"How did we get to this point under a Labour Government?"

"How did we get to this point under a Labour Government? Social class politics evolved from the 1970s into today’s identity politics.... 
    "Up to the 1980s Te Tiriti settlements involved reparations for historical injustices. However, especially since the 1987 Lands case, the focus has shifted to one of a supposed ‘partnership’ between Māori and the Crown. The Māori activist voice has moved from socio-economic concerns to wider identarian, political and constitutional ambitions.
    "The scope of Te Tiriti issues has widened far beyond the intent of the signatories in 1840. 'Presentism' involves interpreting Te Tiriti as a modern rather than an 1840 document. For example, in 1840 ‘taonga’ meant tangible physical property such as a spear, a fishing net or a waka. It did not remotely mean, for example, language, intellectual and cultural ‘property,’ broadcasting spectrum or water.
    "The 2019 'He Puapua' document proposed radical constitutional and other changes in New Zealand. Amongst many other initiatives it signalled a future intent for Māori to impose levies on water (as well as on other resources). He Puapua has set the scene for many Labour Government policy initiatives. The 'Māori caucus' has been a driving force in support of this. Some MPs in this caucus may have forgotten their duty to act for all New Zealanders, not just a racially-defined subset. In future, some may be asked to 'check their privilege…'"

~ Peter Winsley, from his post 'The Water Services Entities Bill raises the question: What does Labour stand for?'