Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 19, 2016 8:46:32 GMT 12
SEPARATISM AND THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT
SEPARATISM.
An increasingly common theme expressed by New Zealanders returning home from overseas is: this is about as good as it gets compared with most of the places they have visited, and it is not just the scenery they are talking about (beautiful as it is). The unspoken premises are that, by world standards, we are a settled and prosperous country and spared the increasing sectarian violence which now mars many of the popular tourist destinations. Our political differences are conducted (Waitangi Day excepted) in a civilized and generally retrained way (which explains why the whole Dot Com beat up redounded to the detriment of the Labour Party at the last election.)
We have no state religion, but all are free to follow their brand. We rank among the least institutionally corrupt societies and economies in the world, and that bearing in mind that we have taken in hundreds of thousands of settlers from countries where corruption is the norm, which is a tribute to those settlers who quickly recognise the benefits of honest dealing, and the innate strength of our institutions. Our education system is second to none and produces many students who are in international demand, and domestically contribute to a well-informed society. Of course there are always exceptions but we are known as a friendly people who welcome visitors and settlers on their merits, and we believe in giving people a “fair go”.
None of this happens by chance. The twin foundations of these increasingly rare attributes are: the Rule of Law by which all are equal before the law, and that includes the Crown and government, buttressed by a generally learned and impartial judiciary in all branches of the Courts – there being no known case of judicial corruption in the history of New Zealand (unlike some of our near neighbours.) The other pillar is that we are a homogenous society with one set of values in all of those matters comprising the glue which keeps us so.
Never in our history have we succumbed to lure of separatism whereby different ethnicities, or religions enjoy unearned privileges which are not available to the general body of the population, while others suffer corresponding detriments. Sadly this is no longer true and nowhere is this drift to separatism becoming more establish than among those who can claim some Maori blood – no matter how diluted……
Continue reading Judge Anthony Willy's latest NZCPR guest commentary here > www.nzcpr.com/separatism-and-the-resource-management-act/#more-17666
SEPARATISM.
An increasingly common theme expressed by New Zealanders returning home from overseas is: this is about as good as it gets compared with most of the places they have visited, and it is not just the scenery they are talking about (beautiful as it is). The unspoken premises are that, by world standards, we are a settled and prosperous country and spared the increasing sectarian violence which now mars many of the popular tourist destinations. Our political differences are conducted (Waitangi Day excepted) in a civilized and generally retrained way (which explains why the whole Dot Com beat up redounded to the detriment of the Labour Party at the last election.)
We have no state religion, but all are free to follow their brand. We rank among the least institutionally corrupt societies and economies in the world, and that bearing in mind that we have taken in hundreds of thousands of settlers from countries where corruption is the norm, which is a tribute to those settlers who quickly recognise the benefits of honest dealing, and the innate strength of our institutions. Our education system is second to none and produces many students who are in international demand, and domestically contribute to a well-informed society. Of course there are always exceptions but we are known as a friendly people who welcome visitors and settlers on their merits, and we believe in giving people a “fair go”.
None of this happens by chance. The twin foundations of these increasingly rare attributes are: the Rule of Law by which all are equal before the law, and that includes the Crown and government, buttressed by a generally learned and impartial judiciary in all branches of the Courts – there being no known case of judicial corruption in the history of New Zealand (unlike some of our near neighbours.) The other pillar is that we are a homogenous society with one set of values in all of those matters comprising the glue which keeps us so.
Never in our history have we succumbed to lure of separatism whereby different ethnicities, or religions enjoy unearned privileges which are not available to the general body of the population, while others suffer corresponding detriments. Sadly this is no longer true and nowhere is this drift to separatism becoming more establish than among those who can claim some Maori blood – no matter how diluted……
Continue reading Judge Anthony Willy's latest NZCPR guest commentary here > www.nzcpr.com/separatism-and-the-resource-management-act/#more-17666