Mike Hosking: Do we need to have more logical discussions around the Treaty?

I am assuming you got as bored as I did over the break with the obsession—or mania, as Shane Jones quite rightly called it— when it came to ACT's idea of having a chat about the way we view and interpret the Treaty. 

The problem with David Seymour is he is too logical, especially for nutters and extremists. 

He wants to debate, to toss ideas about, to —dare we suggest— act like an adult and have a discussion. 

Hone Harawira, I noted, in one of the alarmist gatherings just referred to the others who don't agree with him as bastards. So, you can see what poor old David is up against. 

In an adult world, minds can be changed through logic, and detail, and fact, and reason. 

In Hone’s world... well, you are a bastard. 

The media, I noted, started the new year as they left off: unable to comprehend the fact we’ve changed govts and therefore outlooks, and fully lined up alongside the Kīngitanga and espoused the alarm, outrage, and upset. 

Seymour, if you think about it logically, is to be admired. All he is asking for is a discussion. 

Even National who aren't supporting his plan past select committee are taking that position I suspect not because they don’t agree with him, but because its messy politics. 

They have bigger fish to fry like the economy which has been sinking like a stone. A to be fair to them, I’d make it my number one job as well. 

But it is a fair-weather approach that National has specialised in for many years; pick the stuff you can get votes on. The moment it looks a bit gnarly? Walk away. 

Seymour to his credit, and the end-of-life choice work he did was an excellent example, picks issues and runs with them with no fear, no favour. 

It is a laudable approach driven by principle, something more of us should aspire to. 

There is no doubt the Treaty has been interpreted many a different way. 

The document is not prescriptive, nor that descriptive. It is open to a multitude of reactions. That’s why we have seen the Māori Party formed and reformed, any number of court cases enacted, and lord knows how much activism from the Waitangi Tribunal. 

Mostly its caused angst, if not upset. We are not a harmonious nation when it comes to race relations and ACT and Seymour want to talk about it. 

If only more were mature enough to give that a crack. 

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