Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 2, 2016 7:51:05 GMT 12
Southland Times 2/11/16
ONE RULE FOR ALL
In response to Nichola Voice labelling me a racist (28/10/16). Principled opposition to unearned racial privilege is not racist and like myself most Kiwis are in favour of racial equality and one rule for all.
I agree we should preserve the unique Maori culture, but it should not be rammed down our throats at every opportunity, these days one cannot open a wardrobe door without a powhiri. Furthermore it should not command endless funding, for instance Maori language initiatives alone costs the New Zealand taxpayer close to $600 million annually.
Of their own free will, 19th-century Maori adopted the colonist language and culture because they could see the benefits, any forcing was at the request of their wise elders.
Maori being indigenous is not a fact, what is a true fact is that by their own admission they came from somewhere else, and only a few hundred years before Europeans.
In 1840 the chiefs signed the governance of their "home" to the Queen of England, therefore Maori culture is not privileged to take centre stage.
Today, New Zealand is home to many cultures and mixed bloodlines which makes New Zealanders who they are, to elevate one culture above others for whatever reason is separatism which Nichola obviously supports.
GEOFFREY T PARKER
Whangarei
The New Zealand Herald 2/11/16
LAND WARS COMMEMORATION
Iwi have decided October 28 will be the date on which the New Zealand Land Wars will be commemorated nationally, starting next year. One thing that has me bemused and should be asked of the Government is why the demanded “Land Wars” commemoration is only, it seems, being discussed with and by iwi. Of the approximately 3000 who died in these wars, some 1000 were British soldiers and militia. It seems their descendants are not being consulted.
My forebears arrived in 1841 and some lost their lives in the Waikato and Taranaki wars. No one has approached me or my family.
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell said he had secured $4 million over four years to support the commemorations, to be known as “Raa Maumahara National Day of Commemoration”. I have the unease this money will used only by iwi for history revision and so to weave a new korowai of victimhood to improve their ideological interests or financial position.
If the wider public, and particularly the descendants of early settlers, are not involved and their views included, then these so-called commemorations will, like Waitangi Day, become another day of ugliness and division.
R P
Tauranga.
Waikato Times 2/11/16
RACE RELATIONS
In 1950 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) released the following statement: "The biological fact of race and the myth of 'race' should be distinguished. For all practical social purposes 'race' is not so much a biological phenomenon as a social myth. The myth 'race' has created an enormous amount of human and social damage. In recent years it has taken a heavy toll in human lives and caused untold suffering. It still prevents the normal development of millions of human beings and deprives civilisation of the effective cooperation of productive minds. The biological differences between ethnic groups should be disregarded from the standpoint of social acceptance and social action. The unity of mankind from both the biological and social viewpoints is the main thing. To recognise this and to act accordingly is the first requirement of modern man."
Now organisations (such as the United Nations and the NZ Government) promote separate racial identity as an ideal. Mankind's future hinges upon ascending from tribalism to unity, but instead we are following a retrograde path leading only to divisiveness and inequality.
The current crusade of politically correct leftists is to destroy democracy, with our successive governments weakly tagging along because of a paranoid dread of being labelled "racist". Notice the terror that afflicts our leaders at the mere mention of binding referenda. They are well aware that racially-slanted policies would have been quashed had the government dared to seek majority opinion.
Activists clamour for racial division, compensation for events in which no one alive today took part, and distort a document of unity into one of apartheid. Until we unearth a leader with the guts to say, "Enough!" we are destined to witness the disintegration of a nation that once led the world in inter-racial harmony.
MITCH MORGAN
Kaipara
Northern Advocate 2/11/16
MINCING WORDS
M Armstrong is correct to write that the Maori text Te Tiriti has primary importance.
Bear in mind that the treaty was drafted in English and translated into Maori and the final draft went missing.
The word “kawanatanga” in the first article was used to translate “sovereignty”, and the word “rangatiratanga” in the second article translates “ownership” or “possession”.
However, the Waitangi Tribunal has redefined “rangatiratanga” to mean “chiefly authority” and makes the contradictory assertion that the treaty ceded sovereignty in Article 1 but confirmed Maori sovereignty in Article 2.
Even the Maori text Article 2 quoted above confirms that the chiefs, tribes, and families owned what they owned, and could sell what they owned, if they wished, at agreed prices.(abridged)
MIKE BUTLER
Hastings
RACIAL DIVIDE
Letter writer Robin Lieffering (October 8) highlights the disastrous ethnically-divided direction in which our country is heading with his poignant statement: “When our family sit around the table together with our grandchildren — three of part-Dutch ancestry, one of part-Niuean ancestry and two of part-Maori ancestry — how can we justify the special rights and services that just two have over the other four?”
An earlier correspondent sadly wrote, “My Maori sons claim they are Maori. What gives them the right to disclaim of their heritage — and who am I then?”
Is this then our future — families divided by genetics, with a minority of children receiving privileges denied to other children because their great-great grandma or grandpa slept with someone of a particular race?
Is this the kind of world you want for your children?
I have one simple request for parents of part-Maori offspring; “Don’t tell your children lies.”
Tell them all of the facts regarding their mixed heritage and let them become a whole person.
Let them become one with other NZers who are all of mixed descent — any denial of this is self-delusion.
Then we have the question of “Who or what is a racist?”
A racist is a person who holds that a sector of our population be granted special privileges (unavailable to all other citizens) because of their race. Are you one of them?
MITCH MORGAN
Kaipara
Gisborne Herald 1/11/16
YOU LOVE TAIRAWHITI, I LOVE POVERTY BAY
Re: Our history is not endangered, October 29 letter.
Thank you for your opinions Linda — we are all entitled to them. You said you are disappointed that I use the same arguments used every time this topic comes up. That simply tells me a lot of people agree with what I wrote. You also stated you do not support a hyphenated name and that my classification was irrelevant. Sorry, but your letter contained that same hyphenated version.
Please, do not tell me that Poverty Bay is an unattractive name that is never used in general conversation. Sorry, but I will guarantee that knowledge of Poverty Bay as a name for our area far exceeds Turanganui-a-Kiwa.
I am certain you love the area you refer to as Tairawhiti (which actually extends down into Hawke’s Bay). I love the area that I, and countless others, refer to as Poverty Bay.
To Tim and Geoff, I know the place where Cook landed was called Turanganui-a-Kiwa by Maori. However, when Cook departed, he referred to it as “Poverty Bay” because it did not provide him with the fresh water and food he required.
According to Cook’s journal his reception was confrontational, possibly because he had no understanding of a Maori challenge. I am sure anyone at that time would have felt very threatened. Cook also went to a place he named The Friendly Islands. I guess he received a better welcome there.
Tim, you mentioned the number of Cook statues in our city. Could you please let me know where all of these are because I only know of the one on Kaiti Hill, mistakenly represented by an Australian sculptor, and the one at the Waikanae Cut.
Once again, please remember Poverty Bay is a historical name given to us by Captain James Cook. It is not a description of the affluent area we reside in today. Poverty Bay it is, and Poverty Bay it should stay.
Our Mayor wants discussion of this matter with local iwi. He had best add the rest of our population into this debate.
M M
ONE RULE FOR ALL
In response to Nichola Voice labelling me a racist (28/10/16). Principled opposition to unearned racial privilege is not racist and like myself most Kiwis are in favour of racial equality and one rule for all.
I agree we should preserve the unique Maori culture, but it should not be rammed down our throats at every opportunity, these days one cannot open a wardrobe door without a powhiri. Furthermore it should not command endless funding, for instance Maori language initiatives alone costs the New Zealand taxpayer close to $600 million annually.
Of their own free will, 19th-century Maori adopted the colonist language and culture because they could see the benefits, any forcing was at the request of their wise elders.
Maori being indigenous is not a fact, what is a true fact is that by their own admission they came from somewhere else, and only a few hundred years before Europeans.
In 1840 the chiefs signed the governance of their "home" to the Queen of England, therefore Maori culture is not privileged to take centre stage.
Today, New Zealand is home to many cultures and mixed bloodlines which makes New Zealanders who they are, to elevate one culture above others for whatever reason is separatism which Nichola obviously supports.
GEOFFREY T PARKER
Whangarei
The New Zealand Herald 2/11/16
LAND WARS COMMEMORATION
Iwi have decided October 28 will be the date on which the New Zealand Land Wars will be commemorated nationally, starting next year. One thing that has me bemused and should be asked of the Government is why the demanded “Land Wars” commemoration is only, it seems, being discussed with and by iwi. Of the approximately 3000 who died in these wars, some 1000 were British soldiers and militia. It seems their descendants are not being consulted.
My forebears arrived in 1841 and some lost their lives in the Waikato and Taranaki wars. No one has approached me or my family.
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell said he had secured $4 million over four years to support the commemorations, to be known as “Raa Maumahara National Day of Commemoration”. I have the unease this money will used only by iwi for history revision and so to weave a new korowai of victimhood to improve their ideological interests or financial position.
If the wider public, and particularly the descendants of early settlers, are not involved and their views included, then these so-called commemorations will, like Waitangi Day, become another day of ugliness and division.
R P
Tauranga.
Waikato Times 2/11/16
RACE RELATIONS
In 1950 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) released the following statement: "The biological fact of race and the myth of 'race' should be distinguished. For all practical social purposes 'race' is not so much a biological phenomenon as a social myth. The myth 'race' has created an enormous amount of human and social damage. In recent years it has taken a heavy toll in human lives and caused untold suffering. It still prevents the normal development of millions of human beings and deprives civilisation of the effective cooperation of productive minds. The biological differences between ethnic groups should be disregarded from the standpoint of social acceptance and social action. The unity of mankind from both the biological and social viewpoints is the main thing. To recognise this and to act accordingly is the first requirement of modern man."
Now organisations (such as the United Nations and the NZ Government) promote separate racial identity as an ideal. Mankind's future hinges upon ascending from tribalism to unity, but instead we are following a retrograde path leading only to divisiveness and inequality.
The current crusade of politically correct leftists is to destroy democracy, with our successive governments weakly tagging along because of a paranoid dread of being labelled "racist". Notice the terror that afflicts our leaders at the mere mention of binding referenda. They are well aware that racially-slanted policies would have been quashed had the government dared to seek majority opinion.
Activists clamour for racial division, compensation for events in which no one alive today took part, and distort a document of unity into one of apartheid. Until we unearth a leader with the guts to say, "Enough!" we are destined to witness the disintegration of a nation that once led the world in inter-racial harmony.
MITCH MORGAN
Kaipara
Northern Advocate 2/11/16
MINCING WORDS
M Armstrong is correct to write that the Maori text Te Tiriti has primary importance.
Bear in mind that the treaty was drafted in English and translated into Maori and the final draft went missing.
The word “kawanatanga” in the first article was used to translate “sovereignty”, and the word “rangatiratanga” in the second article translates “ownership” or “possession”.
However, the Waitangi Tribunal has redefined “rangatiratanga” to mean “chiefly authority” and makes the contradictory assertion that the treaty ceded sovereignty in Article 1 but confirmed Maori sovereignty in Article 2.
Even the Maori text Article 2 quoted above confirms that the chiefs, tribes, and families owned what they owned, and could sell what they owned, if they wished, at agreed prices.(abridged)
MIKE BUTLER
Hastings
RACIAL DIVIDE
Letter writer Robin Lieffering (October 8) highlights the disastrous ethnically-divided direction in which our country is heading with his poignant statement: “When our family sit around the table together with our grandchildren — three of part-Dutch ancestry, one of part-Niuean ancestry and two of part-Maori ancestry — how can we justify the special rights and services that just two have over the other four?”
An earlier correspondent sadly wrote, “My Maori sons claim they are Maori. What gives them the right to disclaim of their heritage — and who am I then?”
Is this then our future — families divided by genetics, with a minority of children receiving privileges denied to other children because their great-great grandma or grandpa slept with someone of a particular race?
Is this the kind of world you want for your children?
I have one simple request for parents of part-Maori offspring; “Don’t tell your children lies.”
Tell them all of the facts regarding their mixed heritage and let them become a whole person.
Let them become one with other NZers who are all of mixed descent — any denial of this is self-delusion.
Then we have the question of “Who or what is a racist?”
A racist is a person who holds that a sector of our population be granted special privileges (unavailable to all other citizens) because of their race. Are you one of them?
MITCH MORGAN
Kaipara
Gisborne Herald 1/11/16
YOU LOVE TAIRAWHITI, I LOVE POVERTY BAY
Re: Our history is not endangered, October 29 letter.
Thank you for your opinions Linda — we are all entitled to them. You said you are disappointed that I use the same arguments used every time this topic comes up. That simply tells me a lot of people agree with what I wrote. You also stated you do not support a hyphenated name and that my classification was irrelevant. Sorry, but your letter contained that same hyphenated version.
Please, do not tell me that Poverty Bay is an unattractive name that is never used in general conversation. Sorry, but I will guarantee that knowledge of Poverty Bay as a name for our area far exceeds Turanganui-a-Kiwa.
I am certain you love the area you refer to as Tairawhiti (which actually extends down into Hawke’s Bay). I love the area that I, and countless others, refer to as Poverty Bay.
To Tim and Geoff, I know the place where Cook landed was called Turanganui-a-Kiwa by Maori. However, when Cook departed, he referred to it as “Poverty Bay” because it did not provide him with the fresh water and food he required.
According to Cook’s journal his reception was confrontational, possibly because he had no understanding of a Maori challenge. I am sure anyone at that time would have felt very threatened. Cook also went to a place he named The Friendly Islands. I guess he received a better welcome there.
Tim, you mentioned the number of Cook statues in our city. Could you please let me know where all of these are because I only know of the one on Kaiti Hill, mistakenly represented by an Australian sculptor, and the one at the Waikanae Cut.
Once again, please remember Poverty Bay is a historical name given to us by Captain James Cook. It is not a description of the affluent area we reside in today. Poverty Bay it is, and Poverty Bay it should stay.
Our Mayor wants discussion of this matter with local iwi. He had best add the rest of our population into this debate.
M M