Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jun 4, 2016 5:47:16 GMT 12
Wanganui Chronicle 4/6/16
MAORI HERITAGE
For the edification of John Archer (Letters, May 24): The effect of the North Atlantic nation, dominated by self-centred white males, has been to enable the sell-anointed indigenous peoples of the South Pacific nations to emerge from Stone Age existence to the point where they can claim an equal footing on the world stage.
You cannot impress me with comments about Ngati Tuma-tauenga — I was part of that tribe for over 20 years. From my days as a platoon commander overseas in 1970, and as a company commander in 1922, I can tell you over 50 per cent of my soldiers laid claim to Maori heritage. They saw no difference between themselves and their non-Maori brothers in arms. I was criticised once for saying I could solve a particular United Nations problem with accompany of Maori soldiers. I had the privilege of being the "military mentor for the 1RNZIR concert party in the early 1980s.
On the issue of "plateau" land, I was unaware the granting of leases of the Te Atihau land was dependent on the stature of the non-Maori farmers. How small did one have to be to qualify? Is the taking back of these leases since 1970 of any relevance? The scholarships you mention ... are they for persons with a degree of Maori heritage or do they apply for all races?
I would suggest the Rangipo desert area stopped feeding the locals with eggs and meat after 600 years because the egg-layers and meat providers had been hunted to extinction. You forget to mention that the largest farming group in the region was the Hardings, and when I last spoke to them, there was not a lot of Maori blood in the family.
As for Te Putake, I make a point of reading every word published. Because of this I am fully entitled to ask why it is necessary to have such a supplement. Lets take my view that there is nothing in there that could not, nor should not, be part of the daily Chronicle. If you then take the view that it is specific to Maori, why do stories with a Maori flavour appear on a daily basis in the paper? In a place like Wanganui a lot of stories involve Maori, so how can some be directed towards the general population and others held back to appear in a monthly insert specifically annotated for Maori? Publish it in to reo for those who speak and read the language on a daily basis and I will agree to its publication or scrap it for being a racial publication.
D P
Eastown
Wairarapa Times-Age 4/6/16
POLITICAL CAPITAL
The iwi representatives who were at the special council meeting at which my Notice of Motion was put to delay the appointment of unelected iwi representatives to standing committees of the MDC with voting rights have accused me of political motives. They seem to think I took my stand because of a possible mayoralty bid.
Any reasonable person, however, would see that as a complete misrepresentation of my position. My argument wholly and solely was about process, that we had less than 24 hours to digest the full ramifications of the recommendations being made to us and that by allowing the new council to act on them in October we would be opening the door to consulting properly with the general public. And I still hold very firmly to those thoughts. If the iwi reps are looking to single out anybody trying to make political capital out of this I'm sure many readers could tell them where to look.
GARY CAFFELL
Masterton
Bay of Plenty Times 4/6/16
LOAD OF RUBBISH
What a load of rubbish for a public health professor to suggest that the rise in the cost of cigarettes is racist. Nobody forced Maori to smoke and if they can't afford it they shouldn't be smoking any way, their money should be going on essentials if money is tight. I get brassed off when people make excuses for Maori being at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.
A W
Tauranga
Bay of Plenty Times 3/6/16
HOMES? OPEN UP MAORI LAND
In response to Peter Dey (Letters, May 31), yes the housing problem is serious and everyone needs to do what they can
Thousands of New Zealanders have bought houses with no help from the Government. As to treaty settlements, what we see reported shows that Maori trusts are getting millions of dollars and surely with their large land holding they can build affordable houses for their people. After all the trusts already own the land so even $1 million would probably enable five or six houses to be built.
If the Mangatawa Papamoa Block can achieve this then why can’t the other Maori trusts? (Abridged)
R D
Mt Maunganui
MAORI HERITAGE
For the edification of John Archer (Letters, May 24): The effect of the North Atlantic nation, dominated by self-centred white males, has been to enable the sell-anointed indigenous peoples of the South Pacific nations to emerge from Stone Age existence to the point where they can claim an equal footing on the world stage.
You cannot impress me with comments about Ngati Tuma-tauenga — I was part of that tribe for over 20 years. From my days as a platoon commander overseas in 1970, and as a company commander in 1922, I can tell you over 50 per cent of my soldiers laid claim to Maori heritage. They saw no difference between themselves and their non-Maori brothers in arms. I was criticised once for saying I could solve a particular United Nations problem with accompany of Maori soldiers. I had the privilege of being the "military mentor for the 1RNZIR concert party in the early 1980s.
On the issue of "plateau" land, I was unaware the granting of leases of the Te Atihau land was dependent on the stature of the non-Maori farmers. How small did one have to be to qualify? Is the taking back of these leases since 1970 of any relevance? The scholarships you mention ... are they for persons with a degree of Maori heritage or do they apply for all races?
I would suggest the Rangipo desert area stopped feeding the locals with eggs and meat after 600 years because the egg-layers and meat providers had been hunted to extinction. You forget to mention that the largest farming group in the region was the Hardings, and when I last spoke to them, there was not a lot of Maori blood in the family.
As for Te Putake, I make a point of reading every word published. Because of this I am fully entitled to ask why it is necessary to have such a supplement. Lets take my view that there is nothing in there that could not, nor should not, be part of the daily Chronicle. If you then take the view that it is specific to Maori, why do stories with a Maori flavour appear on a daily basis in the paper? In a place like Wanganui a lot of stories involve Maori, so how can some be directed towards the general population and others held back to appear in a monthly insert specifically annotated for Maori? Publish it in to reo for those who speak and read the language on a daily basis and I will agree to its publication or scrap it for being a racial publication.
D P
Eastown
Wairarapa Times-Age 4/6/16
POLITICAL CAPITAL
The iwi representatives who were at the special council meeting at which my Notice of Motion was put to delay the appointment of unelected iwi representatives to standing committees of the MDC with voting rights have accused me of political motives. They seem to think I took my stand because of a possible mayoralty bid.
Any reasonable person, however, would see that as a complete misrepresentation of my position. My argument wholly and solely was about process, that we had less than 24 hours to digest the full ramifications of the recommendations being made to us and that by allowing the new council to act on them in October we would be opening the door to consulting properly with the general public. And I still hold very firmly to those thoughts. If the iwi reps are looking to single out anybody trying to make political capital out of this I'm sure many readers could tell them where to look.
GARY CAFFELL
Masterton
Bay of Plenty Times 4/6/16
LOAD OF RUBBISH
What a load of rubbish for a public health professor to suggest that the rise in the cost of cigarettes is racist. Nobody forced Maori to smoke and if they can't afford it they shouldn't be smoking any way, their money should be going on essentials if money is tight. I get brassed off when people make excuses for Maori being at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.
A W
Tauranga
Bay of Plenty Times 3/6/16
HOMES? OPEN UP MAORI LAND
In response to Peter Dey (Letters, May 31), yes the housing problem is serious and everyone needs to do what they can
Thousands of New Zealanders have bought houses with no help from the Government. As to treaty settlements, what we see reported shows that Maori trusts are getting millions of dollars and surely with their large land holding they can build affordable houses for their people. After all the trusts already own the land so even $1 million would probably enable five or six houses to be built.
If the Mangatawa Papamoa Block can achieve this then why can’t the other Maori trusts? (Abridged)
R D
Mt Maunganui