Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 31, 2019 7:08:02 GMT 12
Otago Daily Times 31/5/19
IWI SEATS
MICHAEL Laws is talking about the Otago Regional Council’s lack of democracy.
It is nothing to do with Ngai Tahu’s history or the Treaty of Waitangi. It is all about democracy — equality for all, not preferential treatment for a minority group.
Our country is supposed to be one law for all. Most things in life are a privilege, not a Godgiven right.
Kiwis seem to be getting dumb and dumber. It’s not about racism. Why has everyone become so precious?
C. HUMPHREYS, Katikati
SUZANNE MenziesCulling (letters, 18.5.19) berates democracy because the Maori Representation Bill 1867 ‘‘limited Maori voters to four seats in Parliament’’.
The Act granted Maori men universal suffrage 12 years before Pakeha men, who faced property qualifications until 1879.
One hundred and fiftytwo years later, this act of discrimination favouring Maori is turned on its head as yet another cause for grievance.
The claim that ‘‘rangatiratanga’’ in Article Two of Te Tiriti o Waitangi somehow survives in isolation from the rest of the Treaty (ceding sovereignty with the protection of possessions unless sold to the Crown, in return granting the same rights and duties as British citizens) is an oftrepeated and fanciful misinterpretation of the Treaty.
It is like claiming the benefits of an insurance policy without paying the premium.
BRUCE MASON, Ranfurly
The Press 31/5/19
TE TAUMATA
Will Ta Mark Solomon’s leadership, generosity of vision and his foresight as chair of Te Taumata, a body which represents nine South Island iwi, extend to ensuring that the business activities of iwi pay their fair share of income tax as a contribution towards the greater public good, or will they be hidden under the mantle of charity, thereby paying no income tax?
DR MICHAEL GOUSMETT, Rangiora
Bay of Plenty Times 31/5/19
COOK DID MANY GREAT THINGS FOR NZ
In a recent article about Captain Cook, Lizzie Marvelly (Opinion, May 18) referred to current discussion which suggested Cook’s arrival in New Zealand in 1769 should not be celebrated because his influence was not good for resident Maori.
Cook was a navigator and arrived after observing the transit of Venus in Tahiti, which was the purpose of his voyage.
He ordered that his men were considerate to native people and treat them with respect.
Cook had to find a port to reprovision and take on water and he was not always well received.
It should be remembered that Maori were not a unified people, were hunter-gatherers and defended their hunting areas tenaciously.
Pa were normally located in good defensive positions and because there were no mammals in New Zealand, human captives were often eaten after conflict between tribes.
Cook introduced pigs and maize and gave them to Maori in Queen Charlotte Sound so that he could reprovision his ships there in the future.
He also charted the New Zealand coast and drew detailed and accurate maps and wrote about the Maori people. His contribution to New Zealand was significant. Bethlehem A reader suggests Captain Cook’s achievements when he first came to new Zealand are being overlooked.
DAVID SYKES, Bethlehem
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
IWI SEATS
MICHAEL Laws is talking about the Otago Regional Council’s lack of democracy.
It is nothing to do with Ngai Tahu’s history or the Treaty of Waitangi. It is all about democracy — equality for all, not preferential treatment for a minority group.
Our country is supposed to be one law for all. Most things in life are a privilege, not a Godgiven right.
Kiwis seem to be getting dumb and dumber. It’s not about racism. Why has everyone become so precious?
C. HUMPHREYS, Katikati
SUZANNE MenziesCulling (letters, 18.5.19) berates democracy because the Maori Representation Bill 1867 ‘‘limited Maori voters to four seats in Parliament’’.
The Act granted Maori men universal suffrage 12 years before Pakeha men, who faced property qualifications until 1879.
One hundred and fiftytwo years later, this act of discrimination favouring Maori is turned on its head as yet another cause for grievance.
The claim that ‘‘rangatiratanga’’ in Article Two of Te Tiriti o Waitangi somehow survives in isolation from the rest of the Treaty (ceding sovereignty with the protection of possessions unless sold to the Crown, in return granting the same rights and duties as British citizens) is an oftrepeated and fanciful misinterpretation of the Treaty.
It is like claiming the benefits of an insurance policy without paying the premium.
BRUCE MASON, Ranfurly
The Press 31/5/19
TE TAUMATA
Will Ta Mark Solomon’s leadership, generosity of vision and his foresight as chair of Te Taumata, a body which represents nine South Island iwi, extend to ensuring that the business activities of iwi pay their fair share of income tax as a contribution towards the greater public good, or will they be hidden under the mantle of charity, thereby paying no income tax?
DR MICHAEL GOUSMETT, Rangiora
Bay of Plenty Times 31/5/19
COOK DID MANY GREAT THINGS FOR NZ
In a recent article about Captain Cook, Lizzie Marvelly (Opinion, May 18) referred to current discussion which suggested Cook’s arrival in New Zealand in 1769 should not be celebrated because his influence was not good for resident Maori.
Cook was a navigator and arrived after observing the transit of Venus in Tahiti, which was the purpose of his voyage.
He ordered that his men were considerate to native people and treat them with respect.
Cook had to find a port to reprovision and take on water and he was not always well received.
It should be remembered that Maori were not a unified people, were hunter-gatherers and defended their hunting areas tenaciously.
Pa were normally located in good defensive positions and because there were no mammals in New Zealand, human captives were often eaten after conflict between tribes.
Cook introduced pigs and maize and gave them to Maori in Queen Charlotte Sound so that he could reprovision his ships there in the future.
He also charted the New Zealand coast and drew detailed and accurate maps and wrote about the Maori people. His contribution to New Zealand was significant. Bethlehem A reader suggests Captain Cook’s achievements when he first came to new Zealand are being overlooked.
DAVID SYKES, Bethlehem
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers