Post by Kiwi Frontline on Oct 3, 2016 7:39:49 GMT 12
The New Zealand Herald 3/10/16
RACE-BASED SEATS
Audrey Young’s column on Hobson’s Pledge (October 1) defends the provision in the Taranaki Iwi Claims Settlement Bill which gives iwi decision-making roles on Taranaki Regional Council committees, asserting it is no different to the option already available to local authorities to appoint external members to committees.
However, the bill does present significant differences. Unlike the current appointments which are optional, the proposed legislation mandates three permanent iwi seats on the two standing committees. Furthermore, the councillors cannot select the candidates for these appointments, as they can now. Nor can the wider community or their council representatives choose to terminate the arrangement, now or in the future.
This legislation constitutes an offence against democracy, made worse by being imposed on the citizens of Taranaki against the will of the wider community, as illustrated in a recent referendum held in New Plymouth whereby the proposal for race-based seats at the council decision-making table was overwhelmingly rejected.
S S
Meadowbank.
The New Zealand Herald 3/10/16 (Short & Sweet section
ON MASSEY
Your correspondent Heather du PlessisAllan makes so much sense with her call to not rename Massey University. Many pillars of society over the years have been flawed, but we cannot and should not rewrite history to suit those who are so easily offended. Should Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua be renamed because he was heavily involved in much of the murder, mayhem, and biffo between pre-colonisation Maori tribes?
R B
Tauranga.
Bay of Plenty Times 3/10/16
‘RACISM’ LABEL ON GOAL DISAPPOINTING
The predictable response from Maori leaders to Don Brash’s wonderful goal for New Zealand to be “one people” left me feeling very disappointed that all the money that has been poured into Maori education and welfare has been wasted, in that they see this as “racism”.
Dr Brash’s antecedents were Scots, early settlers with strong moral principles and vision, and along with other early settlers gave New Zealand the first school, first cathedral, first university, first teachers’ college and the list goes on.
They came in ships 160 years ago and in that time so much was achieved which included better things for Maori in the form of health, education, opportunities and they intermarried, the ultimate form of acceptance. Such are the ethics this man grew up with.
Everyone who has lived here has come from somewhere else. Check out the contribution the Dutch settlers have made, wonderful. The Chinese, exceptional.
We all came in different boats at different times and are now in the same boat and an intelligent man is trying to steer us away from the rocks to a united future, so Maori leaders, “sit down you’re rocking the boat.” (Abridged)
B L
Otumoetai
‘ONE PEOPLE’
“He iwi tahi tatou” . . . “We are now one people”. In February 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, all parties agreed that we are all one people in New Zealand.
However, in the Bay of Plenty Times (News, September 30) Don Brash and the lobby group known as Hobson’s Pledge were accused of being “racist” by Bay of Plenty Regional councillor Awanui Black, who represents Mauao Maori on the council.
It doesn’t take much to research the meaning of “racism”. Racism: a noun describing the state of being racist ie. Subscribing to the belief that the human population can be classified according to “race”.
The Thesaurus explanation states that a racist is a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others.
I cannot see how anyone can label Don Brash or the lobby group as “racist” as they are trying their utmost to have everyone in New Zealand treated in the same way.
There is no suggestion of one race being superior to another.
We are all New Zealanders and therefore should all be working towards sharing this country fairly and equally. There is no need for Maori representation to be seen as separate, as all members of a council or the Government should be there on merit and not on race.
If there is to be a Maori “voice” then those persons involved should be elected in exactly the same way as anyone else. If the Waitangi Treaty is so important, why aren’t we all working towards being “one people” as was agreed by all involved so long ago.
I A
Tauranga
RACE-BASED SEATS
Audrey Young’s column on Hobson’s Pledge (October 1) defends the provision in the Taranaki Iwi Claims Settlement Bill which gives iwi decision-making roles on Taranaki Regional Council committees, asserting it is no different to the option already available to local authorities to appoint external members to committees.
However, the bill does present significant differences. Unlike the current appointments which are optional, the proposed legislation mandates three permanent iwi seats on the two standing committees. Furthermore, the councillors cannot select the candidates for these appointments, as they can now. Nor can the wider community or their council representatives choose to terminate the arrangement, now or in the future.
This legislation constitutes an offence against democracy, made worse by being imposed on the citizens of Taranaki against the will of the wider community, as illustrated in a recent referendum held in New Plymouth whereby the proposal for race-based seats at the council decision-making table was overwhelmingly rejected.
S S
Meadowbank.
The New Zealand Herald 3/10/16 (Short & Sweet section
ON MASSEY
Your correspondent Heather du PlessisAllan makes so much sense with her call to not rename Massey University. Many pillars of society over the years have been flawed, but we cannot and should not rewrite history to suit those who are so easily offended. Should Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua be renamed because he was heavily involved in much of the murder, mayhem, and biffo between pre-colonisation Maori tribes?
R B
Tauranga.
Bay of Plenty Times 3/10/16
‘RACISM’ LABEL ON GOAL DISAPPOINTING
The predictable response from Maori leaders to Don Brash’s wonderful goal for New Zealand to be “one people” left me feeling very disappointed that all the money that has been poured into Maori education and welfare has been wasted, in that they see this as “racism”.
Dr Brash’s antecedents were Scots, early settlers with strong moral principles and vision, and along with other early settlers gave New Zealand the first school, first cathedral, first university, first teachers’ college and the list goes on.
They came in ships 160 years ago and in that time so much was achieved which included better things for Maori in the form of health, education, opportunities and they intermarried, the ultimate form of acceptance. Such are the ethics this man grew up with.
Everyone who has lived here has come from somewhere else. Check out the contribution the Dutch settlers have made, wonderful. The Chinese, exceptional.
We all came in different boats at different times and are now in the same boat and an intelligent man is trying to steer us away from the rocks to a united future, so Maori leaders, “sit down you’re rocking the boat.” (Abridged)
B L
Otumoetai
‘ONE PEOPLE’
“He iwi tahi tatou” . . . “We are now one people”. In February 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, all parties agreed that we are all one people in New Zealand.
However, in the Bay of Plenty Times (News, September 30) Don Brash and the lobby group known as Hobson’s Pledge were accused of being “racist” by Bay of Plenty Regional councillor Awanui Black, who represents Mauao Maori on the council.
It doesn’t take much to research the meaning of “racism”. Racism: a noun describing the state of being racist ie. Subscribing to the belief that the human population can be classified according to “race”.
The Thesaurus explanation states that a racist is a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others.
I cannot see how anyone can label Don Brash or the lobby group as “racist” as they are trying their utmost to have everyone in New Zealand treated in the same way.
There is no suggestion of one race being superior to another.
We are all New Zealanders and therefore should all be working towards sharing this country fairly and equally. There is no need for Maori representation to be seen as separate, as all members of a council or the Government should be there on merit and not on race.
If there is to be a Maori “voice” then those persons involved should be elected in exactly the same way as anyone else. If the Waitangi Treaty is so important, why aren’t we all working towards being “one people” as was agreed by all involved so long ago.
I A
Tauranga