Apology for Treaty remarks
"I am a business person and not a historian.''
Sir William Gallagher
Sir William Gallagher has apologised for his comments about the Treaty of Waitangi.
The Waikato business leader came under fire following comments he made at a business leaders’ dinner on Friday, claiming the Treaty of Waitangi is a farce.
‘‘I apologise for any offence taken and in particular for any inference that my views somehow represented an antiMa¯ ori sentiment as this is not my intention,’’ he said in an open letter on Thursday.
‘‘I am a business person and not a historian. Since then I have been doing further reading and acknowledge that I also need to seek more research and understanding on this topic from various viewpoints.’’
In an interview following his speech, Gallagher said the Treaty papers on display at Te Papa were fraudulent documents and the concept of the Treaty was a rort.
‘‘It was addressed to all New Zealanders, not native New Zealanders,’’ he said.
‘‘There is no doubt [Ma¯ ori] gave up sovereignty ... and now we have these bloody reparations going on.’’
He earlier said the Foreshore and Seabed Act was an example of the Government handing over the rights of all New Zealanders to Ma¯ ori.
‘‘There is no definition of Ma¯ ori ... You are Ma¯ ori if you feel you are Ma¯ ori,’’ he said.
The head of international security and animal management systems company the Gallagher Group, which employs 1000 staff worldwide, also took a stab at climate change. ‘‘[The climate] is changing, but it has nothing to do with the activities of man.’’
On Thursday, Gallagher said the company his father founded was committed to a better New Zealand, ‘‘for Ma¯ ori and non-Ma¯ ori alike’’.
‘‘Over nearly 80 years we have built our business internationally from 10 to more than 1100 people of diverse thinking, opinions, and ethnic backgrounds. And we foster a culture of valuing and respecting all people without judgment or prejudice.’’
Sir William joined Gallagher Group fresh out of university in 1962, and has worked his way up from the shop floor to become chairman and chief executive.
It is known internationally for fencing systems.
Gallagher Group is also a major sponsor of the Chiefs Super Rugby team.
He was made a member of the British Empire in 1987, a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999, and was knighted in 2010.
‘‘The Gallagher Group make personal commitments of several million dollars every year into community initiatives,’’ he said in the letter. ‘‘Ranging from support to low decile schools, educational scholarships, community assets, and our proud association with the Chiefs, plus many other sponsorship donations in Hamilton, New Zealand and around the world.’’