Hobson's Pledge

Hobson's Pledge is a lobby group in New Zealand that was formed in late September 2016 to oppose special rights for Māori. The group describes itself as committed to eliminating all traces of racial preference from New Zealand's governance.[1] It is named after William Hobson, the first Governor-General of New Zealand and co-author of the Treaty of Waitangi.[2][3]

Hobson's Pledge logo.

The group has been accused of racism for its calls to abolish "Māori favouritism".[4][5] The group itself has fervently denied such allegations.[6]

Background

The group is led by former National Party and ACT leader Don Brash, who delivered the controversial Orewa Speech in 2004 on race relations in New Zealand. Other key members include Casey Costello who is of Māori and Ngāpuhi heritage.[7] Hobson's Pledge advocates abolishing the allocated Māori seats in the New Zealand Parliament[8] and the Waitangi Tribunal,[9] eliminating race-based affirmative action, and cites the Treaty of Waitangi as evidence that Māori chiefs ceded sovereignty in 1840.[10]

When launched, Hobson's Pledge faced criticism from politicians and reporters, including broadcaster Willie Jackson, former Labour Party leader Andrew Little,[11] and then-Prime Minister John Key.[12]

In early 2018, Hobson's Pledge supported citizens-initiated local body referenda opposing the establishment of Māori wards and constituencies in Palmerston North, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Manawatu, and Kaikoura. Local councils in those districts had voted to establish Māori wards. At that time, the Local Electoral Act 2001 allowed referenda 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]

Subsequently, Māori wards were rejected in local referenda held in Palmerston North (68.8%), Western Bay of Plenty (78.2%), Whakatane (56.4%), Manawatu (77%), and Kaikoura (80%) on 19 May 2018. The turnout was about 40%.[15][16] The results were welcomed by some including Hobson's Pledge leader Don Brash and conservative broadcaster Mike Hosking.[17][18] However, others including Whakatāne Mayor Tony Bonne, Labour MPs Willie Jackson and Tamati Coffey, as well as former Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell[19][20][16][21] were dismayed. Left-wing lobby group ActionStation organised a petition calling on the Government to amend the Local Electoral Act's provisions on Māori wards.[22]

In 2020, nine other councils proposed Māori wards. Hobson’s Pledge supported citizens in Tauranga, Whangarei, Kaipara, Northland (regional council), Gisborne, Taupo, Ruapehu, New Plymouth and South Taranaki who organised campaigns to collect signatures. Three days after the Tauranga campaign announced sufficient signatures had been collected to trigger a vote, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced that the Local Electoral Act 2001 would be amended to outlaw citizen-referenda on Maori wards. [23] That rendered all petitions null and void. More than 25,000 signatures had been collected.[24] Five areas had petitions validated.

Notes and references
  1. "About us". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  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. "Twitter is ridiculing 'racist propaganda' Hobson's Pledge". RNZ. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. "Hobson's Pledge flyers opposing Māori wards 'undermining democracy'". NZ Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. "Hobson's Pledge receives apology: 'We are not racist and we are not anti-Māori'". RNZ. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  7. "Meet the people behind Hobson's Pledge Trust". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  8. "Maori seats outdated". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  9. "Tribunal must go". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  10. "Treaty texts". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  11. Kupenga, Talisa (29 September 2016). "Brash sings same Māori Privilege song – Willie Jackson". Māori Television News.
  12. "Key on Hobson's Pledge group: 'NZ is in a different place now'". The National Business Review. Retrieved 10 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.
  23. "Government supports councils to increase Maori representation". New Zealand Government.
  24. "Segregated voting looms for 20 councils". Hobson's Pledge.
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