Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 16, 2016 9:28:14 GMT 12
NZ Herald 16/2/16
DOCUMENTS REMAIN SET IN STONE
Justice Antonin Scalia of the US Supreme Court was a champion in defining the written US Constitution and the rule of law.
He was adamant that all must look to the meaning of the words of the Constitution as they were written. He openly mocked the notion of a "living" document — one that evolved with changing times — as an excuse for those with vested interests to improve their own ideological position.
How interesting this is when considering our own Treaty of Waitangi, where most of the population are completely baffled every week, if not every day, with the concept of those who wish to reinterpret the words of the Treaty for their own questionable purposes.
H L G
Remuera.
The Northern Advocate 16/2/16
SUPPORT FOR CR
Councillor Stuart Bell’s boycotting of committees with racebased, appointed members ( Advocate, February 12) is praiseworthy.
His stance supports best government based on equality of citizens. It is also totally justified under the Treaty Of Waitangi which guaranteed Maori the rights and privileges of British subjects in return for granting sovereignty to the Crown. Equality, not preference.
The article incorrectly infers that legislation “demands” Maori input in council decisionmaking. Instead the Local Government Act (2002) imposes "an obligation to consider what steps the council can reasonably take to encourage and assist Maori to participate in local affairs. These provisions do not confer special rights and privileges on Maori that are not accorded to other tauiwi (other members of the public)." Can the council let us know what other races or groups have "advisers" on council committees?
Lastly, Julianne Chetham's comments are an insult to all ratepayers. Having some Maori blood does not mean you see the world exactly the same. If Ms Chetham's contribution is likely to be at such a "high level" (as she suggests), why did she not stand for election as other New Zealanders have to do?
Her attitudes and sense of entitlement must surely start alarm bells ringing, especially as democracy has proven, worldwide, to be superior to tribalism in providing peace and prosperity.
Stand strong Councillor Bell. (abridged)
GEOFF PARKER
Kamo
Bay of Plenty Times 16/2/16
WE ARE ALL ONE
Peter Dey’s letters spell out his opinion of the Treaty of Waitangi versions and also the principles of the Treaty, but that is all they are, his opinions.
People such as Dame Claudia Orange and others have written their views on the subject claiming they are correct and others have written a contrary view they claim to be correct.
After 176 years since the signing, and bearing in mind Maori did not have a written language, it is impossible to state what was meant in the wording at that particular time.
Our Government/Opposition parties have debated the subject at length and still cannot agree, so I think Mr Dey is oversimplifying the problem.
Also, it is hard to argue that the ordinary Maori are benefiting from Treaty settlements when one looks at the statistics for unemployment, education, etc, and then sees the various iwi hierarchy to see just who is benefiting and to what extent.
Regardless of what was meant or what was written, one should bear in mind the words “He iwi tahi tatou” (“we are now one people”) and all Pakeha and part- Pakeha ( part- Maori) should get on with making New Zealand a better place to live in.
From where I sit, it is difficult for me to contemplate removing the Union Jack from our flag, without thinking it is time to also retire the Treaty to history and write a constitution that all migrants, Maori, European, Asian, Pasifica and all the rest can all be proud of.
P B
Otumoetai
Rotorua Daily Post 16/2/16
TIME FOR DEMOCRACY TO RETURN
Obviously Jonathan Temm (Letters, February 6) has little use for a dictionary. He must adore mayor Stephanie Chadwick who has little use for democracy.
I voted for mayor Chadwick. I believed her when she said that she would curtail council unnecessary expenditure, and fill the empty shops. Curtail council expenditure! What a joke. Another joke is filling the empty shops.
What democratic procedure did mayor Chadwick use to change our name to Rotorua Lakes? No debate, pushed through even though some councillors were absent on holiday.
Then there is the Te Arawa Partnership. She very nearly pushed that through until she was stopped and forced to accept public submissions.
Did I have any say in the millions of dollars being spent on the cycle path, the children’s health centre in the public library, the demolition of the City Focus, what else? I am a very senior citizen with a very good memory Jonathan, and I may be a sore loser, but my hope is that I will be around when democracy returns to Rotorua.
M G
Rotorua
Northern Age 16/2/16
CEDED
Hone Harawira must have a different understanding of tuku in ko to tuatahi of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck), who in his book The Coming of the Maori writes tuku (to cede) and included lands which were ceded. A translation of the text in Maori in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, copied from the first sheet of the Treaty dated February6, 1840, and 'neither spelling nor punctuations has been altered' also has cede for tuku.
HISTORIAN
Doubtless Bay
WHAT A GIFT
So Ms Herbert-Graves is at it again, claiming that Waitangi Day was the most enjoyable since 2008. She must have enjoyed seeing some racist woman throwing a sex toy at a cabinet minister and shouting that they/we "raped our land". What a vision of New Zealand to show to the world. What a monstrous lie!
Before 1840 the tribes eagerly sold two-thirds of our country . Nearly all was returned to them by British benevolence, so they sold most of it again, sometimes several times over.
Ms Herbert-Graves flogs again Busby's worthless "declaration" by a group of northern chiefs who never met again after the first time — a paper tiger if ever there was one.
Her "rangitiratanga" are another figment of her imagination. By the Treaty, all Maori, including the slaves of other Maori, became fully-entitled British subjects in return for the chiefs' cession of sovereignty to the Queen. That is all, but what a great gift they received.
The very mixed race people of which she seems to be one are fortunate to have the same democratic rights as everybody else — no more, no less. If she wants something else, I advise her to be careful what she wishes for.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
DOCUMENTS REMAIN SET IN STONE
Justice Antonin Scalia of the US Supreme Court was a champion in defining the written US Constitution and the rule of law.
He was adamant that all must look to the meaning of the words of the Constitution as they were written. He openly mocked the notion of a "living" document — one that evolved with changing times — as an excuse for those with vested interests to improve their own ideological position.
How interesting this is when considering our own Treaty of Waitangi, where most of the population are completely baffled every week, if not every day, with the concept of those who wish to reinterpret the words of the Treaty for their own questionable purposes.
H L G
Remuera.
The Northern Advocate 16/2/16
SUPPORT FOR CR
Councillor Stuart Bell’s boycotting of committees with racebased, appointed members ( Advocate, February 12) is praiseworthy.
His stance supports best government based on equality of citizens. It is also totally justified under the Treaty Of Waitangi which guaranteed Maori the rights and privileges of British subjects in return for granting sovereignty to the Crown. Equality, not preference.
The article incorrectly infers that legislation “demands” Maori input in council decisionmaking. Instead the Local Government Act (2002) imposes "an obligation to consider what steps the council can reasonably take to encourage and assist Maori to participate in local affairs. These provisions do not confer special rights and privileges on Maori that are not accorded to other tauiwi (other members of the public)." Can the council let us know what other races or groups have "advisers" on council committees?
Lastly, Julianne Chetham's comments are an insult to all ratepayers. Having some Maori blood does not mean you see the world exactly the same. If Ms Chetham's contribution is likely to be at such a "high level" (as she suggests), why did she not stand for election as other New Zealanders have to do?
Her attitudes and sense of entitlement must surely start alarm bells ringing, especially as democracy has proven, worldwide, to be superior to tribalism in providing peace and prosperity.
Stand strong Councillor Bell. (abridged)
GEOFF PARKER
Kamo
Bay of Plenty Times 16/2/16
WE ARE ALL ONE
Peter Dey’s letters spell out his opinion of the Treaty of Waitangi versions and also the principles of the Treaty, but that is all they are, his opinions.
People such as Dame Claudia Orange and others have written their views on the subject claiming they are correct and others have written a contrary view they claim to be correct.
After 176 years since the signing, and bearing in mind Maori did not have a written language, it is impossible to state what was meant in the wording at that particular time.
Our Government/Opposition parties have debated the subject at length and still cannot agree, so I think Mr Dey is oversimplifying the problem.
Also, it is hard to argue that the ordinary Maori are benefiting from Treaty settlements when one looks at the statistics for unemployment, education, etc, and then sees the various iwi hierarchy to see just who is benefiting and to what extent.
Regardless of what was meant or what was written, one should bear in mind the words “He iwi tahi tatou” (“we are now one people”) and all Pakeha and part- Pakeha ( part- Maori) should get on with making New Zealand a better place to live in.
From where I sit, it is difficult for me to contemplate removing the Union Jack from our flag, without thinking it is time to also retire the Treaty to history and write a constitution that all migrants, Maori, European, Asian, Pasifica and all the rest can all be proud of.
P B
Otumoetai
Rotorua Daily Post 16/2/16
TIME FOR DEMOCRACY TO RETURN
Obviously Jonathan Temm (Letters, February 6) has little use for a dictionary. He must adore mayor Stephanie Chadwick who has little use for democracy.
I voted for mayor Chadwick. I believed her when she said that she would curtail council unnecessary expenditure, and fill the empty shops. Curtail council expenditure! What a joke. Another joke is filling the empty shops.
What democratic procedure did mayor Chadwick use to change our name to Rotorua Lakes? No debate, pushed through even though some councillors were absent on holiday.
Then there is the Te Arawa Partnership. She very nearly pushed that through until she was stopped and forced to accept public submissions.
Did I have any say in the millions of dollars being spent on the cycle path, the children’s health centre in the public library, the demolition of the City Focus, what else? I am a very senior citizen with a very good memory Jonathan, and I may be a sore loser, but my hope is that I will be around when democracy returns to Rotorua.
M G
Rotorua
Northern Age 16/2/16
CEDED
Hone Harawira must have a different understanding of tuku in ko to tuatahi of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck), who in his book The Coming of the Maori writes tuku (to cede) and included lands which were ceded. A translation of the text in Maori in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, copied from the first sheet of the Treaty dated February6, 1840, and 'neither spelling nor punctuations has been altered' also has cede for tuku.
HISTORIAN
Doubtless Bay
WHAT A GIFT
So Ms Herbert-Graves is at it again, claiming that Waitangi Day was the most enjoyable since 2008. She must have enjoyed seeing some racist woman throwing a sex toy at a cabinet minister and shouting that they/we "raped our land". What a vision of New Zealand to show to the world. What a monstrous lie!
Before 1840 the tribes eagerly sold two-thirds of our country . Nearly all was returned to them by British benevolence, so they sold most of it again, sometimes several times over.
Ms Herbert-Graves flogs again Busby's worthless "declaration" by a group of northern chiefs who never met again after the first time — a paper tiger if ever there was one.
Her "rangitiratanga" are another figment of her imagination. By the Treaty, all Maori, including the slaves of other Maori, became fully-entitled British subjects in return for the chiefs' cession of sovereignty to the Queen. That is all, but what a great gift they received.
The very mixed race people of which she seems to be one are fortunate to have the same democratic rights as everybody else — no more, no less. If she wants something else, I advise her to be careful what she wishes for.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson