Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 5, 2017 6:31:15 GMT 12
Northland Age 5/1/17
YOU CHOOSE
John Bassett writes an excellent letter about the speech by Casey Costello, of Hobson's Pledge (first I am a New Zealander, December 15). In a nutshell, Casey's speech tells us that we live in a wonderful country in which we are all personally responsible for the outcomes of our actions. We can all choose to be as successful as we wish, and surely the key to success is a decent education —as many accomplished Maori have already proved.
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? Sadly, recent statistics show that up to 60 per cent of Maori children are denied this opportunity, as many do not attend school regularly, thus minimising their chances of future employment. The best educational outcomes are the result of parental interest and involvement in their child's achievements, regardless of their economic circumstances.
I applaud Don Brash's working group Hobson's Pledge, which aims to combat the ongoing separatism taking place with governmental approval — recent government approvals being the Resource Management Act favouring Maori, the bid by the Iwi Leaders Group to control our fresh water, and the most recent — and most ridiculous — the Wine and Spirits Amendment Bill, that allows Maori special rights to control the future names of wine.
As John Bassett wisely says, united we win, divided we fall, so let's all be united as one, New Zealand first, for our children and generations to come.
R B
Tauranga
THE DEPARTURE
Amid the bouquets and brickbats that have accompanied the retirement of John Key, those who have been most effusive in praise of his personal qualities and political acumen have not reflected on some aspects of his leadership that are not so laudatory.
His broken electoral promise to remove the Maori electoral seats, his delegating decision-making on unpopular issues such as the RMA and the iwi water issue, his reluctance to accept that the population comprehensively rejected non-elected Maori being appointed to councils, his unequivocal acceptance of most Waitangi Tribunal directives, valid or not, his silence on the spurious claim that the Treaty represents a partnership of the Crown with Maori, the adoption of the Foreshore and Seabed Act, giving much of the control of our coastline to iwi, his placing the Maori Party, with 1.5 per cent of the electoral vote, above the needs of the whole population.
He has shown his consummate ability in handling difficult problems by ignoring their existence. A Teflon Man indeed. But no doubt his successor will continue his party's' racist policies.
B J
Omokoroa
The Northern Advocate 5/1/17
FALSE DOCUMENT
I was surprised that Jeremy Ashford’s vague letter (20/12/16) was published and I am sure many others welcome Mitch Morgan’s rational, well-written “utterances”.
To understand the wording of Te Tiriti o Waitangi which almost 500 chiefs signed, read the Littlewood Treaty (draft) here tinyurl.com/hs4o4rv.
Except for four-word variations (one being the date) it is the closest English version; no knowledge of Maori language is needed.
I suspect the “English mistranslation” that Ashford quotes is what is now known as the “Official” English Treaty — see tinyurl.com/zykcall.
This document was a draft that James Busby created on February 3, 1840 and was discarded — see tinyurl.com/huwrqbo.
James Freeman (Hobson’s secretary) reworked this discarded draft and on February 8, 1840 he sent his version to the New South Wales Governor Sir George Gipps.
He sent a further “certified copy” composite version, with three printed Maori copies, to Gipps on February 21. In its grandiose language it includes the words “pre-emption”, “Lands and Estates Forests and Fisheries”. Although dated February 6, 1840 the only version signed that day was the Maori version.
Somehow in April 1840 a copy of this false version found its way to Port Waikato and Manukau where it was used as an overflow for 39 chiefs’ signatures because the Maori version was full.
Research now shows this copy was folded and later pinned and waxed behind the Maori language version.
In short, it is not a mistranslation as Ashford states, it is a false document.
GEOFF PARKER
Kamo, Whangarei
NZ Herald 5/1/17
EQUALLY OFFENDED
So Lara Bridger is offended by Sir Peter Leitch’s Waiheke Island remark. I am equally offended by her remark that as Tangata Whenua she can do as she likes. Leitch’s rejoinder that “Waiheke is a white man’s island also” is perfectly acceptable when faced by her claim to racial superiority. Well done to Sir Peter for pointing out the need for equality.
R P
Tauranga.
TALL POPPY?
Here we go again, a man makes a comment “as a joke” and it makes front page. A man who has possibly done more for Maoridom than anyone I know in the world of sport in particular. His comment was, I’m sure, in retaliation to the statement she made. Come on Herald, get a life, this sort of thing creates ill feeling and it is going on on “both” sides of the fence, or is it tall poppy syndrome? would you publish anything on the front page if Maori declared it tapu? Give it a rest.
J C,
Ngunguru.
WORDS FAIL
If “Billy T” had made those same remarks, would the woman have carried on in the same way? I doubt it. God almighty, are we that precious about what is said? Sir Peter with his Maori granddaughter with him and this woman still can’t see the wood for the trees. And as for the photo of the offended woman, words fail me. This family needs to get a life.
B H
Algies Bay.
Hawke's Bay Today 5/1/17 (Text Us section)
* Can't understand why people want to change the name of Blackhead Beach that's part of Captain Cooks history & that's what I've called it for 50yrs can't pronounce or spell the suggested name.
IC
* Re renaming places with black and n***** in them what about places with white in them. A blackboard had to change to a chalkboard but a whiteboard is ok.
YOU CHOOSE
John Bassett writes an excellent letter about the speech by Casey Costello, of Hobson's Pledge (first I am a New Zealander, December 15). In a nutshell, Casey's speech tells us that we live in a wonderful country in which we are all personally responsible for the outcomes of our actions. We can all choose to be as successful as we wish, and surely the key to success is a decent education —as many accomplished Maori have already proved.
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? Sadly, recent statistics show that up to 60 per cent of Maori children are denied this opportunity, as many do not attend school regularly, thus minimising their chances of future employment. The best educational outcomes are the result of parental interest and involvement in their child's achievements, regardless of their economic circumstances.
I applaud Don Brash's working group Hobson's Pledge, which aims to combat the ongoing separatism taking place with governmental approval — recent government approvals being the Resource Management Act favouring Maori, the bid by the Iwi Leaders Group to control our fresh water, and the most recent — and most ridiculous — the Wine and Spirits Amendment Bill, that allows Maori special rights to control the future names of wine.
As John Bassett wisely says, united we win, divided we fall, so let's all be united as one, New Zealand first, for our children and generations to come.
R B
Tauranga
THE DEPARTURE
Amid the bouquets and brickbats that have accompanied the retirement of John Key, those who have been most effusive in praise of his personal qualities and political acumen have not reflected on some aspects of his leadership that are not so laudatory.
His broken electoral promise to remove the Maori electoral seats, his delegating decision-making on unpopular issues such as the RMA and the iwi water issue, his reluctance to accept that the population comprehensively rejected non-elected Maori being appointed to councils, his unequivocal acceptance of most Waitangi Tribunal directives, valid or not, his silence on the spurious claim that the Treaty represents a partnership of the Crown with Maori, the adoption of the Foreshore and Seabed Act, giving much of the control of our coastline to iwi, his placing the Maori Party, with 1.5 per cent of the electoral vote, above the needs of the whole population.
He has shown his consummate ability in handling difficult problems by ignoring their existence. A Teflon Man indeed. But no doubt his successor will continue his party's' racist policies.
B J
Omokoroa
The Northern Advocate 5/1/17
FALSE DOCUMENT
I was surprised that Jeremy Ashford’s vague letter (20/12/16) was published and I am sure many others welcome Mitch Morgan’s rational, well-written “utterances”.
To understand the wording of Te Tiriti o Waitangi which almost 500 chiefs signed, read the Littlewood Treaty (draft) here tinyurl.com/hs4o4rv.
Except for four-word variations (one being the date) it is the closest English version; no knowledge of Maori language is needed.
I suspect the “English mistranslation” that Ashford quotes is what is now known as the “Official” English Treaty — see tinyurl.com/zykcall.
This document was a draft that James Busby created on February 3, 1840 and was discarded — see tinyurl.com/huwrqbo.
James Freeman (Hobson’s secretary) reworked this discarded draft and on February 8, 1840 he sent his version to the New South Wales Governor Sir George Gipps.
He sent a further “certified copy” composite version, with three printed Maori copies, to Gipps on February 21. In its grandiose language it includes the words “pre-emption”, “Lands and Estates Forests and Fisheries”. Although dated February 6, 1840 the only version signed that day was the Maori version.
Somehow in April 1840 a copy of this false version found its way to Port Waikato and Manukau where it was used as an overflow for 39 chiefs’ signatures because the Maori version was full.
Research now shows this copy was folded and later pinned and waxed behind the Maori language version.
In short, it is not a mistranslation as Ashford states, it is a false document.
GEOFF PARKER
Kamo, Whangarei
NZ Herald 5/1/17
EQUALLY OFFENDED
So Lara Bridger is offended by Sir Peter Leitch’s Waiheke Island remark. I am equally offended by her remark that as Tangata Whenua she can do as she likes. Leitch’s rejoinder that “Waiheke is a white man’s island also” is perfectly acceptable when faced by her claim to racial superiority. Well done to Sir Peter for pointing out the need for equality.
R P
Tauranga.
TALL POPPY?
Here we go again, a man makes a comment “as a joke” and it makes front page. A man who has possibly done more for Maoridom than anyone I know in the world of sport in particular. His comment was, I’m sure, in retaliation to the statement she made. Come on Herald, get a life, this sort of thing creates ill feeling and it is going on on “both” sides of the fence, or is it tall poppy syndrome? would you publish anything on the front page if Maori declared it tapu? Give it a rest.
J C,
Ngunguru.
WORDS FAIL
If “Billy T” had made those same remarks, would the woman have carried on in the same way? I doubt it. God almighty, are we that precious about what is said? Sir Peter with his Maori granddaughter with him and this woman still can’t see the wood for the trees. And as for the photo of the offended woman, words fail me. This family needs to get a life.
B H
Algies Bay.
Hawke's Bay Today 5/1/17 (Text Us section)
* Can't understand why people want to change the name of Blackhead Beach that's part of Captain Cooks history & that's what I've called it for 50yrs can't pronounce or spell the suggested name.
IC
* Re renaming places with black and n***** in them what about places with white in them. A blackboard had to change to a chalkboard but a whiteboard is ok.