Post by Kiwi Frontline on Sept 28, 2017 5:35:06 GMT 12
A CONCERNED CITIZEN’S LETTER TO PHIL GOFF (Re Maori Wards)
Dear Mr Mayor,
Re: 28/9/17 Governing Body Agenda Item 11: 2019 elections - opportunity to establish a Māori ward
I see that you will be discussing Maori Wards in tomorrow’s meeting. On behalf of all Aucklanders, I ask that you consider the following when making your decision.
IN SUPPORT OF MAORI WARDS:
* To minimise corruption and ensure the best possible outcomes for the public, the most reliable governance methodology requires representation to be open to scrutiny, be elected and accountable. Based on this, a Maori Ward would certainly be preferable to the Independent Maori Statutory Board.
* Maori citizens do not feel represented by the IMSB. While it has served the private interests of a few, its demise would be unlikely to result in any negative impact on Maori Aucklanders at all.
* The IMSB has been a very costly experiment for Auckland, adding complications and frustration to operations, the Unitary Plan and the Resource Management Consent process.
.
IN SUPPORT OF TREATING MAORI AUCKLANDERS EQUALLY:
* People with Maori ancestry are just as entitled to democratic representation as other Aucklanders/New Zealanders. In a true democracy, they have that.
* Race-based arrangements and Maori electorates have done little to enhance the lot of Maori people in New Zealand to date. Instead, they have only served to increase the status and line the coffers of “tribal elite”.
* Those on the Maori electoral roll overwhelmingly rejected race-based party representation in the recent 2017 election (i.e. Maori and Mana Parties).
* Only about 50% of New Zealanders with Maori blood choose separatism by enrolling on the Maori Electoral Roll. Consequently, the roll cannot be considered truly representative of Maori New Zealanders.
* New Zealanders with Maori ancestry do not need separate rules and systems to get into governance positions, as evidenced by our Parliament (and all other walks of life!). There are now 29 MPs of Maori-descent (24.2% of the total of 120). Only seven of them represent the Maori-only electoral roll.
* New Zealanders of Maori descent can achieve on their own merits. The Deputy Leader of both National and Labour, the Leader and Deputy Leader of NZ First, and the Leader of ACT all have Maori ancestry and came into Parliament on the general roll. Their powerful positions do not rely on racial privilege.
* There is nothing in the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi to suggest a “governing partnership”.Tribal chiefs ceded sovereignty to the Crown in return for the rights and privileges of British citizens, i.e. equality.
* There are needy people of all ethnicities in our city and country. The solutions to their problems do not lie in racial separatism.
AND FINAL WORDS:
* The Waitangi Tribunal is not an independent judicial court tasked with seeking the truth. It is a political body which makes recommendations to government on issues pertaining to Maori claims. It is not required to find or prove facts to support its recommendations. Its major difference from other lobby groups is that it is totally taxpayer-funded.
* It is 2017. Time to look to the future and build/maintain a city which can serve all Aucklanders equally well.
.
Auckland is capable of becoming a great city. Let us be a great people by not relegating, restricting or patronising people according to their ancestry.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
F M
Dear Mr Mayor,
Re: 28/9/17 Governing Body Agenda Item 11: 2019 elections - opportunity to establish a Māori ward
I see that you will be discussing Maori Wards in tomorrow’s meeting. On behalf of all Aucklanders, I ask that you consider the following when making your decision.
IN SUPPORT OF MAORI WARDS:
* To minimise corruption and ensure the best possible outcomes for the public, the most reliable governance methodology requires representation to be open to scrutiny, be elected and accountable. Based on this, a Maori Ward would certainly be preferable to the Independent Maori Statutory Board.
* Maori citizens do not feel represented by the IMSB. While it has served the private interests of a few, its demise would be unlikely to result in any negative impact on Maori Aucklanders at all.
* The IMSB has been a very costly experiment for Auckland, adding complications and frustration to operations, the Unitary Plan and the Resource Management Consent process.
.
IN SUPPORT OF TREATING MAORI AUCKLANDERS EQUALLY:
* People with Maori ancestry are just as entitled to democratic representation as other Aucklanders/New Zealanders. In a true democracy, they have that.
* Race-based arrangements and Maori electorates have done little to enhance the lot of Maori people in New Zealand to date. Instead, they have only served to increase the status and line the coffers of “tribal elite”.
* Those on the Maori electoral roll overwhelmingly rejected race-based party representation in the recent 2017 election (i.e. Maori and Mana Parties).
* Only about 50% of New Zealanders with Maori blood choose separatism by enrolling on the Maori Electoral Roll. Consequently, the roll cannot be considered truly representative of Maori New Zealanders.
* New Zealanders with Maori ancestry do not need separate rules and systems to get into governance positions, as evidenced by our Parliament (and all other walks of life!). There are now 29 MPs of Maori-descent (24.2% of the total of 120). Only seven of them represent the Maori-only electoral roll.
* New Zealanders of Maori descent can achieve on their own merits. The Deputy Leader of both National and Labour, the Leader and Deputy Leader of NZ First, and the Leader of ACT all have Maori ancestry and came into Parliament on the general roll. Their powerful positions do not rely on racial privilege.
* There is nothing in the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi to suggest a “governing partnership”.Tribal chiefs ceded sovereignty to the Crown in return for the rights and privileges of British citizens, i.e. equality.
* There are needy people of all ethnicities in our city and country. The solutions to their problems do not lie in racial separatism.
AND FINAL WORDS:
* The Waitangi Tribunal is not an independent judicial court tasked with seeking the truth. It is a political body which makes recommendations to government on issues pertaining to Maori claims. It is not required to find or prove facts to support its recommendations. Its major difference from other lobby groups is that it is totally taxpayer-funded.
* It is 2017. Time to look to the future and build/maintain a city which can serve all Aucklanders equally well.
.
Auckland is capable of becoming a great city. Let us be a great people by not relegating, restricting or patronising people according to their ancestry.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
F M