Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 13, 2016 5:22:41 GMT 12
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 5/11/16)
Your correspondent M. Leabourn comments that Maori need race-based policies because current policies do not work for them and blames colonisation for their problems.
Colonisation gave Maori a future! It gave them better housing, food, medicine, clothing, hygiene and transport. Would he prefer to return to the bad old days of lawless tribal infighting where his people were in danger of becoming extinct.
Maori author Alan Duff countered the absurd claims of a recent comment on the supposed evils of colonisation by saying - "In 1823, Hongi Hika came down from the Far North and smashed my Te Arawa people, who had fled to Mokoia Island. Hongi and his warriors feasted on my ancestors' cooked bodies for six days; they took back an estimated thousand captives as slaves. Sounds like worse "cultural devastation" than being colonised."
Perhaps the sobering fact that education is the key to a successful life and that recent statistics show that up to 60% of Maori children are denied this opportunity as many do not attend school regularly, thus minimising their chances of future employment.
Could it be that Maori have selective hearing in that they have the answer to their own problems but fail to heed the obvious - a successful life begins with a successful education and that is freely available to all of us in New Zealand!
R B
Tauranga
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 26/10/16)
"Re- “Hapu eye service station property” (BOP Times Wednesday 26th).
Hapu are not offering to put up any money for the Mobil site but rather want it for nothing. They want $150,000pa of ratepayer income gifted to them.
Council land is private land and is not part of Treaty settlements. Treaty settlements include compensation for private land that cannot be part of the settlement process to so give Tangata Whenua the ability to buy private land they may desire in the marketplace.
Ratepayers also need to be aware that there is another offer on the Mobil site for considerably more than the Hapu's suggested value, in fact, for more than the Assessed Value. It is cash upfront and subject only to approval of title and town planning requirements, and with the purchaser paying their own legal costs.
It is not the role of Council to short-change ratepayers to appease Tangata Whenua demands. Clearly with competitive interest in this property, if Council do wish to sell it, then it should be put up for public auction, and may the best buyer win.
R P
Welcome Bay"
Your correspondent M. Leabourn comments that Maori need race-based policies because current policies do not work for them and blames colonisation for their problems.
Colonisation gave Maori a future! It gave them better housing, food, medicine, clothing, hygiene and transport. Would he prefer to return to the bad old days of lawless tribal infighting where his people were in danger of becoming extinct.
Maori author Alan Duff countered the absurd claims of a recent comment on the supposed evils of colonisation by saying - "In 1823, Hongi Hika came down from the Far North and smashed my Te Arawa people, who had fled to Mokoia Island. Hongi and his warriors feasted on my ancestors' cooked bodies for six days; they took back an estimated thousand captives as slaves. Sounds like worse "cultural devastation" than being colonised."
Perhaps the sobering fact that education is the key to a successful life and that recent statistics show that up to 60% of Maori children are denied this opportunity as many do not attend school regularly, thus minimising their chances of future employment.
Could it be that Maori have selective hearing in that they have the answer to their own problems but fail to heed the obvious - a successful life begins with a successful education and that is freely available to all of us in New Zealand!
R B
Tauranga
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 26/10/16)
"Re- “Hapu eye service station property” (BOP Times Wednesday 26th).
Hapu are not offering to put up any money for the Mobil site but rather want it for nothing. They want $150,000pa of ratepayer income gifted to them.
Council land is private land and is not part of Treaty settlements. Treaty settlements include compensation for private land that cannot be part of the settlement process to so give Tangata Whenua the ability to buy private land they may desire in the marketplace.
Ratepayers also need to be aware that there is another offer on the Mobil site for considerably more than the Hapu's suggested value, in fact, for more than the Assessed Value. It is cash upfront and subject only to approval of title and town planning requirements, and with the purchaser paying their own legal costs.
It is not the role of Council to short-change ratepayers to appease Tangata Whenua demands. Clearly with competitive interest in this property, if Council do wish to sell it, then it should be put up for public auction, and may the best buyer win.
R P
Welcome Bay"