Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 24, 2021 10:49:58 GMT 12
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Weekend Sun / Sunlive letters 21/5/21
FRESH WATER MATTERS
The arrogance of the current government was highlighted by Local Government Minister Mahuta’s message to the president of Local Government New Zealand, Stuart Crosby, on funding $1 million for engaging Maori on freshwater matters.
“This is now your core business’; this is now your core business, whether you like it or not”.
Just a further demonstration of a political party having the majority in Parliament, demanding local and regional bodies implement changes that were never contained in their election manifesto. Unbridled power that has not been part of New Zealand’s electoral system since Muldoon’s time. No carrot, just a big stick approach!
JIM SHERLOCK, Tauranga.
.
KIA KAHA NEW ZEALAND
Every New Zealander without a racist agenda acknowledges Maori and European were victims of atrocities.
We present day New Zealanders are not responsible. Our responsibility is fostering peace, harmony and inclusiveness of our people and country.
Unfortunately these efforts are often stymied by over-zealous journalists thoughtlessly complicating matters through peddling disunity and distorted, biased opinions rather than unbiased, researched facts. Their targets are the gullible whom they influence and manipulate with what they see as successful, award worthy, journalism. Meanwhile majority New Zealand is delivered yet another metaphorical "slap across the face”.
Speak up New Zealand. Think independently. Don't be afraid to have an opinion when you observe what is clearly one race lauding it over another with yet another entitlement demand.
"She'll be right" doesn't cut it anymore. It won't be.
The world is sick. We are being sucked into the racial entitlement vortex. Rise up New Zealand and in contrast protest peaceably.
Complacency is an opiate which rocks us to sleep.
Use our elected (by the majority) Members of Parliament for Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua electorates. You speak, they serve.
The power is in our hands when we are courageous.
Kia kaha (be strong!)
LANA TE WIATA -WRIGHT, Ohauiti
.
CHANGE THE NAME (Greerton)
Tommy Wilson's arrogance in wanting to change the name of Greerton is breath-taking. He doesn’t say why the name should be changed. Although he glorifies Maori having repelled the first assault by the British at Gate Pa I suspect he doesn’t like being reminded of the disastrous defeat that followed at Te Ranga.
There is no historic evidence that supports his claim women and children were killed at either Gate Pa or Te Ranga. Is it a figment of Tommy’s imagination or a disingenuous attempt by him to blacken the reputations of Greer and Cameron? Tommy advocated ‘in depth’ consultation with Ngati Te Ranginui and Hapus. The views of Greerton residents and the wider Tauranga community are it seems to be of no consideration.
These battles would not have happened if the Ngai Te Rangi chief Rawiri Puhirake had not challenged the British to a fight. He even built a road to his Pa so the British would not be too tired to fight when they arrived! He got his wish when he moved to Gate Pa. He died at Te Ranga. He is remembered by having Puhirake Crescent at The Lakes named after him. Should this be changed?
RICHARD PRINCE, Welcome Bay.
.
.
Herald on Sunday 23/5/21
HISTORY MUST BE IN UNBIASED FORMAT
I feel increasingly apprehensive about where the extensive and rapid adopting of Government anti-racism policies and programmes will lead. Yes, we need to be taught our history, but not in a biased format.
My concern is that government policies based on separatism and new programmes being implemented now — e.g. teaching of white privilege — will, rather than address perceived systemic racism, generate fear in white New Zealanders, fuelling racism, extremism and, later, far-right activism.
We shouldn't be made to feel guilty and be paying for the "sins of the fathers". No race should New Zealand is a multi-cultural country.
PADDI HODGKISS, Rotorua
.
MAJORITY PRIVILEGE
An article about "systemic racism" and "white privilege" included a quote from an expert saying white privilege is about culture not race ("It is ignorance breeding fear", Herald on Sunday, May 16).
Then why call it "white”, especially when we all know it is really majority privilege (in other countries it will have a different colour). In the real world (not academia), blaming "whiteness as a system" is exactly the same as blaming white people.
And systemic racial inequity should not be called "racism" until we know how the unequal outcomes are caused. Anyway, such a big, complex phenomenon is not likely to have a single cause.
GAVAN O'FARRELL, Lower Hutt
.
.
Rotorua Daily Post ( tinyurl.com/yeytzxb3 )
DEMOCRACY DEAD AND BURIED IN ROTORUA
Today marked the end of Democracy once again in Rotorua.
Six years ago the Rotorua Lakes Council kicked Democracy out of the back door and implemented a change of Governance where-by un-elected Maori representatives were appointed by Te Arawa to sit around the Council table.
This was despite the fact that a Maori Standing Committee was already providing the so- called Maori view.
Today, Democracy was well and truely buried in Rotorua with the decision to appoint Maori wards to the Rotorua Lakes Council. This is despite the fact that currently four of the ten Councillors are Maori, plus the continuing presence of the Standing Committee.
Sure, the Government have influenced the democracy issue with their racist decision to eliminate the safeguard criteria of the 5% rule, despite the fact that the majority of kiwis are against this Maori privilege.
For the record, the definition of Democracy is quite clear - all citizens are equal under the law. No one may be discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity group, or gender.
Role on the Representation Review.
MIKE MCVICKER, Rotorua
Weekend Sun / Sunlive letters 21/5/21
FRESH WATER MATTERS
The arrogance of the current government was highlighted by Local Government Minister Mahuta’s message to the president of Local Government New Zealand, Stuart Crosby, on funding $1 million for engaging Maori on freshwater matters.
“This is now your core business’; this is now your core business, whether you like it or not”.
Just a further demonstration of a political party having the majority in Parliament, demanding local and regional bodies implement changes that were never contained in their election manifesto. Unbridled power that has not been part of New Zealand’s electoral system since Muldoon’s time. No carrot, just a big stick approach!
JIM SHERLOCK, Tauranga.
.
KIA KAHA NEW ZEALAND
Every New Zealander without a racist agenda acknowledges Maori and European were victims of atrocities.
We present day New Zealanders are not responsible. Our responsibility is fostering peace, harmony and inclusiveness of our people and country.
Unfortunately these efforts are often stymied by over-zealous journalists thoughtlessly complicating matters through peddling disunity and distorted, biased opinions rather than unbiased, researched facts. Their targets are the gullible whom they influence and manipulate with what they see as successful, award worthy, journalism. Meanwhile majority New Zealand is delivered yet another metaphorical "slap across the face”.
Speak up New Zealand. Think independently. Don't be afraid to have an opinion when you observe what is clearly one race lauding it over another with yet another entitlement demand.
"She'll be right" doesn't cut it anymore. It won't be.
The world is sick. We are being sucked into the racial entitlement vortex. Rise up New Zealand and in contrast protest peaceably.
Complacency is an opiate which rocks us to sleep.
Use our elected (by the majority) Members of Parliament for Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua electorates. You speak, they serve.
The power is in our hands when we are courageous.
Kia kaha (be strong!)
LANA TE WIATA -WRIGHT, Ohauiti
.
CHANGE THE NAME (Greerton)
Tommy Wilson's arrogance in wanting to change the name of Greerton is breath-taking. He doesn’t say why the name should be changed. Although he glorifies Maori having repelled the first assault by the British at Gate Pa I suspect he doesn’t like being reminded of the disastrous defeat that followed at Te Ranga.
There is no historic evidence that supports his claim women and children were killed at either Gate Pa or Te Ranga. Is it a figment of Tommy’s imagination or a disingenuous attempt by him to blacken the reputations of Greer and Cameron? Tommy advocated ‘in depth’ consultation with Ngati Te Ranginui and Hapus. The views of Greerton residents and the wider Tauranga community are it seems to be of no consideration.
These battles would not have happened if the Ngai Te Rangi chief Rawiri Puhirake had not challenged the British to a fight. He even built a road to his Pa so the British would not be too tired to fight when they arrived! He got his wish when he moved to Gate Pa. He died at Te Ranga. He is remembered by having Puhirake Crescent at The Lakes named after him. Should this be changed?
RICHARD PRINCE, Welcome Bay.
.
.
Herald on Sunday 23/5/21
HISTORY MUST BE IN UNBIASED FORMAT
I feel increasingly apprehensive about where the extensive and rapid adopting of Government anti-racism policies and programmes will lead. Yes, we need to be taught our history, but not in a biased format.
My concern is that government policies based on separatism and new programmes being implemented now — e.g. teaching of white privilege — will, rather than address perceived systemic racism, generate fear in white New Zealanders, fuelling racism, extremism and, later, far-right activism.
We shouldn't be made to feel guilty and be paying for the "sins of the fathers". No race should New Zealand is a multi-cultural country.
PADDI HODGKISS, Rotorua
.
MAJORITY PRIVILEGE
An article about "systemic racism" and "white privilege" included a quote from an expert saying white privilege is about culture not race ("It is ignorance breeding fear", Herald on Sunday, May 16).
Then why call it "white”, especially when we all know it is really majority privilege (in other countries it will have a different colour). In the real world (not academia), blaming "whiteness as a system" is exactly the same as blaming white people.
And systemic racial inequity should not be called "racism" until we know how the unequal outcomes are caused. Anyway, such a big, complex phenomenon is not likely to have a single cause.
GAVAN O'FARRELL, Lower Hutt
.
.
Rotorua Daily Post ( tinyurl.com/yeytzxb3 )
DEMOCRACY DEAD AND BURIED IN ROTORUA
Today marked the end of Democracy once again in Rotorua.
Six years ago the Rotorua Lakes Council kicked Democracy out of the back door and implemented a change of Governance where-by un-elected Maori representatives were appointed by Te Arawa to sit around the Council table.
This was despite the fact that a Maori Standing Committee was already providing the so- called Maori view.
Today, Democracy was well and truely buried in Rotorua with the decision to appoint Maori wards to the Rotorua Lakes Council. This is despite the fact that currently four of the ten Councillors are Maori, plus the continuing presence of the Standing Committee.
Sure, the Government have influenced the democracy issue with their racist decision to eliminate the safeguard criteria of the 5% rule, despite the fact that the majority of kiwis are against this Maori privilege.
For the record, the definition of Democracy is quite clear - all citizens are equal under the law. No one may be discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity group, or gender.
Role on the Representation Review.
MIKE MCVICKER, Rotorua