Giant sideways leap: how can a "commissioner" possibly audit treaty violations if there is no agreement on what said treaty actually means? The phrase "cart before the horse comes to mind.
In addition to my performative remark, Waititi demonstrates a deep understanding of children's literature - to wit "Alice in Wonderland" which provides the Humpty Dumpty school of interpretation - 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less. ' 'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things. '
Rawiri Waititi, as well as demonstrating a deep understanding of the Classics, is a student of theatre. His form of politics (along with Ngarewa-Packer) is of the performative school.
This functionary is a version of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros where folk are turned into performing creatures representing ideological conformity. These compliant plebs are ‘opposed’ only by the single human who refuses to “capitulate”! Ref. David Seymour???
Actually this is even a little more topsy-turvy than the Mad Hatter's tea party. When Waititi was talking some time back that we should 'divorce' from our Monarch, he was advocating not only to void the 1840 treaty, he was also suggesting to scrap our current Constitution, in favour of direct rule by any capricious Queen of hearts that happens to walk in the door next.
However, the current structure, with only a few small adjustments, could be our best protection yet. The Letters Patent for our Governor-General already specifies that the Executive Ministers and everyone else must obey, aid and assist the Governor-General in the performance of his or her functions.
The best function of the Governor-General is to be the balancer of all partisan or sectoral demands, and to protect the best interests of everyone. If we can't have a head of state that cares for the body, then what is the meaning of the word Governor? We certainly can't use the word without any meaning at all? A governor that doesn't actually govern would surely be a non sequitur?
Clearly we do need a genuine non-partisan form of leadership, of a superior rank, that can adjudicate on all matters of contention, and both appoint and dismiss the ministers of executive council if they don't perform as required, all on a non-partisan basis,
This would only require a few amendments to the Constitution Act,
Such a commissioner would need super-human skills to navigate such choppy waters. Inevitably, with such seemingly totalitarian powers, the commissioner would be corrupted and our increasingly fragile society further damaged. Perhaps we need Plato's Philosopher-Rangitira?
Russell - if you invoke Plato then we navigate further into the serene waters of the Classics. Plato was a bit authoritarian for me. But the Classics do provide good models and Waititi's clear understanding of them is demonstrated by his proposal. But at the end of the day it is no more and no less than performative politics.
That may be but it is reported in 2 sources that Waititi said veto. Inconsistent statements are always a fertile ground for a lawyer’s cross-examination or for a journo’s (albeit amateur) comment.
I don’t know if indeed they know what they want. TPM is one of life’s great mysteries.
Well sorry, but more the fool you for reading anything that Simon Wilson wrote. ;-)
Unless of course you were there for the comical value only. The man is so deluded he is not even aware of his twisted bias.
And to ascribe to Rawiri, even sardonically, so much as an inkling of higher education is to be generous beyond measure. The only place that nutter may have studied is clown school.
All the above you and your learned subscribers already know, but isn't it rather outlandish and incredible that this chap (and his Irish-made-brown sidekick) actually gets to stand up in our house of representatives? Just embarrassing. Ridding NZ of the Maori seats is long overdue.
It was more ironical and satirical than serious. I had unfinished business with Waititi - see the Select Committee appearance - but a journo gets the last word and Utu is satisfied
Giant sideways leap: how can a "commissioner" possibly audit treaty violations if there is no agreement on what said treaty actually means? The phrase "cart before the horse comes to mind.
In addition to my performative remark, Waititi demonstrates a deep understanding of children's literature - to wit "Alice in Wonderland" which provides the Humpty Dumpty school of interpretation - 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less. ' 'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things. '
Rawiri Waititi, as well as demonstrating a deep understanding of the Classics, is a student of theatre. His form of politics (along with Ngarewa-Packer) is of the performative school.
Theatre of the Absurd and post modern more like!
This functionary is a version of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros where folk are turned into performing creatures representing ideological conformity. These compliant plebs are ‘opposed’ only by the single human who refuses to “capitulate”! Ref. David Seymour???
Actually this is even a little more topsy-turvy than the Mad Hatter's tea party. When Waititi was talking some time back that we should 'divorce' from our Monarch, he was advocating not only to void the 1840 treaty, he was also suggesting to scrap our current Constitution, in favour of direct rule by any capricious Queen of hearts that happens to walk in the door next.
However, the current structure, with only a few small adjustments, could be our best protection yet. The Letters Patent for our Governor-General already specifies that the Executive Ministers and everyone else must obey, aid and assist the Governor-General in the performance of his or her functions.
The best function of the Governor-General is to be the balancer of all partisan or sectoral demands, and to protect the best interests of everyone. If we can't have a head of state that cares for the body, then what is the meaning of the word Governor? We certainly can't use the word without any meaning at all? A governor that doesn't actually govern would surely be a non sequitur?
Clearly we do need a genuine non-partisan form of leadership, of a superior rank, that can adjudicate on all matters of contention, and both appoint and dismiss the ministers of executive council if they don't perform as required, all on a non-partisan basis,
This would only require a few amendments to the Constitution Act,
We must solicit the views of the current GG Cindy Kiro, for a nuanced view…sarcasm being the lowest form of wit and all that
But John
It was so much fun to write.
You should have seen the first draft.
Subtle as a blunt guillotine.
Cheers
Halfling
The subtlety, irony and sarcasm are definitely deeply dangerous literary devices....:-)
And perhaps even more adept at resonance than the echoing thunder rolls that rattle the corrugated iron walls of Westport houses,
Subtlety is a lost art. The sarcasm was mine. This William Daniel is an industrious and astute commentator
Sarcasm also featured
Quite. As I said to Just Boris I had unfinished business with Waititi
Such a commissioner would need super-human skills to navigate such choppy waters. Inevitably, with such seemingly totalitarian powers, the commissioner would be corrupted and our increasingly fragile society further damaged. Perhaps we need Plato's Philosopher-Rangitira?
Russell - if you invoke Plato then we navigate further into the serene waters of the Classics. Plato was a bit authoritarian for me. But the Classics do provide good models and Waititi's clear understanding of them is demonstrated by his proposal. But at the end of the day it is no more and no less than performative politics.
The short point is that there is no constitutional room for such an office.
Wait it I is free to believe a 180 year old treaty trumps common law but he is in the minority and will be treated with the distain it deserves.
The plan is for complete dictatorship., no less.
In case it's of any help, TPM's written policy doesn't use the word 'veto'.
https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/mana_motuhake
But it is hard to tell what exactly they want.
That may be but it is reported in 2 sources that Waititi said veto. Inconsistent statements are always a fertile ground for a lawyer’s cross-examination or for a journo’s (albeit amateur) comment.
I don’t know if indeed they know what they want. TPM is one of life’s great mysteries.
Well sorry, but more the fool you for reading anything that Simon Wilson wrote. ;-)
Unless of course you were there for the comical value only. The man is so deluded he is not even aware of his twisted bias.
And to ascribe to Rawiri, even sardonically, so much as an inkling of higher education is to be generous beyond measure. The only place that nutter may have studied is clown school.
All the above you and your learned subscribers already know, but isn't it rather outlandish and incredible that this chap (and his Irish-made-brown sidekick) actually gets to stand up in our house of representatives? Just embarrassing. Ridding NZ of the Maori seats is long overdue.
Nice read though, ta.
Thanks Boris
It was more ironical and satirical than serious. I had unfinished business with Waititi - see the Select Committee appearance - but a journo gets the last word and Utu is satisfied
Just a VERY BAD IDEA. Would be an oligarchy by Te Patsy Maori.