The ‘Stop Co-Governance’ tour visit to Wānaka hasn’t happened yet (it’s on tomorrow - Thursday June 29), but it has already raised issues not just about co-governance, but about the rights and responsibilities of freedom of speech.

‘Stop Co-Governance’ organiser Julian Batchelor is touring the country to broadcast his opposition to co-governance, which he says is “code for a coup”. 

“It’s a take-over of our country. Right now, it feels like we are living in an occupied country. Not unlike how Ukrainians would feel about the Russian invasion,” he says.

Media reports suggest the ‘Stop Co-Governance Tour’ has attracted anti-Māori sentiment; in fact Batchelor tells his audience this country is at war against a range of enemies, including Māori “tribal elites”, the media, politicians, government departments, educators, lawyers, and churches.

He says co-governance is about the “installation of apartheid and separatism” with an end game of “tribal rule”.

A former Christian evangelist, Batchelor uses the rhetorical tools of his trade to convince his audience there are only two sides to be taken in a literal war which could make New Zealand “the Zimbabwe of the South Pacific”.

Wānaka’s response to the tour

Wānaka’s The Venue owner David Reid told the Wānaka App he and his wife Sue accepted a lease for one of Batchelor’s meetings, “as is our right”. 

“We are not hosting the event, just leasing the building. This to some has been a red rag to a bull.”

He said they have been bombarded with emails and “accused of racism and worse”.

“To be clear, I do not condone racism in any form,” he said. “But [this] is free speech. That is our democracy - we have the right to speak and be heard no matter whether from these keyboard warriors or from anyone else.”

Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board chair Simon Telfer approached the Reids to find out whether or not they were aware of Batchelor’s message. 

“As a community leader I have a responsibility for building an inclusive and welcoming town, accepting of people from all backgrounds,” Simon told the Wānaka App. 

“We should be seeking to understand and build relationships with mana whenua, avoiding division. These partnerships enrich our community and give us the best chance of protecting our lakes, rivers and land for the generations who will follow us.”

David has since laid a formal complaint with Queenstown Lakes District Council mayor Glyn Lewers, saying Simon should not have leveraged his role on the community board to “strong arm” the couple.

“He asked me about why I would allow it to go ahead,” David said. “I told him it is irrelevant whether or not I believed in what Julian’s beliefs are but I strongly believe he has the right to say it. It is a very slippery slope if we start telling people what they can say and think.”

Mayor Glyn Lewers did not comment on the complaint, but told the Wānaka App he doesn’t agree with the aims of the group. He said he acknowledges their right to express their views as long as they do so lawfully.

What is co-governance?

Co-governance, which has been in practice in New Zealand for more than a decade, is where the Treaty of Waitangi partners, the Crown and Māori, have equal seats around the decision-making table.

It means partnership in management, not handing over ownership. Examples include partnerships between iwi and local and central government to manage natural resources; and Māori wards in local councils (which we do not have in Queenstown Lakes).

Supporters say co-governance is an important part of the Crown meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, while opponents say it is divisive and undemocratic.

University of Auckland indigenous peoples' rights scholar Dr Claire Charters Scholar has said the concept has not been well explained by central government; it has lacked context and created fear about what the government was trying to achieve. 

She suggested terms such as “equality, self determination, and protecting indigenous people’s rights” would be more appropriate than “co-governance”. 

Find out more here: What co-governance actually is

Private meetings

Batchelor told the Central App this week the meetings he is holding around the country are private events and who can enter is “a discernment issue”.

Asked about reports he had denied entry to Te Tauihi iwi members in Blenheim, Bachelor said the meetings "have a guest list".

"Anybody can get on the guest list but they have to pass the criteria," he said.

Those criteria were mainly that they were going to be respectful, he said.

"They are private meetings. We were advised by police to make the meetings private, and then if somebody gets into the meeting and isn't respectful, we can eject them for trespassing."

The Wānaka event will take place at The Venue on Thursday evening.