Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jun 27, 2016 6:05:13 GMT 12
Taranaki Daily News 27/6/16
SIMPLER OPTION
Chris Manukonga makes an interesting and thoughtful suggestion concerning a Maori voice on the NPDC. However, there was and is another more simple option.
At the last local-body election there were four candidates who identified as Maori. There are over 10,000 registered Maori electors in the district, and if a large percentage of them had voted, the Council could have had four able councillors committed to pursuing whole community needs from a Maori perspective. It could have been a powerful vindication of the democratic process, and arguably preferable to the appointment of an unelected lone-wolf voice [possibly lame-duck] of more symbolic than tangible value, having as much effect on promoting Maori aspirations as raindancing has on the weather.
Unfortunately the former electoral mobilsation did not occur. Did Maori "drop the ball" at the last local-body election? I suspect not. To use a phrase coined by a current mayoral aspirant, "roads and water" probably do not resonate strongly with the Maori community. Perhaps Maori accord a higher priority to addressing the huge social issues confronting them across a wide range of depressingly negative over-representations. Probably addressing the above challenges occupies Maori more than having a token, feel-good voice in local government, which, rightly or wrongly, they might regard as an irrelevant sideshow.
W S
New Plymouth
Southland Times 27/6/16
DECIDING A PATH
It brought joy to me to see our homeland exit the European Union with all it's politically correct way of life. It also means that Britain can determine its own future and go back to its countries values.
It also looks as though parts of Great Britain that did not vote in favor of the exit (Scotland and Northern Ireland) may vote for independence from Britain (England and Wales) and return to the European Union where there is value for them. It may take many years to sever these legal ties.
There is some learning here for New Zealand. Could we get away from our Treaty of Waitangi which was a treaty between the crown (Britain) and the local Maori population which may have been good at the time, but now serves us no good? In fact, it does more than that, it divides our nation into Maoridom and everyone else.
And tongue in cheek, we could satisfy both parties on this New Zealand issue. The North Island (to be named Aoteoroa) could have those that vote for retaining the treaty and its benefits for some, while the South Island (named New Zealand) could be a separate country for those wishing to exit the treaty.
The rugby teams for both new countries could create some excellent rivalry and give the Welsh a chance of some day beating one of us. Being the product and power generating country, we would sell our food and electricity to Aoteoroa and not have to watch our TV station constantly going on about housing and immigration issues in you know where. The newly rebuilt Christchurch would make an excellent capital of New Zealand.
N C
Otatara
SIMPLER OPTION
Chris Manukonga makes an interesting and thoughtful suggestion concerning a Maori voice on the NPDC. However, there was and is another more simple option.
At the last local-body election there were four candidates who identified as Maori. There are over 10,000 registered Maori electors in the district, and if a large percentage of them had voted, the Council could have had four able councillors committed to pursuing whole community needs from a Maori perspective. It could have been a powerful vindication of the democratic process, and arguably preferable to the appointment of an unelected lone-wolf voice [possibly lame-duck] of more symbolic than tangible value, having as much effect on promoting Maori aspirations as raindancing has on the weather.
Unfortunately the former electoral mobilsation did not occur. Did Maori "drop the ball" at the last local-body election? I suspect not. To use a phrase coined by a current mayoral aspirant, "roads and water" probably do not resonate strongly with the Maori community. Perhaps Maori accord a higher priority to addressing the huge social issues confronting them across a wide range of depressingly negative over-representations. Probably addressing the above challenges occupies Maori more than having a token, feel-good voice in local government, which, rightly or wrongly, they might regard as an irrelevant sideshow.
W S
New Plymouth
Southland Times 27/6/16
DECIDING A PATH
It brought joy to me to see our homeland exit the European Union with all it's politically correct way of life. It also means that Britain can determine its own future and go back to its countries values.
It also looks as though parts of Great Britain that did not vote in favor of the exit (Scotland and Northern Ireland) may vote for independence from Britain (England and Wales) and return to the European Union where there is value for them. It may take many years to sever these legal ties.
There is some learning here for New Zealand. Could we get away from our Treaty of Waitangi which was a treaty between the crown (Britain) and the local Maori population which may have been good at the time, but now serves us no good? In fact, it does more than that, it divides our nation into Maoridom and everyone else.
And tongue in cheek, we could satisfy both parties on this New Zealand issue. The North Island (to be named Aoteoroa) could have those that vote for retaining the treaty and its benefits for some, while the South Island (named New Zealand) could be a separate country for those wishing to exit the treaty.
The rugby teams for both new countries could create some excellent rivalry and give the Welsh a chance of some day beating one of us. Being the product and power generating country, we would sell our food and electricity to Aoteoroa and not have to watch our TV station constantly going on about housing and immigration issues in you know where. The newly rebuilt Christchurch would make an excellent capital of New Zealand.
N C
Otatara