I have to thank the Gravedodger for pointing to Cam’s place, where one of the commentators asked simply how the current elite allowed Brian McDonnell to post this. He has invented a new term Treatifarian: a person who looks at old documents and legal precedents to rewrite history backwards so that they gain an income and/or control of resources.

However, instead of being seen as an object of historical study or as a source document for assisting contemporary formulations of ethnic relations, the Treaty has instead in recent decades been raised to an altogether higher status by some Maori activists and Pakeha sympathisers whom I (only semi-facetiously) term as “Treatifarians”.

These people would like it to be seen virtually as a sacred text and adopted unmodified as the pre-eminent foundation document of our nation: a compendium of Magna Carta, the Provisions of Oxford, the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Treatifarians approach the Treaty as Holy Writ to be subjected to exegesis by a high priesthood.

The Treaty, they assert, can help “unwrite” subsequent history and reinstate Maori back to the level of equality of power enjoyed in 1840. This project creates a redemptive history in which the elevated Treaty performs an almost messianic function: To save the country’s present-day population from the wrongs of its colonial past. Such wrongs are inarguably very real, especially in the loss of land, and I am all for specific cases being addressed fairly. But the process must not resemble a cargo cult.

Now, Maori do very badly in New Zealand. Interestingly, they do well in Australia. In a similar manner, West Indian Blacks (Afro-Caribbeans) do very badly in England but do quite well in Canada. Some minorities that were actively oppressed and discriminated against, such as Chinese in New Zealand prior to 1920 or Indians in Fiji, do very well. Others, who have enshrined status (Maori or Malays in Malaysia) do poorly.

It seems that being told one is oppressed and that one will get justice eventually is bad for you. It does not really matter which group you belong to: if you believe every one is racist, sexist, or part of the 1%. Trying to get what you want by regulation, litigation, legislation or simply making people guilty hurts you, and is not sustainable (the group you are leeching on will eventually either die or crush you). Standing on your own two feet however, benefits you and your family.

In addition, unearned income is bad for you. Being dependent on the state generally leads to disintegration of the family and increased sickness, crime, unemployment — sometimes euphemistically called a decreased quality of live.  Being dependent on a family trust has also shortened lives — as these people also are shielded from the bad choices they make. As Cam says

The creation of treatifarians and the broracracy is now at a critical junction…we either continue forward creating a situation haves and have nots in Maoridom perpetrated the preference by government in dealing with formal iwi goupings or as the treaty grievance process winds up we find another way forward that brings all Maori into the fold of contributing citizens

They can blame someone else, and they can go to someone else to be rescued.  Many of us hold Trustafarans in contempt. We should hold those who preach Treatifarianism in greater contempt, for they close the door to independence to many, instead of opening the doors to opportunity.

For there is no pot of gold. There is no cargo cult. We cannot undo history. What we can do is refuse to accept the idea that we can get something for no effort.

Besides, living well and helping your enemy is better. For you, anyway.