DOCUMENT:aotearoa.txt U N I T E D N A T I O N S COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS SUB-COMMISSION ON PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES WORKING GROUP ON INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS SEVENTH SESSION 31 July - 4 August 1989 Madame Chair: Arohanui, Erihapeti me to hoa tane, Paki te kanohi me te reo o te Kawana, Hare, Distinguished Members of the Working Group, Indigenous Representatives, Non Governmental Representatives, Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund, Tena Koutou Katoa. My name is Nganeko Kaihau Minhinnick, I am a Maori and I am indigenous to Aotearoa, known to most States as New Zealand, and I am here to represent the Ngati Te Ata Tribe who offers tributes to the diligence of the indigenous peoples who strived over the years to bring about this forum so that the rights of the indigenous peoples of the world may be rightly included in the framework of Human Rights Instruments. In the review of developments pertaining to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, it is pertinent to make the following statement: The Ngati Te Ata tribe cannot accept any of the policies of the New Zealand Government as a dignified recognition of the MANA MAORI of the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa. In 1988 the Ngati Te Ata tribe stated its undeniable rights to self determination and self government in its pursuit for recognition as a sovereign people. The NZ Government has now cast aside the Treaty of Waitangi and replaced it with a set of principles; The NZ Government did not consult with the Maori Tribal peoples in respect to ILO Convention 107; The NZ Government has as Asset Selling programme that ignores the question of ownership, custodialship, guardianship and protection of the environment. Yet, Madame Chair, you have said on more than one occasion that it is your opinion, "That the indigenous people were the first peoples in the world who have referred to the protection of their environment. It is not only important to protect the environment for their own lives, it is important for all of us, of all human beings of the globe." You have also said, "We are learning from indigenous peoples, and, therefore, we have to respect their traditions, customs and religions. I do not think we have to teach indigenous peoples anything, but just to learn." I strongly believe that the indigenous peoples are the natural scientists and have much to offer in all matters concerning natural resources. The environment and Draft P were reasons that Ngati Te Ata extended an invitation to the Working Group to hold its 8th Session in Aotearoa. However, rules of the United Nations or rather United Government States dictate that only the NZ Government can issue such an invitation. That the New Zealand Government expresses it inability to do so is its failure to recognize the full potential and worth of the valuable contribution that indigenous peoples can make towards saving the environment and therefore mankind. Ngati Te Ata refuses to become entrenched in assimilated government promoted devolution programmes with its titles of "empowering our people" and its guise of sharing political and economic power. On the eve of the Treaty of Waitangi reaching its 150th year the NZ Government has mistakenly introduced a set of principles which undermines of Treaty once and for all. The 30 million dollar grant towards celebrations of a Treaty that has not been honoured, its free marketing asset sales programme, its blatant resistance to halting the desecration and mining transgressions of our sacred ancestral burial grounds at Maioro, has compelled Ngati Te Ata to embark on an environmental and people survival programme by declaring its sovereignty last weekend. 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