False flag debate

John Key's legacy punt, his small n nationalism distraction, is the flag referendum.  It could have been the anthem, the monarchy, whatever.  It just so happens the PM reckons there's good odds on him being able to lead and push for a flag change - it has a high success probability.  It is the safe thing to do.  He doesn't like to lose and he clearly thinks he is on to a winner.

By focusing debate on the symbols of national identity - the cosmetics of colonialism - rather than the core of the question, the Treaty and sovereignty, Key represents the survival hopes of the Wellington ruling elite and Pakeha aspirations generally.   Their concept of national progress is a settler mentality that can only envisage a simple roll-over of the colonial institutions we have now into a republican system that will guarantee the status quo continues.  No messy questions about the Maoris wanting their land back, their language, their customs, their order.  That's all been magically solved with a token sum in a cheque from the Treaty Negotiations Minister and despite getting only a tiny fraction of land or compensation it is all supposedly a durable settlement.  Ignorance mistakes a tarnish for a glow.

Only an occupying power as spectacularly smug as the NZ entity could fail to draw any link between the use by the NZ government of the Union Flag of the United Kingdom (which will be the centre of a raging debate for three years) and the use by NZ of all the other British stuff.  British stuff including the Treaty signed saying that Maori are British and they will protect them... and their lands, estates, forests and fisheries etc. etc.

John Key is picking and choosing which aspects of Britain to withdraw from like he was Dad deciding which decorations go on the Xmas tree and where - when the tree is stolen from his Maori neighbour along with the land it stood on.

John Key referred to New Zealand in practically every sentence of his flag speech, but didn't refer to Aotearoa.  Not even once.  David Shearer in his defining speech once elected leader wanted a 'new New Zealand' - not Aotearoa.  This is a very strong indication that Maori have a second class status in the future as well according to the Pakeha rulers.   Maori have no distinct interest or rights to the national debate that need acknowledging, they are assimilated into the Pakeha mass - this is how the politicians and Pakeha civil society speak when they exclude elements of the Maori identity from their concept of the nation.

Any new and improved nation is supposed to involve Asia and economic wealth and multiculturalism and continued, unsustainable, waves of immigrants but in the minds of most Pakeha it will not involve anything more than a cursory token, a fig leaf - or fern frond - of Maori indigeniety to disguise the continuation of the colonial enterprise.