Issue 82 - editorial

Not all equal under the law

Tena ano tatou

We’re trying to resist – well almost – the temptation to crow about the fact that we have the first ever interview with King Tuheitia. In fact this issue is brimming with stories about the Kingitanga which has just celebrated its 150th birthday. It’s a remarkable achievement when you consider that because they didn’t want to sell their lands Waikato Tainui were invaded, their people killed, and laws passed to steal their land, and not all that long ago.

As well as talking to the new King we take a look at the resilience and recovery of the Waikato Tainui people.

And just to show that we still can’t afford to be complacent about the law being manipulated consider this.

In Mana 79, the Christmas issue with Tame Iti’s picture on the cover, we questioned whether or not the Pakeha news media outlets that published suppressed and inadmissible evidence gathered under the Suppression of Terrorism Act would be dealt with by the law. This week we got the answer – no. Instead they have had the ‘wet bus ticket’ treatment, a warning from the Police. In the wake of that, former newspaper editors and other commentators have pontificated that the police action was appropriate, given the ‘public’s right to know’. Rubbish. It shows once again that the authorities are prepared to apply the law unevenly when it suits their purposes.

The Police spent the best part of two years intruding in people’s private lives under the cover of the Suppression of Terrorism Act and at the end of it, all their evidence was found wanting. That should have been the end of it. But no – instead extravagant and alarmist juicy bits began appearing in certain elements of the news media. How could that be? Are these organisations so good that their investigative staff were able to penetrate police security? Of course not. The material was leaked. So, having failed to get their case to the law courts, someone decided instead to take it to the ‘mob’ in the street.

The invasion of Tuhoe territory in October last year, and the indignities handed out by police to perfectly innocent people, considerably soured Maori/police relations back then. And this decision to let off people who clearly did break the law – unlike the Ruatoki citizens going about their normal business – shows us that there is indeed a difference in how the law is meted out to the rich and powerful, and people like us.

Talking about us, if you’re reading this you’re in good company. Audited readership figures, just out, show that 136,000 people read Mana magazine. That’s 20 percent up on our readership at the same time last year, and way, way ahead of our competitors. It’s a pity more so-called mainstream advertisers don’t seem interested in telling you about their products, but we’d certainly like you to support those who do support us.

Kia ora