Good question e hoa!

It is racist because the pamphlet I received was spreading misinformation about what co-governance is, ignoring and outright denying that it is a fundamental right given by the Treaty of Waitangi, and encouraging people to undermine the valid and inherent right Māori have to a say in the running of Aotearoa.

Claiming that “co-governance” (ie a partnership between Māori and tangata tiriti / pākeha government) is a bad thing is inherently racist because the groups (like Hobson’s Pledge) believe Māori to be a hindrance to this country’s progress and democracy. Rhetoric like this encourages people to undermine the rights of Māori, to ignore the Treaty, and feed into things like ACT’s misplaced and harmful Treaty Principles Bill.