Te toka tu moana?

Submitted by Savage on 31 August, 2011 - 21:13

Sir Jerry Mataparae paid tribute in his speech today to the people who preceded him in the role of Governor-General and looked to their example to guide him. " All brought their unique qualities, character, energy, and mana to the role. They have been steadfast like Te toka tu moana - The rock standing in the ocean. 


It is common to describe a person of great standing and leadership as 'Te toka tu moana'. Doing so for any Governor General characterises that person as an anchor for the ship of state and while I do not disagree with his tribute or his use of the metaphor it seems clear to me that the Governor-General's limited constitutional powers means the office is far from being a solid constitutional rock for New Zealand. Government House it is more like a sand dune in the tide. Ready to sink beneath the waves in the event of any great constitutional storm.


A more fitting description for the office of Governor-General would be Te taipū tu moana , The sand dune standing in the ocean'.  Sir Jerry Mataparae might be a rock but constitutionally he is standing on very shaky ground.

Comments

LJ Holden's picture
Submitted by LJ Holden on 1 September, 2011 - 08:42.

No Right Turn makes this point:

Mateparae was not elected, either by us, or by our elected representatives. Instead, he was selected by one man, the Prime Minister, shoulder-tapped like a business crony being gifted a board position. Constitutionally, his powers derive not from us, the people, but from a foreign monarch, a woman whose sole claim to power is who her parents were.

Chair, Republican Movement - contact me online or call on +64 27 699 1350

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