Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 11, 2016 5:41:05 GMT 12
Taranaki Daily News 11/11/16
ONE NATION
I understand what Errol Spence is saying in his letter re Maori/ Moriori history and the fact that Maori, especially Waikato Maori were a violent people who claimed large parts of the country by ‘right of conquest’, however, I believe he misses one vital point, the Treaty of Waitangi.
Unlike the Waikato Maori, the British government agreed to protect Maori and their lands, but some unscrupulous Pakeha decided to enforce their own interests and greed on the native community using the same barbarity Mr Spence criticises Maori for.
It is not an excuse for either party, but they were different times and a different morality existed.
In a more enlightened time, reparations were right to be made, but it begs the question of how long are we going to be held to blame for the sins of some of those early settlers.
Is David Hooper of Ngapuhi right when he says that the Treaty has no place in modern New Zealand, and that history is being distorted and rewritten to fit the Treaty; judges and historians being afraid to speak out for fear of their careers.
Maori culture, language and history must be preserved and promoted, it helps define this country, but it seems to have been hijacked by some self serving activists, their personal greed and their own political agenda.
When do we start moving forward as one nation, Kiwis?
Pakeha helped to provide much of the rich tapestry which now puts New Zealand where it currently sits in the world.
P B
Bell Block
The Northern Advocate 11/11/16
TRUE DOCUMENT
Re M Armstrong letter October 29. The so-called English text of the Treaty used for an overflow of signatures at Waikato Heads is a bogus document concocted by Hobson's secretary, Freeman.
Mike Butler, my fellow-author in One Treaty, One Nation is fully aware of this and would never quote it as authoritative.
We are well aware that the document in Maori, signed at Waitangi on February 6, 1840, is the only valid treaty and we rely on it.
It is an absurdity for Armstrong to claim that, by it, Maoris kept their independence and "control over everything that is important to them". By Article second, all the people of New Zealand (tangata katoa o Nu Tirani) were simply assured of their property rights (tino rangatiratanga — a missionary-coined expression in the absence of a Maori one). This article is actually redundant as existing Britishers had such rights already and Maoris obtained them when by Article third they became fully-entitled British subjects.
It is a disgrace that new migrants are being indoctrinated with a set of gross falsehoods and the so-called "Network Waitangi" is a prime offender in this betrayal of our nation's integrity.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
Nelson Mail 10/11/16
DEMOCRATIC CONTEMPT
While Gary Clover (November 8) will maintain his deluded views about the Treaty of Waitangi until the cows come home, may I say once and for all to the rest of your readers that there never was such a thing as a ‘‘treaty partnership’’ whatever anybody may imagine.
The great thing about the Treaty is that it gave equal rights to all the people of New Zealand (tangata katoa o Nu Tirani).
It is a flagrant abuse of that great principle that no sooner has it been elected that the Nelson City Council without reference to electors before or since has appointed three individuals with full voting rights.
The council treats democracy with contempt.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
ONE NATION
I understand what Errol Spence is saying in his letter re Maori/ Moriori history and the fact that Maori, especially Waikato Maori were a violent people who claimed large parts of the country by ‘right of conquest’, however, I believe he misses one vital point, the Treaty of Waitangi.
Unlike the Waikato Maori, the British government agreed to protect Maori and their lands, but some unscrupulous Pakeha decided to enforce their own interests and greed on the native community using the same barbarity Mr Spence criticises Maori for.
It is not an excuse for either party, but they were different times and a different morality existed.
In a more enlightened time, reparations were right to be made, but it begs the question of how long are we going to be held to blame for the sins of some of those early settlers.
Is David Hooper of Ngapuhi right when he says that the Treaty has no place in modern New Zealand, and that history is being distorted and rewritten to fit the Treaty; judges and historians being afraid to speak out for fear of their careers.
Maori culture, language and history must be preserved and promoted, it helps define this country, but it seems to have been hijacked by some self serving activists, their personal greed and their own political agenda.
When do we start moving forward as one nation, Kiwis?
Pakeha helped to provide much of the rich tapestry which now puts New Zealand where it currently sits in the world.
P B
Bell Block
The Northern Advocate 11/11/16
TRUE DOCUMENT
Re M Armstrong letter October 29. The so-called English text of the Treaty used for an overflow of signatures at Waikato Heads is a bogus document concocted by Hobson's secretary, Freeman.
Mike Butler, my fellow-author in One Treaty, One Nation is fully aware of this and would never quote it as authoritative.
We are well aware that the document in Maori, signed at Waitangi on February 6, 1840, is the only valid treaty and we rely on it.
It is an absurdity for Armstrong to claim that, by it, Maoris kept their independence and "control over everything that is important to them". By Article second, all the people of New Zealand (tangata katoa o Nu Tirani) were simply assured of their property rights (tino rangatiratanga — a missionary-coined expression in the absence of a Maori one). This article is actually redundant as existing Britishers had such rights already and Maoris obtained them when by Article third they became fully-entitled British subjects.
It is a disgrace that new migrants are being indoctrinated with a set of gross falsehoods and the so-called "Network Waitangi" is a prime offender in this betrayal of our nation's integrity.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
Nelson Mail 10/11/16
DEMOCRATIC CONTEMPT
While Gary Clover (November 8) will maintain his deluded views about the Treaty of Waitangi until the cows come home, may I say once and for all to the rest of your readers that there never was such a thing as a ‘‘treaty partnership’’ whatever anybody may imagine.
The great thing about the Treaty is that it gave equal rights to all the people of New Zealand (tangata katoa o Nu Tirani).
It is a flagrant abuse of that great principle that no sooner has it been elected that the Nelson City Council without reference to electors before or since has appointed three individuals with full voting rights.
The council treats democracy with contempt.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson