Post by Kiwi Frontline on Oct 21, 2016 17:18:08 GMT 12
Rotorua Daily Post 21/10/16
MAORI ENTERPRISE
In reply to Wairangi Jones, (Letters, October 15). I suggested Maori were better off now than prior to 1800. I was speaking of 1760, not 1860. In that time Maori did not have any of the things mentioned by Wairangi except flax and fishing. Neither of these did they have as commercial entities. The Europeans brought vegetables, beef, pork and mutton, eggs, apples and cheese, and wheat which enabled enter-prising Math to have orchids, market gardens, and a thriving flour mill, built with European technology and of course some-one to sell all this to.
Tourism of course depends on a European market. Unfortunately, the Europeans also brought measles, gorse, blackberry, rabbits and the churches. Most of the land grab was done by the churches. Prior to European settlement the means of acquiring land was to wage a battle against the occupying hapu and kill them all off, thereby gaining ownership. Ordinary emigrants who
came here, having been dispossessed in Europe and had absolutely nothing, only wanted a plot to build a home and a life on. The thought I was trying to get across was count your blessings, not your losses and work to improve your life. Say thank you for what you have achieved, not cry for more to be handed out. Maori who are entrepre-neurial and energetic are doing very well, the same as they were in 1860. There are always those who do nothing and cry to be carried.
M B
Rotorua
Sunlive / Weekend Sun 21/10/16
‘NO WAY’ TO ALL CO-GOVERNANCE
The candidate meetings for the local body elections were interesting, but also upsetting and made me angry. When listening to our regional council representatives, I pushed for more information on the co-governance regarding the ‘fresh water futures' issue. We were told co-governance was well entrenched, especially the Kaituna catchment area and Rangitaiki River.
Were any of you consulted on this? Has there been a referendum? No? I submitted a submission to say ‘no' to co-governance.
We were told government pressure is for co-governance - and this really makes for ‘a them and us scenario'. As soon as you say co-governance it means more than one group, which is apartheid!
The water issue should be all the people, without it we die!
No one group should be in control, which means ownership.
Maori have now been quoted as "wanting their fair share of the water profits" (The Daily Post, August 22, 2016). It always comes back to money, costing the rest of us!
Kiwis need to make a fuss - you are quite quickly losing your democracy in every sector. On this election journey I've realised how gutless councillors are in every sector.
The government needs to be told to get lost, stop putting pressure on councils for things like libraries, museums, water etc. Kiwis just cannot afford their rates to climb and councillors need to say ‘No' to government demands!
C H
Katikati
WHEN IT ALL TURNS TO CUSTARD…
Now the dust has settled on the Tauranga City Council elections, let's analyse the outcome. First we have candidates re-elected, despite being discarded previously for their cavalier attitude to spiralling debt. Then we have candidates elected who support race-based representation, elected or unelected, and special race-based privileges. And last but not least, candidates who strongly supported the Civic Heart Centre with very expensive add-ons which many Tauranga residents don't want.
Oh and don't forget those candidates who are so weak-kneed, their pulses should be checked to see if they can breathe unaided by themselves.
On the mayoral side of things, the mayor elected is a nice guy but he'll want to be all things to all people and probably won't have the fortitude to say ‘no' to anyone floating special interest schemes.
This disparate group of people are what Tauranga voters have elected. Only 38 per cent voted and that apathy is appalling. So when it all turns to custard, as it inevitably will, no one wants to listen to the whinging from those that voted this lot into power or those who didn't bother to vote who are just as much to blame.
What voters got rid of were the thinkers and those who recognised the problems and were at least prepared to look at change and how to address the issues. Best of luck.
S P
Arataki.
MAORI ENTERPRISE
In reply to Wairangi Jones, (Letters, October 15). I suggested Maori were better off now than prior to 1800. I was speaking of 1760, not 1860. In that time Maori did not have any of the things mentioned by Wairangi except flax and fishing. Neither of these did they have as commercial entities. The Europeans brought vegetables, beef, pork and mutton, eggs, apples and cheese, and wheat which enabled enter-prising Math to have orchids, market gardens, and a thriving flour mill, built with European technology and of course some-one to sell all this to.
Tourism of course depends on a European market. Unfortunately, the Europeans also brought measles, gorse, blackberry, rabbits and the churches. Most of the land grab was done by the churches. Prior to European settlement the means of acquiring land was to wage a battle against the occupying hapu and kill them all off, thereby gaining ownership. Ordinary emigrants who
came here, having been dispossessed in Europe and had absolutely nothing, only wanted a plot to build a home and a life on. The thought I was trying to get across was count your blessings, not your losses and work to improve your life. Say thank you for what you have achieved, not cry for more to be handed out. Maori who are entrepre-neurial and energetic are doing very well, the same as they were in 1860. There are always those who do nothing and cry to be carried.
M B
Rotorua
Sunlive / Weekend Sun 21/10/16
‘NO WAY’ TO ALL CO-GOVERNANCE
The candidate meetings for the local body elections were interesting, but also upsetting and made me angry. When listening to our regional council representatives, I pushed for more information on the co-governance regarding the ‘fresh water futures' issue. We were told co-governance was well entrenched, especially the Kaituna catchment area and Rangitaiki River.
Were any of you consulted on this? Has there been a referendum? No? I submitted a submission to say ‘no' to co-governance.
We were told government pressure is for co-governance - and this really makes for ‘a them and us scenario'. As soon as you say co-governance it means more than one group, which is apartheid!
The water issue should be all the people, without it we die!
No one group should be in control, which means ownership.
Maori have now been quoted as "wanting their fair share of the water profits" (The Daily Post, August 22, 2016). It always comes back to money, costing the rest of us!
Kiwis need to make a fuss - you are quite quickly losing your democracy in every sector. On this election journey I've realised how gutless councillors are in every sector.
The government needs to be told to get lost, stop putting pressure on councils for things like libraries, museums, water etc. Kiwis just cannot afford their rates to climb and councillors need to say ‘No' to government demands!
C H
Katikati
WHEN IT ALL TURNS TO CUSTARD…
Now the dust has settled on the Tauranga City Council elections, let's analyse the outcome. First we have candidates re-elected, despite being discarded previously for their cavalier attitude to spiralling debt. Then we have candidates elected who support race-based representation, elected or unelected, and special race-based privileges. And last but not least, candidates who strongly supported the Civic Heart Centre with very expensive add-ons which many Tauranga residents don't want.
Oh and don't forget those candidates who are so weak-kneed, their pulses should be checked to see if they can breathe unaided by themselves.
On the mayoral side of things, the mayor elected is a nice guy but he'll want to be all things to all people and probably won't have the fortitude to say ‘no' to anyone floating special interest schemes.
This disparate group of people are what Tauranga voters have elected. Only 38 per cent voted and that apathy is appalling. So when it all turns to custard, as it inevitably will, no one wants to listen to the whinging from those that voted this lot into power or those who didn't bother to vote who are just as much to blame.
What voters got rid of were the thinkers and those who recognised the problems and were at least prepared to look at change and how to address the issues. Best of luck.
S P
Arataki.