Removal of newspaper Treaty insert sparks censorship claim
A community newspaper and the Hutt City Council are at the centre of a censorship controversy over the views of late Māori politician Sir Āpirana Turupa Ngata.
In February, The Post and a number of its community papers, including the Hutt News, included an eight-page advertorial insert from right-leaning think tank, the New Zealand Centre for Political Research.
The advertisement was a reproduction of the English translation of Ngata’s 1922 explanation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It is widely quoted by those who believe that by signing the 1840 document, Māori ceded authority and sovereignty to the Crown.
Copies of the Hutt News are held by libraries in Lower Hutt and it appears a staff member decided to remove the inserts, arguing misinformation.
Council’s chief executive Jo Miller, who was on sick leave, has taken responsibility for what happened. A staff member acted in good faith and held the genuine view the insert was misinformation, she said.
Miller supplied emails to The Post, in response to questions from Frank Newman from the New Zealand Centre For Political Research, questioning whether the council had censored Ngata’s views.
In response Miller confirmed a “limited number of inserts” had been removed from the Hutt News copies held by the council.
“We generally do not support the dissemination of information of this nature in our official buildings. The insert produced by your organisation spread a very particular political viewpoint and without counterbalance, was viewed as spreading misinformation.”
The mayor and councillors were not told of the decision in advance. “I stand by my staff regarding this operational matter.”
Civil Liberties chairperson Thomas Beagle said councils should not get involved in censorship, but Miller had done the right thing by taking responsibility.
Mayor Campbell Barry said it was an operational matter and he agreed the chief executive had acted responsibly. He was, however, disappointed at the amount of abuse resulting from the incident.
Ngata (1874–1950) was born at Te Araroa on the East Coast in 1874. Of Ngāti Porou descent, he graduated from Te Aute College, and completed an MA and a law degree.
He was the first Māori to complete a degree at a New Zealand university. He returned to the East Coast and became involved in improving Māori communities and living conditions. In 1905, he was elected to Parliament, representing Eastern Māori and retained the seat until 1943. He was considered a superb debater and a hard worker.
During World War 1 he helped recruit Māori and was later heavily involved in land reforms which helped Māori develop their land.
Knighted in 1927, he was motivated by a desire to revive traditional Māori culture. Ngata can today be found on our $50 note.