Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 6, 2017 7:15:04 GMT 12
Wanganui Chronicle 6/1/17
REAL HISTORY
Potonga Neilson’s twisted truth of the real history of the Taranaki tribes (letters, January 3) beggars belief and then resorts to “ethnic cleansing” as a justification to make the confusion complete.
Does he understand what ethnic cleansing is? The Jews in World War II? The cleansing in the Middle East and Africa as is practised today on tribes?
Did Maori ever suffer such atrocities?
Mr Neilson, you conveniently left out the issue of the injustice dished out to the Moriori by the Taranaki tribes.
What redress have they been given?
The commemoration of the land wars will be a commercial operation.
Once the Treaty was signed one honoured the agreement. Tribes had to stop taking slaves, killing other tribes, otherwise suffer the consequences and your land will be taken from you also.
You have omitted that the land was given back at some later dates. (Abridged.)
M L
Te Puke
RACIST NONSENSE
The claim by Potonga Neilson (letters, January 4) that for Europeans a policy of “ethnic cleansing” is “in their genes” and that “exactly the same process was implemented in every country that was colonised by Europeans” is offensively racist and historical nonsense.
Great efforts were made by the British after 1840 to bring an improved form of government to all the people of New Zealand.
After the horrendous intertribal wars of the previous decades, the Maori population was in freefall, due to a catastrophic shortage of young people and women. That is shown in all the available data.
Colonisation brought an end to those wars, a process that was desired and taken up with enthusiasm by Maori across the country.
Slaves were freed and peace treaties allowed the resettlement of deserted lands such as the Auckland peninsula.
Then started a long, steady recovery, and within 50 years the precipitous decline in Maori numbers had ended and a period of population increase commenced. That turnaround, from population decline forced by pre-Treaty wars to healthy growth, is the very opposite of “ethnic cleansing”.
The story is of considerable co-operative efforts by many New Zealanders — of all ethnic backgrounds — to seek solutions to the problems they faced and to come together as one people.
JOHN ROBINSON
Waikanae
NZ Herald 6/1/17
PREFERRED VERSION
Think I will go with the Mad Butcher’s version of events. He ain’t racist, he has supported the South Auckland community and the Warriors, who have a huge Polynesian contingent, through thick and thin. The apparent statement from someone saying she was born on the island and was TW, and therefore she could do what she liked, probably got the flippant response it deserved. Get over it.
R. P
Tauranga.
FINE RESPONSE
Huge kudos to Dame Susan Devoy for her support of the Mad Butcher. “He is the least racist person I know.” What a triumph for good ol’ Kiwi common sense, an antidote to the all too common political correctness as well as the oft-heard hardline views of both rednecks and (reverse?) racists alike. Dame Susan’s undoubted mana, coupled with these forthright views, is a refreshingly fine example of our publicly appointed human rights guardian doing a mighty fine job.
L M
Puhoi.
NZ Herald 6/1/17 (Short & Sweet section)
ON REMARK
I would like Lara Bridger to know I am upset by her racist remark that because she is tangata whenua she can do as she likes when Sir Peter Leitch, in a lighthearted way, advised her not to drink too much as there were police about.
F. C
Castor Bay.
Hawkes Bay Today 6/1/17
MAKE IT OFFICIAL
In reply to your correspondent Judith Smith, who writes about the appropriate use of both the English and Maori languages —she is, of course, correct. In saying that, how many of you are aware that New Zealand has only two official languages—and English is not one of them?
The two official languages are Maori and Sign Language. English has never been legislated as an official language. It is only a de facto official language.
I checked this fact with my local MP, Simon Bridges, who verified it and suggested I begin a petition to correct this anomaly. The Clerk of the House has approved the wording of my petition.
I feel it is very important to change the status of English from being simply a de facto official language to give it the place it deserves as as the legally prescribed official language of our country. If any of you would like to help me with my petition, you can contact me on 027-233-1595 and I will either forward you a petition form online or post it to you. Every signature for the petition is appreciated.
ROBIN BISHOP
Tauranga
Hawkes Bay Today 6/1/17 (Text Us section)
* Judith Smith, WELL DONE, alot of us are annoyed & tired of maori language used where it is not required. I bet alot of Maori are not even interested in speaking Maori!
PP
* Re keeping Te Reo a treasure, yes and what about the English language some people can't even speak that well
Gisborne Herald 5/1/17
TAIRAWHITI UNKNOWN
I am frustrated with the bickering about “who was here first” and “our district was called Turanga/Tairawhiti.”
Well, “Maori” answers the first question. Turanga is the name bestowed on us by the early Maori settlers.
Tairawhiti extends from East Cape to Hawke’s Bay. Poverty Bay defines our area more precisely. Nobody from overseas knows of Tairawhiti. Sorry, but that’s a fact. Why don’t we refer to our district as Poverty Bay, where European New Zealand began. Tourism experts could surely use this to bring tourists in. If they wish to learn of our heritage why not start at the beginning of an era they can understand.
M M
Gisborne
REAL HISTORY
Potonga Neilson’s twisted truth of the real history of the Taranaki tribes (letters, January 3) beggars belief and then resorts to “ethnic cleansing” as a justification to make the confusion complete.
Does he understand what ethnic cleansing is? The Jews in World War II? The cleansing in the Middle East and Africa as is practised today on tribes?
Did Maori ever suffer such atrocities?
Mr Neilson, you conveniently left out the issue of the injustice dished out to the Moriori by the Taranaki tribes.
What redress have they been given?
The commemoration of the land wars will be a commercial operation.
Once the Treaty was signed one honoured the agreement. Tribes had to stop taking slaves, killing other tribes, otherwise suffer the consequences and your land will be taken from you also.
You have omitted that the land was given back at some later dates. (Abridged.)
M L
Te Puke
RACIST NONSENSE
The claim by Potonga Neilson (letters, January 4) that for Europeans a policy of “ethnic cleansing” is “in their genes” and that “exactly the same process was implemented in every country that was colonised by Europeans” is offensively racist and historical nonsense.
Great efforts were made by the British after 1840 to bring an improved form of government to all the people of New Zealand.
After the horrendous intertribal wars of the previous decades, the Maori population was in freefall, due to a catastrophic shortage of young people and women. That is shown in all the available data.
Colonisation brought an end to those wars, a process that was desired and taken up with enthusiasm by Maori across the country.
Slaves were freed and peace treaties allowed the resettlement of deserted lands such as the Auckland peninsula.
Then started a long, steady recovery, and within 50 years the precipitous decline in Maori numbers had ended and a period of population increase commenced. That turnaround, from population decline forced by pre-Treaty wars to healthy growth, is the very opposite of “ethnic cleansing”.
The story is of considerable co-operative efforts by many New Zealanders — of all ethnic backgrounds — to seek solutions to the problems they faced and to come together as one people.
JOHN ROBINSON
Waikanae
NZ Herald 6/1/17
PREFERRED VERSION
Think I will go with the Mad Butcher’s version of events. He ain’t racist, he has supported the South Auckland community and the Warriors, who have a huge Polynesian contingent, through thick and thin. The apparent statement from someone saying she was born on the island and was TW, and therefore she could do what she liked, probably got the flippant response it deserved. Get over it.
R. P
Tauranga.
FINE RESPONSE
Huge kudos to Dame Susan Devoy for her support of the Mad Butcher. “He is the least racist person I know.” What a triumph for good ol’ Kiwi common sense, an antidote to the all too common political correctness as well as the oft-heard hardline views of both rednecks and (reverse?) racists alike. Dame Susan’s undoubted mana, coupled with these forthright views, is a refreshingly fine example of our publicly appointed human rights guardian doing a mighty fine job.
L M
Puhoi.
NZ Herald 6/1/17 (Short & Sweet section)
ON REMARK
I would like Lara Bridger to know I am upset by her racist remark that because she is tangata whenua she can do as she likes when Sir Peter Leitch, in a lighthearted way, advised her not to drink too much as there were police about.
F. C
Castor Bay.
Hawkes Bay Today 6/1/17
MAKE IT OFFICIAL
In reply to your correspondent Judith Smith, who writes about the appropriate use of both the English and Maori languages —she is, of course, correct. In saying that, how many of you are aware that New Zealand has only two official languages—and English is not one of them?
The two official languages are Maori and Sign Language. English has never been legislated as an official language. It is only a de facto official language.
I checked this fact with my local MP, Simon Bridges, who verified it and suggested I begin a petition to correct this anomaly. The Clerk of the House has approved the wording of my petition.
I feel it is very important to change the status of English from being simply a de facto official language to give it the place it deserves as as the legally prescribed official language of our country. If any of you would like to help me with my petition, you can contact me on 027-233-1595 and I will either forward you a petition form online or post it to you. Every signature for the petition is appreciated.
ROBIN BISHOP
Tauranga
Hawkes Bay Today 6/1/17 (Text Us section)
* Judith Smith, WELL DONE, alot of us are annoyed & tired of maori language used where it is not required. I bet alot of Maori are not even interested in speaking Maori!
PP
* Re keeping Te Reo a treasure, yes and what about the English language some people can't even speak that well
Gisborne Herald 5/1/17
TAIRAWHITI UNKNOWN
I am frustrated with the bickering about “who was here first” and “our district was called Turanga/Tairawhiti.”
Well, “Maori” answers the first question. Turanga is the name bestowed on us by the early Maori settlers.
Tairawhiti extends from East Cape to Hawke’s Bay. Poverty Bay defines our area more precisely. Nobody from overseas knows of Tairawhiti. Sorry, but that’s a fact. Why don’t we refer to our district as Poverty Bay, where European New Zealand began. Tourism experts could surely use this to bring tourists in. If they wish to learn of our heritage why not start at the beginning of an era they can understand.
M M
Gisborne