Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 21, 2016 6:33:05 GMT 12
Wanganui Chronicle 21/5/16
MAORI DEBATE
I am one of the authors of One Treaty, One Nation.
Two of your correspondents have made sweeping claims that we present "ill-based anti-Maori rants' (H Norton, May 13th and "target Maori with their vitriol and dross" (Gaylene Kendrick, May 14). These comments are ignorant and opposite to the truth; neither of the writers knows anything about us.
I have spent 16 years, from 1985, working on the situation of Maori, most often for Maori academics and organisations. I have expressed concern for the misery described by the statistics that I gathered and presented. To me, all are fellow human beings — nothing more, nothing less.
I have since made many studies of our history. This country was formed and built by human beings with many characteristics, which were largely individual and not race-based. The long list would include George Grey, Tamihana Te Raupara ha, Gore Browne, Te Wherowhero, William Spain, Rewi Maniapoto and many others.
I have written a book about two of the most important — Two Great New Zealanders, Tamati Waka Nene and Apirana Ngata. The race-based division of our nation is distressing. There should be no place for such vicious attacks; the debate should be on the issues and not personal abuse.
JOHN ROBINSON
Wellington
Wairarapa Times-Age 21/5/16
CULTURE CRINGE
The arguments of those who support the appointment of Maori members to MDC committees fall mainly into three groups.
The predictable and knee jerk response of ‘racism’ for opposing arguments, complaints that some correspondents are not locally based and the totally spurious claims that the Treaty somehow validates equal partnership and cogovernance. However, I suspect for many there is the concern that such moves will address or compensate for the over representation of ‘Maori’ in a number of undesirable statistics — prison population, family violence, child abuse, poor health outcomes. Indeed you have alluded to this in at least two editorials this year.
These representation levels tend to correlate with a number of social factors (not confined to Maori) such as low educational achievement, benefit dependency, high alcohol and drug use, smoking and family breakdown. While I remain opposed to affirmative action and believe that each individual makes his/ her own choices in life and should be accountable for them, such circumstances are most certainly not the best place to start to achieve success.
These problems will not be fixed by appointing iwi leaders to council committees, having Maori wards, worrying how broadcasters pronounce ‘ Taupo’, or by promoting bizarre superstitions in hospitals. These projects are jobs for the boys and to assuage middle class guilt. Nor are matters helped by those Maori leaders who don’t care about the problems, look the other way/find them too hard, or are in denial.
A report found that a significant proportion of prison inmates (presumably including many ‘Maori’) were functionally illiterate and/or suffered from learning disabilities. This is a shameful indictment of our education and social services and presumably parents/caregivers as well. While much improved educational outcomes may not solve everything, I am convinced it would make a huge difference, not least with unskilled work less frequently available now. It is noteworthy that most Maori ‘leaders’ have achieved academically and are certainly very articulate in English. I believe we need to return to more traditional forms of education with stricter discipline and performance standards, and to rid ourselves of the so- called ‘ tyranny of low expectations’. This is particularly necessary if children do not have support at home. There is no need for ‘culturally based’ programmes, although these may be a means to an end in some cases. The success of children of immigrants with no recourse to their ‘ cultural’ backgrounds makes the point.
It is extremely disappointing that the educational establishment, ( particularly NZEI), although heavily into ‘cultural’ issues, almost fanatically opposes any initiatives, such as charter schools, national standards and bulk funding, which might actually make a difference.
D F
Masterton
TEXT section
■ I congratulate Jim Rimene for what he said in last Monday's paper 16/5/16. I agree with him that any one & this is the way it must stand now & the future, if those wishing to stand & hopefully be elected to become a councillor for the district councils good luck to you, go for it we need fresh blood. No one or parties should be able to unless a councillor should be able to sit in at meetings plus voting rights plus paid $200 a meeting. I dont care who they are. let it be pakeha or maori, good on mr Caffell & mr Goodwin.Yes I would like to see a maori person become an elected councillor as they too have will have a great input for the masterton district & for us rat payers, of course. (Bob)
Northern Advocate 21/5/16
CAN OF WORMS
I agree with Mitch Morgan (Filthy, May 13). Although I don't personally have a lot of time for Mike Hosking. I think he's self-centred, self-opinionated and talks Toni Street down too much on TV.
But I totally agree with no special seats for Maori or anybody for that matter, on councils. It's the thin edge of the wedge. Anyone who stands for council does so on their own merit. They have to get their act together and believe and sell themselves to ratepayers. If Maori want something then they need to get up and go for it.
Life's not easy out there and a councillor has to put in a lot of time reading documents, etc. It's time consuming so you've got to be up to it. I don't agree with Mitch on council referenda on the issue. You'll only open a can of worms on the issue It's nondebatable.
I can remember an Asian New Zealander — a very well-spoken gentleman. Can't remember his name, when this same issue came up a few years ago and he became a very good mayor. He was dead against this process as he said one has to be one's self. It was a South Island town.
JE H
Rd1, Kamo
MAORI DEBATE
I am one of the authors of One Treaty, One Nation.
Two of your correspondents have made sweeping claims that we present "ill-based anti-Maori rants' (H Norton, May 13th and "target Maori with their vitriol and dross" (Gaylene Kendrick, May 14). These comments are ignorant and opposite to the truth; neither of the writers knows anything about us.
I have spent 16 years, from 1985, working on the situation of Maori, most often for Maori academics and organisations. I have expressed concern for the misery described by the statistics that I gathered and presented. To me, all are fellow human beings — nothing more, nothing less.
I have since made many studies of our history. This country was formed and built by human beings with many characteristics, which were largely individual and not race-based. The long list would include George Grey, Tamihana Te Raupara ha, Gore Browne, Te Wherowhero, William Spain, Rewi Maniapoto and many others.
I have written a book about two of the most important — Two Great New Zealanders, Tamati Waka Nene and Apirana Ngata. The race-based division of our nation is distressing. There should be no place for such vicious attacks; the debate should be on the issues and not personal abuse.
JOHN ROBINSON
Wellington
Wairarapa Times-Age 21/5/16
CULTURE CRINGE
The arguments of those who support the appointment of Maori members to MDC committees fall mainly into three groups.
The predictable and knee jerk response of ‘racism’ for opposing arguments, complaints that some correspondents are not locally based and the totally spurious claims that the Treaty somehow validates equal partnership and cogovernance. However, I suspect for many there is the concern that such moves will address or compensate for the over representation of ‘Maori’ in a number of undesirable statistics — prison population, family violence, child abuse, poor health outcomes. Indeed you have alluded to this in at least two editorials this year.
These representation levels tend to correlate with a number of social factors (not confined to Maori) such as low educational achievement, benefit dependency, high alcohol and drug use, smoking and family breakdown. While I remain opposed to affirmative action and believe that each individual makes his/ her own choices in life and should be accountable for them, such circumstances are most certainly not the best place to start to achieve success.
These problems will not be fixed by appointing iwi leaders to council committees, having Maori wards, worrying how broadcasters pronounce ‘ Taupo’, or by promoting bizarre superstitions in hospitals. These projects are jobs for the boys and to assuage middle class guilt. Nor are matters helped by those Maori leaders who don’t care about the problems, look the other way/find them too hard, or are in denial.
A report found that a significant proportion of prison inmates (presumably including many ‘Maori’) were functionally illiterate and/or suffered from learning disabilities. This is a shameful indictment of our education and social services and presumably parents/caregivers as well. While much improved educational outcomes may not solve everything, I am convinced it would make a huge difference, not least with unskilled work less frequently available now. It is noteworthy that most Maori ‘leaders’ have achieved academically and are certainly very articulate in English. I believe we need to return to more traditional forms of education with stricter discipline and performance standards, and to rid ourselves of the so- called ‘ tyranny of low expectations’. This is particularly necessary if children do not have support at home. There is no need for ‘culturally based’ programmes, although these may be a means to an end in some cases. The success of children of immigrants with no recourse to their ‘ cultural’ backgrounds makes the point.
It is extremely disappointing that the educational establishment, ( particularly NZEI), although heavily into ‘cultural’ issues, almost fanatically opposes any initiatives, such as charter schools, national standards and bulk funding, which might actually make a difference.
D F
Masterton
TEXT section
■ I congratulate Jim Rimene for what he said in last Monday's paper 16/5/16. I agree with him that any one & this is the way it must stand now & the future, if those wishing to stand & hopefully be elected to become a councillor for the district councils good luck to you, go for it we need fresh blood. No one or parties should be able to unless a councillor should be able to sit in at meetings plus voting rights plus paid $200 a meeting. I dont care who they are. let it be pakeha or maori, good on mr Caffell & mr Goodwin.Yes I would like to see a maori person become an elected councillor as they too have will have a great input for the masterton district & for us rat payers, of course. (Bob)
Northern Advocate 21/5/16
CAN OF WORMS
I agree with Mitch Morgan (Filthy, May 13). Although I don't personally have a lot of time for Mike Hosking. I think he's self-centred, self-opinionated and talks Toni Street down too much on TV.
But I totally agree with no special seats for Maori or anybody for that matter, on councils. It's the thin edge of the wedge. Anyone who stands for council does so on their own merit. They have to get their act together and believe and sell themselves to ratepayers. If Maori want something then they need to get up and go for it.
Life's not easy out there and a councillor has to put in a lot of time reading documents, etc. It's time consuming so you've got to be up to it. I don't agree with Mitch on council referenda on the issue. You'll only open a can of worms on the issue It's nondebatable.
I can remember an Asian New Zealander — a very well-spoken gentleman. Can't remember his name, when this same issue came up a few years ago and he became a very good mayor. He was dead against this process as he said one has to be one's self. It was a South Island town.
JE H
Rd1, Kamo