The Desperate Cynicism of David Seymour

Where is David Seymour?

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For the last few years, ACT Leader David Seymour has trumpeted the need for a “conversation” and/or “debate” over the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi:

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He has expressed his point of view and his quest for a “conversation/debate” has met with resounding success. People have engaged and responded - with trenchant denunciation of Seymour’s views.

To put it mildly, the ACT leader has not been a happy chappy:

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On Friday morning, a group of Māori and community leaders called for National leader Christopher Luxon to condemn "racist" comments by a New Zealand First candidate and "race-baiting" policies by the ACT Party - both of are the Nats' prospective coalition partners.   

A short time after the open letter was published, Seymour fired back in a written press release - saying the group "appear to fight racism for purely political reasons".  

"They were silent about Te Pāti Māori's claims that Māori are genetically superior... Or when a Te Pāti Māori candidate said 'The Pākehā concept [of Matariki] is often about getting drunk and releasing fireworks at midnight'. Or when Rawiri Waititi said about European New Zealanders: their 'archaic species is becoming more extinct as a new Aotearoa is on the rise.'"

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Such is Seymour’s standard of “conversation/debate” - attacking critics and indulging in irrelevant “whataboutism”.

Not satisfied with lashing back at those who dare disagree with him, his constant calls for a “conversation/debate” on Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi seemed to lapse when he had ample opportunities; two open invitations; live microphones; a collective audience of over 10,000; and an eager media ready to report his every utterance.

He could have attended the Kīngitanga hui at the Tūrangawaewae Marae on 18 and 19 January to engage in “conversation/debate”.

He could have attended Rātana on 24 January to engage in “conversation/debate”.

Apparently, he was “too busy”:

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Not exactly conducive to “debate” or “conversation” when the proponent of the most contentious issue since the 1981 Springbok Tour decides not to front up to debate or engage in conversation?

Even some of his media statements are hidden from public view - accessible only by paying to gain access to his, *ahem*,“wisdom”:

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So there you have it. You can join in to participate in the “conversation” and/or “debate” - at $1.50 per week.

Ratana and Kīngi Tuheitia could have stumped up with a few bucks and David Seymour’s presence at their respective events would have been a done deal. (Much like Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi guaranteed Māori undisturbed possession of their lands, assets, self-governance, etc. Note heavy sarc.)

This is pure neo-liberal, market-driven user-pays. Want to engage in conversation/debate? Please provide credit card details here.

In all seriousness, when did it become permissible for a Member of Parliament to expect payment (even by a third party) from the public for information regarding their Parliamentary work? They are already paid by the taxpayer - why are we having to pay twice? (Taxpayers “Union”, please take note.)

Seymour is not totally absent from the public stage. He appears on forums which suit him and his on-point messaging.

While missing-in-action at Tūrangawaewae Marae and Rātana because it did not suit his personal agenda, he is willing and able to front on euro-centric media, such as his recent interview on TVNZ’s “Breakfast” show:

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But while Seymour shies away from debate and conversation, Māori are only too willing to engage:

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Controversy over a proposal to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi is expected to breathe new life into an annual hīkoi from Cape Rēinga to Waitangi.

The hīkoi, or march, has been held almost every year since 1984 though numbers had declined in recent years.

It is likely to get a boost this year thanks to moves by the new government to reduce the use of te reo in the public service, disband the Māori Health Authority, and introduce a Bill to clarify or redefine the existing Treaty principles - which National has said it will support no further than a first reading and select committee.

The hīkoi will start at dawn on 2 February at Te Rerenga Wairua, or Cape Rēinga, and end five days and 200km later on 6 February, in time for participants to join Waitangi Day commemorations.

Organiser Rueben Taipari said this year's theme - like that of the wider Treaty commemorations - was upholding Te Tiriti.

"It's bigger than a few policies. The Treaty is a living, breathing document, so it needs people to participate in its discussion and defence," he said.

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So what is David Seymour’s agenda? Why the full-blown, adrenaline-fuelled, merciless fixation on Māori, Te Reo, and Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi?

To put the question bluntly: what’s in it for him?

In October last year, Seymour spoke with Stuff media’s Tova O’Brien. He insisted that his focus on Māori and deliberate use of explosively-laden terms such as “ethno-state” came from a noble cause:

“I hope I’ve got across that this isn’t something that we woke up one day and thought, ‘We’ll get some votes’. This is very serious.”

Except - that is precisely what David Seymour is doing. Long after Election Night was over on 14 October last year, David Seymour has maintained a one-man election campaign.

For the ACT leader, the campaigning last year did not end - it was but a prelude.

Seymour understands that the stability of the current coalition government is only a veneer. Quietly simmering not far beneath the surface is an unresolved volatility as the leaders of ACT and NZ First struggle for pre-eminence as the Major Partner to National.

Both small parties are vying for votes from a demographic of disgruntled malcontents; fearful middle class; conspiracist-cultists; and relics from the 20th century who pine for a “traditional white New Zealand”, where Englishness was unchallenged; gender was always binary; and Māori knew their place.

Winston Peters also understood this simmering, if irrational, fear of ongoing societal changes as he issued his disturbingly odd, strident speeches against transgender people. For the vast majority of New Zealanders, we were way past caring about other peoples’ sexuality. (See my previous blogpost: 5 Reasons why Provocateur Parker's mission to Aotearoa was doomed to failure) But Peters was perceptive enough to realise that a tiny percentage of voters - either wary of the Unknown Bogeyperson In Our Toilets, or full-blown TERF chauvinists - could be swayed by such fear-mongering. Trump proved such politics would always sway a number of poorly-informed/fearful voters.

The “grumpy/low-information vote” is rich, fertile ground for any Party willing to trawl that swamp for extra votes and seats in Parliament. The Māori renaissance was another such area that could be mined for votes if the fires of fear could be suitably stoked.

Which Seymour and his Party undertook with relish. Given enough momentum, Seymour could begin to cannibalise away at National’s base.

Always at the back of mind for Seymour and the ACT Party, the next election could be three years away. Or three months. Like Muldoon calling the snap election in July 1984, or Peters aborting the National-NZ First Coalition in 1998, the current political landscape is as shaky as Aotearoa’s earthquake faultlines.

As Seymour ramps up his covert campaigning, Māori become the “collateral damage” in his desperate strategy for political relevance.

This will no doubt provoke Māori to fight back, resisting what many will see as a reactionary attack on the progress of the last half century. Some of that resistance will turn into civil disobedience. There may even be violence.

Which - for Seymour and his right-wing Party - is a cue for tougher calls for law and order.

It becomes a win-win situation: stoke Pākehā fears of a Māori “ethno-state”. Provoke a back-lash. Capitalise on social unrest (as Muldoon did in 1981, with the Springbok Tour protests and clashes). Watch ACT’s polling rise.

Thus calculate David Seymour and his party strategists.

The question is; will New Zealanders’ sense of fair mindedness capitulate to these manipulative dog-whistles of discontent?

Or will we, as a nation, respond with a big “Yeah, Nah!” to Mr Seymour?

Postscript:

Belatedly, the mainstream media seem to be waking up to Seymour’s game-playing on his “Clayton’s” Call for “conversation/debate” - only to be a no-show when invited to attend a forum.

On RNZ’s Morning Report Political panel, (26 January) Newsroom’s Jo Moir and RNZ’s Political Editor, Craig McCulloch commented wryly on Seymour’s no-show at Tūrangawaewae Marae and Rātana.

Jo Moir pointed out the obvious:

"I think the most fascinating bit of all of that is that where the debate has been place so far and that’s at Tūrangawaewae marae last Saturday and then at Rātana this week, guess who wasn't there? David Seymour. If you want to have a debate, turn up and debate."

Craig McCulloch chimed in:

"A missed opportunity, I think. He has never attended Rātana. In a typical year that wouldn't be a problem.But if there was ever a year to turn up I think it was this one. It was a chance for him to engage; to show some good faith. Given that, like you say,he was the who has called for a debate, called for the discussion, and it was a chance for him to do that before Waitangi where there are going to be much more robust scenes."

Nice to see msm commentators catching on to Seymour’s game-playing. Now let’s see who will pick up on Seymour’s agenda?

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Acknowledgement

Thanks to my partner for wading through and proofreading this epic!

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References

Newshub: David Seymour urges Kiwis to keep open minds about Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill

Newshub: David Seymour says ACT's Bill on Treaty of Waitangi will 'increase mana'

TVNZ: ACT Leader David Seymour doesn't believe the public is being misled over coalition support for his Treaty Principles Bill and said that "all bets are off" once it hits select committee stage.

E-Tangata: A kōrero with David Seymour

ACT Party: Speech - David Seymour, A Time For Truth

Stuff media: ACT leader David Seymour discusses Māori whakapapa, Te Tiriti referendum

NZ Parliament: Hansards - David Seymour

NZ Herald: Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership a ‘misinterpretation’, David Seymour believes

Newshub: Election 2023 - David Seymour hits back at open letter asking National to condemn ACT's 'race-baiting' policies

Stuff media: Seymour not attending Kīngitanga hui

TVNZ: Rātana Pā rep on Seymour's absence: 'Not going to be missed'

RNZ: David Seymour skipping Rātana 'absolute ignorance' - Opposition MPs

NZ Herald: Act leader David Seymour - Why a conversation on Te Tiriti o Waitangi is important for our nation (paywalled)

TVNZ: Breakfast - Seymour says Luxon is being 'open' over Treaty Principles Bill

RNZ: Hīkoi ki Waitangi to stand up for Te Tiriti - 'It needs people to participate in its discussion and defence'

The Post: Anatomy of a hot potato: David Seymour and his Treaty referendum policy

Wikipedia: 2023 New Zealand general election

Newshub: New Zealand First threatens to withhold funding from sporting bodies if they don't ban or have policies around transgender athletes

Wikipedia: 1984 New Zealand general election

Newsroom: A short history of NZ First falling out of coalition love

NZ Herald: The rugby tour that split us into two nations

RNZ: Morning Report - Political panel

Twitter/X: Foxy Grover - David Seymour - conversation

Additional

TVNZ: John Campbell - I saw peace, joy and 10,000 people uniting to say 'no'

RNZ: What stands in the way of the ACT Party plan for a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi

Newsroom: Why Act’s Treaty referendum is disrespectful and arrogant

Other Blogs

Politik: Ratana’s trumpet sounds a warning

Nick Rockel: Collaborators & Cowards

Nick Rockel: Tomorrow's Just An Excuse Away.

No Right Turn: "Committed"

The Pundit: The Prime Minister’s Biggest Challenge

The Standard: Which side are you on?

Werewolf: Gordon Campbell on Treaty principles, and Nikki Haley’s false dawn

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Acknowledgement: Jeff Bell

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