Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 14, 2019 5:44:09 GMT 12
Northland Age 14/5/19
RULE OF LAW
First there was the suppression of free speech at public venues by Auckland and Nelson mayors and Massey University because of the purported threat to public safety. Now it is public access to a scenic location, Te Mata Peak, by the activities of group fallaciously claiming ethnic privilege.
The police and the government have taken no action to ensure that the safety and rights of the public are maintained. When will the rule of law be honoured?
Wake up New Zealand.
BRYAN JOHNSON, Omokoroa
Waikato Times 14/5/19
HOBSON'S PLEDGE
After years of Maori activists agitating, the Maori Council is finally targeting Hobson's Pledge.
This group comprising part-Maori is solely chaired by 79-year-old Sir Taihakurei Durie with eight executives.
Their interest in Hobson's Pledge is puzzling. Do they fear influences challenging their rampant race-based privilege?
The inane suggestion that Brash and his team wear designer suits, drive late-model European cars and should be held to account is ludicrous. Brash lives modestly driving an older Hyundai car. For enlightenment, let's get serious and reveal the financial details of individual Maori Council executives' assets, either personal, held in trust or otherwise and what cars they drive.
Brash has worked in the business world, Reserve Bank Governor, National Party leader, etc. Let's learn what Maori Council members did for a crust in their working lives.
Brash's renowned 2004 Orewa speech was accurate, very brave and prophetic and most Kiwis supported his views then and now. It's the Maori Council that is irrelevant.
Current statements made on their behalf reek of belligerent, inflammatory hate speech. Have they integrity to state they're not supporting equality before the law, equal treatment for all Kiwis or that we're not one people. That would shatter their credibility.
TONY FELLINGHAM, Tauranga
Taranaki Daily News 14/5/19
THE WORD PAKEHA CAN BE A SLUR
The journalist Glenn McConnell asked the question, "How many times does this need to be said? Pakeha is not a slur."
In to reo Maori he is perfectly correct, but when the word is used in English it is the context and intent of the speaker that controls the true meaning of the word.
The word is neither an English language word, nor really is it a common usage loan-word.
It is very easy to open up a Maori dictionary and list all its potential and correct meanings.
However, one has looked in the wrong dictionary, potentially taken the incorrect context, and side-stepped the point that the word can be used in a very negative, derogatory and condescending way in English.
I am sure that the speaker in Christchurch did not have any such negative intentions when he used the word, but on to a linguistic hornet's nest he stepped.
In the same way that many words with negative racial connotations have gratefully slipped from common usage it would be wise that this particular word slips back into to reo Maori where it is properly and correctly used. Too many people appear to object to the word, and too frequently people use it offensively, so to repeat the question, "How many times does this need to be said?"
DONALD MURRAY, New Plymouth
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
RULE OF LAW
First there was the suppression of free speech at public venues by Auckland and Nelson mayors and Massey University because of the purported threat to public safety. Now it is public access to a scenic location, Te Mata Peak, by the activities of group fallaciously claiming ethnic privilege.
The police and the government have taken no action to ensure that the safety and rights of the public are maintained. When will the rule of law be honoured?
Wake up New Zealand.
BRYAN JOHNSON, Omokoroa
Waikato Times 14/5/19
HOBSON'S PLEDGE
After years of Maori activists agitating, the Maori Council is finally targeting Hobson's Pledge.
This group comprising part-Maori is solely chaired by 79-year-old Sir Taihakurei Durie with eight executives.
Their interest in Hobson's Pledge is puzzling. Do they fear influences challenging their rampant race-based privilege?
The inane suggestion that Brash and his team wear designer suits, drive late-model European cars and should be held to account is ludicrous. Brash lives modestly driving an older Hyundai car. For enlightenment, let's get serious and reveal the financial details of individual Maori Council executives' assets, either personal, held in trust or otherwise and what cars they drive.
Brash has worked in the business world, Reserve Bank Governor, National Party leader, etc. Let's learn what Maori Council members did for a crust in their working lives.
Brash's renowned 2004 Orewa speech was accurate, very brave and prophetic and most Kiwis supported his views then and now. It's the Maori Council that is irrelevant.
Current statements made on their behalf reek of belligerent, inflammatory hate speech. Have they integrity to state they're not supporting equality before the law, equal treatment for all Kiwis or that we're not one people. That would shatter their credibility.
TONY FELLINGHAM, Tauranga
Taranaki Daily News 14/5/19
THE WORD PAKEHA CAN BE A SLUR
The journalist Glenn McConnell asked the question, "How many times does this need to be said? Pakeha is not a slur."
In to reo Maori he is perfectly correct, but when the word is used in English it is the context and intent of the speaker that controls the true meaning of the word.
The word is neither an English language word, nor really is it a common usage loan-word.
It is very easy to open up a Maori dictionary and list all its potential and correct meanings.
However, one has looked in the wrong dictionary, potentially taken the incorrect context, and side-stepped the point that the word can be used in a very negative, derogatory and condescending way in English.
I am sure that the speaker in Christchurch did not have any such negative intentions when he used the word, but on to a linguistic hornet's nest he stepped.
In the same way that many words with negative racial connotations have gratefully slipped from common usage it would be wise that this particular word slips back into to reo Maori where it is properly and correctly used. Too many people appear to object to the word, and too frequently people use it offensively, so to repeat the question, "How many times does this need to be said?"
DONALD MURRAY, New Plymouth
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers