NZ Māori Party Calls for a Separate Parliament

As Northland tribe, Ngāpuhi, begins welcoming government members to the official meeting grounds (marae) at Waitangi for two days of discussions about New Zealand’s national day, the co-leader of The Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori), Rawiri Waititi, has called for the establishment of a separate Māori Parliament. “It is for us to govern ourselves,” he said. “What is the greatest gift we can give to our grandchildren? It is unity. Therefore we must govern ourselves. Let’s stand up our Māori Parliament.” The party’s other leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, also had a strong message for the government, which she described as a “three-headed taniwha [monster].”...