Iwi Autonomous Districts
A topic that has been debated in New Zealand for over two hundred years is
tino rangatiratanga, usually translated as Maori sovereignty. Exactly what this
means is controversial, especially since the translation is approximate - pre-contact
Maori did not have a concept of sovereignty as understood by Europeans. However some
degree of Maori self rule was a principal of the treaty of Waitangi, the core document which
established British rule over New Zealand. Unfortunately the exact extent of this
self rule is ambiguous, and differs in the English and Maori translations of the treaty.
By 2100 a number of recognised iwi (tribes) have been
given some independent authority. Such iwi districts have their own police and courts
with local authority, and can apply to extradite criminals from throughout New Zealand. They
have the right to control the natural resources on their land, and can
charge taxes of residents. And they have the
right to ask non-iwi individuals to leave, excluding representatives of the New Zealand
government on official buisness. This last right is the source of the most controversy,
despite the fact that it is rarely exercised.
The iwi districts are controversial, both with Europeans and Maori. Most Europeans
disagree with the districts, and some are quite fanatical about it - no deliberate
violence or terrorism has been committed, but a few protests have ended in riots. Even
many Maori object to the scheme, particularly urban Maori (who belong to no iwi, and
will thus not benefit) and those iwi who are not recognised. Even some of the
autonomous iwi are not satisfied - a few diehards want nothing less than full
Maori control of the entire country.
Succession Movements
It is generally believed that the iwi districts are the first step towards city-state
status, and thus the breakup of the country. In addition to the Maori disputes there are
two other successionist movements of significance; South Island succesion, and
Auckland succession. The South Island and Auckland each have roughly a third of the
New Zealand population, so these movements are essentially suggesting splitting the
country into three. Each has a small group of non-violent supporters, but
neither looks likely to succeed in the short term.