By what authority do Maori groups impose restrictions on the rest of the community?
- Don Brash
- Jan 15, 2021
- 1 min read
The other day, I noticed a report in the media that Far North hapu have imposed a rahui on taking scallops from the Whangaroa Harbor. The ban on taking scallops extended across the whole harbour, and was expected to last three years.
Another Maori tribe imposed a similar ban on taking shell-fish in parts of the Coromandel last year.
After the serious loss of life caused by the eruption of White Island more than a year ago, yet another tribe placed a rahui on the Whakatane waterfront, and erected a temporary barrier stopping access to it.
A few years ago, a tribe placed a rahui on parts of the Waitakeres to help protect kauri trees from a disease.
When somebody loses their life in a river, or at a beach, it is common to see a tribe declare a rahui over the relevant body of water.
Does the rest of the community just abide by those restrictions out of goodwill? It seems bizarre to have a government department formally charged with conserving our natural resources while simultaneously allowing small tribes to invent their own rules and require the rest of the community to abide by them.
A similar situation occurs when Maori place road blocks into some areas.
If I tried to do that I am sure the Police would quickly stop me, or arrest me.
When was legislation passed to allow this?
Intimidation is what that is Roger, enabled by the authorities cos of what dave c says below. And so they get away with it. Rahui succeed in the same way. Eggshells, fraidy cats.
Good question Colonel Blimp! Here in Taupo the situation is that everyone just runs for cover. The Police told me that blocking public access is a 'political matter' and is not their concern. The Police complaints authority agreed. The local council have done much to make it easier for the people blocking access to continue and the local papers avoid any mention of what is happening or if they can't avoid that then fail to identify who is doing the blocking. When the occupiers swear and curse at people and threaten them it is glossed over. The Office of Treaty Settlements has no way of enforcing a TOW settlement. This is situation here and I doubt that it will stay…
They impose their authority because the NZ Police are too afraid to do anything! Here in Taupo we have a situation where a Maori group are blocking public access and yet not only will the local papers give scant coverage to the situation but no one else will do anything. When I confronted a council meeting with the situation one councillor (an ex-police officer) said in open meeting that if the police actually enforced the law then the group would call in all of the protesters from around the country and 'then where would we be?' It would he said be like Bastion Point. In other words he was saying that the rule of law is vastly diminished in this…
No problem, as long as a rahui isn't in conflict with mine or others' lawful freedom as NZ citizens. What isn't acceptable is government departments using their powers or public resources to enforce rahui.