during a dawn service at the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, a site of immense spiritual and political significance where New Zealand's founding document was signed in 1840. As Seymour rose to offer a prayer, dozens of attendees erupted in boos and shouts, visibly rejecting his controversial stance. The Waitangi Treaty, signed by representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs, was intended to establish a framework for governance but has since become a focal point for grievances over land dispossession, cultural suppression, and broken promises.

Seymour, who leads the right-wing ACT Party and identifies as a member of the Māori community, initially made his provocative comments on Thursday during a speech marking national Waitangi Day. He expressed his astonishment at what he termed the "myopic drone that colonisation and everything that's happened in our country was all bad." He further elaborated, as reported by local news site Stuff, that "very few things are completely bad," suggesting a nuanced, if highly contentious, view of colonial history. On Friday, he dismissed his hecklers as "a couple of muppets shouting in the dark," claiming a "silent majority" shared his sentiments.

The Deputy Prime Minister's remarks have exacerbated an already tense political climate. The current coalition government, of which Seymour is a key figure, has faced widespread criticism for policies perceived as an attempt to roll back the special rights and protections afforded to the nation's 900,000-strong Māori population. Māori communities historically suffered immense land loss during British colonisation and continue to experience disproportionately high rates of poverty, incarceration, and lower life expectancy compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts.

Indigenous leaders have responded with strong condemnation. On Thursday, Eru Kapa-Kingi, a prominent Māori figure, delivered a scathing address to parliamentarians, declaring that "this government has stabbed us in the front," while also criticising the previous Labour government for having "stabbed us in the back." These powerful words reflect a profound sense of betrayal and frustration among many Māori, who feel their concerns are being ignored or actively undermined by successive administrations.

Last year, proposed legislation aimed at reinterpreting the Treaty's principles and dismantling policies designed to address Indigenous inequalities sparked significant protests. The bill ultimately failed to pass after two of the three governing parties withheld their support, illustrating the internal divisions and public opposition to such measures. The ongoing debate over the Treaty's interpretation remains a highly sensitive issue, touching upon fundamental questions of sovereignty, justice, and national identity.

Amidst the escalating rhetoric, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a plea for national unity and called for constructive dialogue to address the challenges faced by the Māori community. Speaking on Friday, Luxon urged for the national debate on the legacy of British colonisation to remain civil, asserting that differences should be worked through via conversation, not violence. His social media post reiterated: "We don't settle our differences through violence. We do not turn on each other; we turn towards the conversation. We work through our differences."

The contentious debate in New Zealand mirrors similar struggles in other former colonies globally, including Australia, where the destructive legacy of colonialism and its links to contemporary Indigenous challenges are frequently subjects of intense public discourse. Seymour's comments have not only inflamed tensions domestically but have also brought New Zealand's ongoing reconciliation efforts into the international spotlight, underscoring the enduring complexity of coming to terms with a colonial past.

Ekhbary News Agency