Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 26, 2017 5:47:50 GMT 12
The Press 26/1/17
NOT RACIST TO OBJECT TO RACISM
Once again we are treated to one of Chris Trotter’s Left-wing diatribes (Jan 24). It was long on emotive words, short on accuracy and common sense.
He asserts that Don Brash’s Orewa speech was ‘‘infamous’’. I think it was both refreshingly honest, sensible and clearly expressed opinions that a great many people agreed with – demonstrated by the positive public response.
I believe Brash and National would have won that election had the Labour Party not offered an incredibly expensive bribe to the students – that was infamous if anything was.
It is not racist to object to racism and that is what Brash did – as do I and as New Zealand First does.
Democracy in New Zealand is being eroded to benefit a vocal minority at the expense of the majority of citizens.
LAURIE TUFF
Prebbleton
Northland Age 26/1/17
YES, BUT...
Much of what S Reilly says (letter, January 10), is sound, but he errs on important points. It is not correct that "the Maori version of the Treaty of Waitangi... has the greater relevance", because there is only one treaty — in Maori.
Again, Kawharu was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, which has pronounced many false conclusions.
He translates "taonga" as "treasures," which was entirely untrue in 1840, when it meant simply ordinary property or chattels.
Kawharu must have known that. This has been used to justify many false tribal claims.
Again he states in a footnote to his translation that "there can be no possibility of the Maori signatories having any understanding... of 'sovereignty' but the Tribunal, in arguing for the importance of the so-called Declaration of Independence, concluded that they did.
The most accurate document to convey the meaning of the Treaty is Hobson's final draft of February 4, known to officialdom by the misnomer Littlewood Treaty.
In comparing the two in 2000, senior Ngapuhi elder Graham Rankin said that their meanings were exactly the same, which, except for the word "Maori" inserted by the Williams in Article third, they are.
With Reilly's final sentence, "Would that the past could be left behind and we all together boldly face the future, united in a common cause," I am in very firm agreement.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
EMBARRASSING
Marama Fox, in her recent claim of racism against Yates' logo for their Black Magic potting mix, is an embarrassment to her party and an insult to all people concerned with racism, intolerance and serious social issues. It is concerning that a person so devoid of logic is involved in our political system.
BRYAN JOHNSON
Omokoroa
EDUCATIONAL
As one “foreigner” whose letters sometimes appear in the Northland Age, I write to inform Bill Morris (letters January 24) that from time to time, letters from Northland locals are bigoted and full of false information.
When I write it is to correct their mis-statements and inform Northland readers of the evidence-based truth.
One often-heard falsehood is that the northern chiefs did not cede sovereignty when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Their words recorded at the time leave not the slightest doubt that they understood that by signing they would become subordinate to the Governor and hence to the Queen. All those who spoke against doing so duly signed with the rest -news to some perhaps?
I am sure that the majority of the readers of the Northland Age, unlike Bill Morris, do not want to live in a time capsule, and welcome news and views from the rest of the world.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
CRINGEWORTHY
I read with interest an article in a weekend newspaper by Liz Marvelly, `Now tell me why we are cringing'.
Here is why I cringe. Liz is a successful musician, writer and activist. I am pleased to see that she is doing well. May she continue to do so.
In short, the article was about Maori selling land to the government in the early days of settlement, and the government on-selling it at gross profit to farmers and settlers. Well, I guess the government had to make its money somehow.
Perhaps somebody has forgotten to tell Liz that both Labour and National governments have been paying out handsomely for "errors of judgement" over the past 30-40 years. This money has been invested in businesses, and is no doubt returning handsome dividends, much of it tax-free, as they are registered as charities. This now runs into several billions of dollars, and counting.
I agree that some recompense should be made to Maori, but the taxpayer of New Zealand is not a bottomless pit. Atrocities were committed by Maori against Maori (estimated at 40,000 killed, about one-third of the population), plus the Patupaiarehe and Waitaha people, who have been here since about the time of Jesus Christ.
Patupaiarehe and Waitaha lived in peace for well over 1000 years, but that changed with the arrival of Maori and their races were almost wiped out and eaten, and so far the few survivors that are left have not received a brass razoo. That's why I cringe. How about writing an article telling us why Liz? I look forward to reading it.
KAWENA HORI MAAKA
(Kevan George Marks)
Kaipara
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
NOT RACIST TO OBJECT TO RACISM
Once again we are treated to one of Chris Trotter’s Left-wing diatribes (Jan 24). It was long on emotive words, short on accuracy and common sense.
He asserts that Don Brash’s Orewa speech was ‘‘infamous’’. I think it was both refreshingly honest, sensible and clearly expressed opinions that a great many people agreed with – demonstrated by the positive public response.
I believe Brash and National would have won that election had the Labour Party not offered an incredibly expensive bribe to the students – that was infamous if anything was.
It is not racist to object to racism and that is what Brash did – as do I and as New Zealand First does.
Democracy in New Zealand is being eroded to benefit a vocal minority at the expense of the majority of citizens.
LAURIE TUFF
Prebbleton
Northland Age 26/1/17
YES, BUT...
Much of what S Reilly says (letter, January 10), is sound, but he errs on important points. It is not correct that "the Maori version of the Treaty of Waitangi... has the greater relevance", because there is only one treaty — in Maori.
Again, Kawharu was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, which has pronounced many false conclusions.
He translates "taonga" as "treasures," which was entirely untrue in 1840, when it meant simply ordinary property or chattels.
Kawharu must have known that. This has been used to justify many false tribal claims.
Again he states in a footnote to his translation that "there can be no possibility of the Maori signatories having any understanding... of 'sovereignty' but the Tribunal, in arguing for the importance of the so-called Declaration of Independence, concluded that they did.
The most accurate document to convey the meaning of the Treaty is Hobson's final draft of February 4, known to officialdom by the misnomer Littlewood Treaty.
In comparing the two in 2000, senior Ngapuhi elder Graham Rankin said that their meanings were exactly the same, which, except for the word "Maori" inserted by the Williams in Article third, they are.
With Reilly's final sentence, "Would that the past could be left behind and we all together boldly face the future, united in a common cause," I am in very firm agreement.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
EMBARRASSING
Marama Fox, in her recent claim of racism against Yates' logo for their Black Magic potting mix, is an embarrassment to her party and an insult to all people concerned with racism, intolerance and serious social issues. It is concerning that a person so devoid of logic is involved in our political system.
BRYAN JOHNSON
Omokoroa
EDUCATIONAL
As one “foreigner” whose letters sometimes appear in the Northland Age, I write to inform Bill Morris (letters January 24) that from time to time, letters from Northland locals are bigoted and full of false information.
When I write it is to correct their mis-statements and inform Northland readers of the evidence-based truth.
One often-heard falsehood is that the northern chiefs did not cede sovereignty when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Their words recorded at the time leave not the slightest doubt that they understood that by signing they would become subordinate to the Governor and hence to the Queen. All those who spoke against doing so duly signed with the rest -news to some perhaps?
I am sure that the majority of the readers of the Northland Age, unlike Bill Morris, do not want to live in a time capsule, and welcome news and views from the rest of the world.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
CRINGEWORTHY
I read with interest an article in a weekend newspaper by Liz Marvelly, `Now tell me why we are cringing'.
Here is why I cringe. Liz is a successful musician, writer and activist. I am pleased to see that she is doing well. May she continue to do so.
In short, the article was about Maori selling land to the government in the early days of settlement, and the government on-selling it at gross profit to farmers and settlers. Well, I guess the government had to make its money somehow.
Perhaps somebody has forgotten to tell Liz that both Labour and National governments have been paying out handsomely for "errors of judgement" over the past 30-40 years. This money has been invested in businesses, and is no doubt returning handsome dividends, much of it tax-free, as they are registered as charities. This now runs into several billions of dollars, and counting.
I agree that some recompense should be made to Maori, but the taxpayer of New Zealand is not a bottomless pit. Atrocities were committed by Maori against Maori (estimated at 40,000 killed, about one-third of the population), plus the Patupaiarehe and Waitaha people, who have been here since about the time of Jesus Christ.
Patupaiarehe and Waitaha lived in peace for well over 1000 years, but that changed with the arrival of Maori and their races were almost wiped out and eaten, and so far the few survivors that are left have not received a brass razoo. That's why I cringe. How about writing an article telling us why Liz? I look forward to reading it.
KAWENA HORI MAAKA
(Kevan George Marks)
Kaipara
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers