USA elections, and NZ Treaty discussions

by | 11 Nov 2024 | 0 comments

USA elections, and NZ Treaty discussions

by | 11 Nov 2024 | 0 comments

USA elections, in a wider perspective

The upside of democracy is that every few years the people get to choose their own leaders. Some people usually vote the same, some don’t. But governmental change happens whenever a majority become disgruntled with how things are, and vote for someone else in the hope that matters may improve under new leadership. With every election result, however, a very considerable minority are disappointed.

Every human leader has their own strengths and weaknesses, faults and blind spots. Rhetoric does not always reflect reality.

Only time will tell what effects the second Trump presidency may have on the world economy, on international security, peace and war, the health of the environment, and on various contested issues such as religious freedom, respect for all cultures, transgenderism, and the rights of the unborn.

God alone understands the big picture in this world. Our role as believers is to pray for our troubled world, and for those in authority, and to live our own lives with love for God and others, faithful in Christ, and renewed by the Holy Spirit.

In New Zealand, the Treaty Principles debate

In New Zealand, as part of the coalition agreement, the Act Party’s ‘Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill’ has now been introduced. The Bill will lead to much-heated debate. The Bill is not supported by any other party, so it will not proceed into law.

Whatever meanings we may discern in Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, those meanings should be firmly anchored in what the Treaty was historically intended to achieve, and what its articles say.

The Treaty arose out of Christian humanitarian concern to protect Māori from colonial injustice, through Māori agreeing to the British Crown taking authority within New Zealand (Article 1); through the Crown fully respecting Māori rights, chiefly authority, and land ownership (Article 2); and through the Crown guaranteeing Māori all the rights and privileges of British citizenship (Article 3). The Treaty was a civil document, but has nevertheless been regarded by many Māori as akin to a sacred covenant. It needs to be honoured.

We can pray that the discussions may result in a greater understanding and consensus in these matters, and that Christians may contribute well into the discussion.

Dr Stuart Lange
Author: Dr Stuart Lange

Dr Stuart Lange is the National Director of the NZCN and is a Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College, where he was formerly Vice Principal. Stuart wrote and presented the historical DVD documentary Te Rongopai: 200 years of the Gospel in New Zealand, 1814-2014.

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