Post by Kiwi Frontline on Sept 18, 2016 9:09:33 GMT 12
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Waikato Times 2/4/16)
In the "Waikato Times" for Friday, 1/4/16, one Tom O'Connor gives a highly distorted account of hostilities in the Waikato in the 1860s.
No good is served by such material which serves only to stir up animosities today which we do not need. To give an accurate account, I have written the article attached for which I hope you will find space in your columns. At the least it does provide some balance but I hope you will agree that it achieves much more.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 24/3/16)
Last week Tommy Wilson wrote an impressive column about family responsibilities - this week, he will have angered most of the populace.
HIs lauding of the successes of Tainui and Ngai Tahu is short on facts. Certainly they have made prudent investments from their Treaty settlements, but their money has been stashed into charities. Ngai Tahu Charitable Trust is one of the wealthiest businesses in the country and pays no income tax at all. Four of these multi-million dollar, tax-free enterprises, are Shotover Jet, Glacier Guides, Go Bus and Rainbow Springs.
Waikato-Tainui also have a large portfolio of tax-free properties, including their retail development, The Base, in Hamilton.
In 2001 Michael Cullen, proposed that trading operations of charities be taxed. This didn't happen - and since Maori tribal organisations are based on blood ties, they failed the common law public benefit test. But, as a result of intense lobbying, the Labour government changed the law enabling them to gain charitable status.
Perhaps its time we called for the trading operations of charities to be taxed – as proposed by Michael Cullen!
R B
Tauranga
In the "Waikato Times" for Friday, 1/4/16, one Tom O'Connor gives a highly distorted account of hostilities in the Waikato in the 1860s.
No good is served by such material which serves only to stir up animosities today which we do not need. To give an accurate account, I have written the article attached for which I hope you will find space in your columns. At the least it does provide some balance but I hope you will agree that it achieves much more.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 24/3/16)
Last week Tommy Wilson wrote an impressive column about family responsibilities - this week, he will have angered most of the populace.
HIs lauding of the successes of Tainui and Ngai Tahu is short on facts. Certainly they have made prudent investments from their Treaty settlements, but their money has been stashed into charities. Ngai Tahu Charitable Trust is one of the wealthiest businesses in the country and pays no income tax at all. Four of these multi-million dollar, tax-free enterprises, are Shotover Jet, Glacier Guides, Go Bus and Rainbow Springs.
Waikato-Tainui also have a large portfolio of tax-free properties, including their retail development, The Base, in Hamilton.
In 2001 Michael Cullen, proposed that trading operations of charities be taxed. This didn't happen - and since Maori tribal organisations are based on blood ties, they failed the common law public benefit test. But, as a result of intense lobbying, the Labour government changed the law enabling them to gain charitable status.
Perhaps its time we called for the trading operations of charities to be taxed – as proposed by Michael Cullen!
R B
Tauranga