Hobson's Pledge

Hobson's Pledge is a lobby group in New Zealand that was formed in late September 2016 to oppose alleged "Māori favouritism". It is named after William Hobson, the first Governor-General of New Zealand and co-author of the Treaty of Waitangi.[1][2][3]

Hobson's Pledge logo.

Background

The group is led by former National Party and ACT leader Don Brash,[1] who delivered the controversial Orewa Speech in 2004 on the allegation of Māori privilege. Other key members include the legal academic David Round and the businessman Peter Shirtcliffe.[4] Hobson's Pledge advocates abolishing the allocated Māori seats in the New Zealand Parliament[5] and the Waitangi Tribunal,[6] eliminating affirmative action, and affirms that the Māori tribes ceded sovereignty under the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi.[7]

Hobson's Pledge has been criticised by several prominent New Zealand personalities including broadcaster Willie Jackson and former Labour Party leader Andrew Little.[1][8] Former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said of the campaign that it "failed in the old days and is going to fail now", referring to Brash's 2004 speech.[9] Then-Prime Minister John Key likened the ideas of the group to tactics used by Donald Trump in his presidential campaign.[10]

In May 2018, Hobson's Pledge sponsored citizens-initiated local body referendums opposing the establishment of Māori wards in Palmerston North, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Manawatu, and Kaikoura. Local councils in those districts had voted to establish Māori wards. In response, Hobson's Pledge sponsored various individuals including Don Esslemont who organised citizen-initiated petitions opposing the Māori wards.[11][12] This took advantage of the Local Electoral Act 2001 that allows a referendum to be held on Māori wards or constituencies if requested by a petition signed by 5% of the electors of a city, district, or council.[13][14]

As a result of these petitions, Māori wards were rejected in local referendums held in Palmerston North (68.8%), Western Bay of Plenty (78.2%), Whakatane (56.4%), Manawatu (77%), and Kaikoura (55%) on 19 May 2018. In all five local referendums, the turnout was about 40%.[15][16] The results were welcomed by Hobson's Pledge leader Don Brash and conservative broadcaster Mike Hosking.[17][18] However, the results were met with dismay by Whakatāne Mayor Tony Bonne, Labour MPs Willie Jackson and Tamati Coffey, former Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, Bay of Plenty resident and activist Toni Boynton, and left-wing advocacy group ActionStation national director Laura O'Connell Rapira.[19][20][16][21] ActionStation organised a petition calling on the Government to amend the Local Electoral Act's provisions on Māori wards.[22]

Notes and references
  1. Leslie, Demelza (29 September 2016). "Lobby group formed to oppose 'Māori favouritism'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. Satherley, Dan (30 September 2016). "Don Brash backs Winston Peters to end Maori 'separatism'". Newshub. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  3. "What we plan to do". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  4. "Meet the people behind Hobson's Pledge Trust". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. "Maori seats outdated". Hobson's Choice. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  6. "Tribunal must go". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. "Treaty texts". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  8. Kupenga, Talisa (29 September 2016). "Brash sings same Māori Privilege song – Willie Jackson". Māori Television News.
  9. "Twitter is ridiculing 'racist propaganda' Hobson's Pledge". The Wireless. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  10. "Key on Hobson's Pledge group: 'NZ is in a different place now'". The National Business Review. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  11. "Petitions to demand vote on separate Maori wards". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  12. Timutimu, Ripeka (30 April 2018). "Fight for Māori wards like Nazi Germany – Hobson's Pledge supporter". Māori Television. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  13. "Local Electoral Act 2001". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  14. "Voting and becoming a councillor". localcouncils.govt.nz. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  15. Hurihanganui, Te Aniwa (22 May 2018). "Rejection of Māori wards: 'This is wrong'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  16. Lee, Moana Makapelu (21 May 2018). "Four districts reject Maori wards". Māori Television. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  17. Butler, Michael. "Brash: Respect 'No' votes on Maori wards". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  18. Hosking, Mike (21 May 2018). "Mike Hosking: Good riddance to Māori ward nonsense". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  19. "Mayor 'gutted' after public votes against Māori wards". Radio New Zealand. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  20. "Hobson's Pledge using 'scare tactics' to block Māori Wards – Te Ururoa Flavell". Newshub. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  21. O'Connell Rapira, Laura (14 May 2018). "Why we need Māori wards". The Spinoff. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  22. "Change the discriminatory law that enabled the Māori wards referenda". ActionStation. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
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