The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Colonial ideas have kept NZ and Australia in a rut of policy failure. We need policy by Indigenous people, for the people

  • Written by Dominic O'Sullivan, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University
Colonial ideas have kept NZ and Australia in a rut of policy failure. We need policy by Indigenous people, for the people

Crisis is a word often used in politics and the media – the COVID crisis, the housing crisis, the cost of living crisis, and so on. The term usually refers to single events at odds with common ideas of what’s acceptable, fair or good.

But in New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere, Indigenous policy can be portrayed as a different kind of crisis altogether. Indeed, it can often just seem like one crisis after another, one policy failure after another: poor health, poor education, all kinds of poor statistics. A kind of permanent crisis.

Policy success, on the other hand, often doesn’t fit the crisis narrative: record low Māori unemployment[1], for instance, or the Māori economy being worth NZ$70 billion and forecast to grow 5% annually[2].

It may be that crisis makes better headlines. But we also need to ask why, and what the deeper implications might be for Indigenous peoples and policy in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Sharing the sovereign? The Australian Aboriginal flag and Australian national flag fly above Sydney harbour bridge. GettyImages

Colonialism as crisis

Last month I published a journal article[3] titled “The crisis of policy failure or the moral crisis of an idea: colonial politics in contemporary Australia and New Zealand”. In it I argue that when public services don’t work well for Indigenous peoples, the explanation does not just come down to isolated examples of policy failure.

The solution is not that governments simply get better at making policy. Instead, colonialism itself is what I call “the moral crisis of an idea”.

Read more: Indigenous recognition is more than a Voice to Government - it's a matter of political equality[4]

Earlier this year, former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said that Indigenous policy usually fails[5] because:

[Governments] perpetuated an ingrained way of thinking, passed down over two centuries and more, and it was the belief that we knew better than our Indigenous peoples. We don’t. We also thought we understood their problems better than they did. We don’t. They live them.

Morrison was describing a problem with the way the system ordinarily works. Yet a crisis is supposed to be something out of the ordinary, something that needs fixing. How, then, do we fix an idea?

Listening, reflection and justification

Colonialism presumes a moral hierarchy of human worth. It presumes Indigenous people shouldn’t have the same influence over public decision making as others (for example, ensuring a hospital or school works in their favour).

Addressing this problem is the point of the Māori Health Authority[6], established in New Zealand last month, and the Māori Education Strategy[7] released in 2020.

Read more: Racism, exclusion and tokenism: how Māori and Pacific science graduates are still marginalised at university[8]

The democratic theorist John Dryzek says there is a crisis of communication[9] in modern democracy. This is because people understate the importance of listening, reflection and justification in public decision making.

Colonialism, however, doesn’t require listening, reflection or justification. Its essential idea is that some people just aren’t as entitled as others to a meaningful say in public policy.

Entrenching listening, reflection and justification in the workings of democratic politics would support different and non-colonial aspirations. This is something I have called “sharing the sovereign” in my 2021 book[10] of the same name.

Sharing the sovereign

Sharing the sovereign means recognising many sites of decision-making authority. This is the point of the treaties being considered in Victoria, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It’s also the point of Te Tiriti o Waitangi[11]/the Treaty of Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Te Tiriti affirmed the Māori right to authority (rangatiratanga) over their own affairs. It also conferred on Māori the rights and privileges of British subjects, which continue to evolve as New Zealand citizenship. This was the right to influence the affairs of the new state – the right to be part of the new state in a meaningful way. Successive Waitangi Tribunal[12] reports show that crisis in Māori policy occurs when these two simple ideas of independent authority and meaningful participation in the state are absent. In Australia, the Victorian Treaty Assembly says[13]: “Treaty is a chance to address [the] future together as equals”. The idea of an Indigenous voice to parliament[14], which the new Australian government is supporting, is also a step towards sharing the sovereign among all citizens. In Aotearoa New Zealand, sharing the sovereign would mean the Crown is not, in the words of the first Maori judge of the Supreme Court[15], Justice Joe Williams, “Pakeha, English-speaking, and distinct from Māori”. Political equality then becomes possible because the sovereign is not an ethnically exclusive entity. It’s not an all-powerful authority over which Indigenous people should not expect any real influence. Read more: Can colonialism be reversed? The UN's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides some answers[16] Colonialism under permanent scrutiny Equality through inclusivity is fundamentally different from colonialism and its inherent moral crisis. Equality and inclusivity make different assumptions about what the state is and to whom it belongs. However, normalising public institutions to work for Indigenous peoples as well as they work for anyone else is still a contested idea. In 2019, for example, the New Zealand cabinet instructed public servants on the questions they should consider when advising ministers on Treaty/Tiriti policy. On one hand, cabinet affirmed Māori influence in the policy process. On the other, it didn’t consider the possibility that governments might sometimes stand aside entirely in the making of effective and fair public policy. So, cabinet didn’t require advisers to ask questions such as[17]: Why is the government presuming to make this decision? And why does the decision not belong (partly or entirely) to the sphere of tino rangatiratanga[18] (self-determination, sovereignty)? Asking these kinds of questions involves sharing the sovereign. They presume listening, reflection and justification to put colonialism, as the moral crisis of an idea, under permanent scrutiny. References^ record low Māori unemployment (www.stats.govt.nz)^ forecast to grow 5% annually (www.newshub.co.nz)^ journal article (www.tandfonline.com)^ Indigenous recognition is more than a Voice to Government - it's a matter of political equality (theconversation.com)^ Indigenous policy usually fails (nacchocommunique.com)^ Māori Health Authority (www.teakawhaiora.nz)^ Māori Education Strategy (www.education.govt.nz)^ Racism, exclusion and tokenism: how Māori and Pacific science graduates are still marginalised at university (theconversation.com)^ crisis of communication (www.cambridge.org)^ 2021 book (link.springer.com)^ Te Tiriti o Waitangi (www.tepapa.govt.nz)^ Waitangi Tribunal (waitangitribunal.govt.nz)^ Victorian Treaty Assembly says (www.tandfonline.com)^ Indigenous voice to parliament (www.theguardian.com)^ words of the first Maori judge of the Supreme Court (e-tangata.co.nz)^ Can colonialism be reversed? The UN's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides some answers (theconversation.com)^ questions such as (journals.sagepub.com)^ tino rangatiratanga (maoridictionary.co.nz)

Read more https://theconversation.com/colonial-ideas-have-kept-nz-and-australia-in-a-rut-of-policy-failure-we-need-policy-by-indigenous-people-for-the-people-188583

The Times Features

Why Regional Small Businesses in Bendigo Deserve Better Access to Finance in 2025

In the heart of regional Victoria, Bendigo has long stood as a beacon of innovation, resilience and community spirit. As we step further into 2025, the importance of nurturing sm...

Is It Time for a Deep Cleaning? Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Most people know they should visit the dentist for a regular check-up and cleaning every six months. But sometimes, a standard cleaning isn’t enough. When plaque and tartar build...

The Hidden Meaning Behind Popular Engagement Ring Cuts

When it comes to engagement rings, the cut of the diamond is not just about aesthetics. Each shape carries its own symbolism and significance, making it an important decision for...

Annual Health Exams in the Office: How They Can Reduce Sick Days and Healthcare Costs

Regular health check-ups, especially annual health exams in the office, can significantly impact the overall well-being of your workforce. A proactive approach to employee health...

Best Deals on Home Furniture Online

Key Highlights Discover the best deals on high-quality outdoor furniture online. Transform your outdoor space into a stylish and comfortable oasis. Explore a wide range of d...

Discover the Best Women's Jumpers for Every Season

Key Highlights Explore lightweight jumpers for spring and summer, ensuring breathability and ease. Wrap up warm with cozy wool jumpers for the chilly autumn and winter season...

Times Magazine

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

Using Countdown Timers in Email: Do They Really Increase Conversions?

In a world that's always on, where marketers are attempting to entice a subscriber and get them to convert on the same screen with one email, the power of urgency is sometimes the essential element needed. One of the most popular ways to create urg...

Types of Software Consultants

In today's technology-driven world, businesses often seek the expertise of software consultants to navigate complex software needs. There are several types of software consultants, including solution architects, project managers, and user experienc...

CWU Assistive Tech Hub is Changing Lives: Win a Free Rollator Walker This Easter!

🌟 Mobility. Independence. Community. All in One. This Easter, the CWU Assistive Tech Hub is pleased to support the Banyule community by giving away a rollator walker. The giveaway will take place during the Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt & Ma...

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

LayBy Shopping