Post by Kiwi Frontline on Dec 23, 2017 8:54:22 GMT 12
Bay of Plenty Times 22/12/17
MAORI WARDS
In reply to A Armstrong, (Letters, December 16), comparing Western Bay District Council case for Maori wards with what happened in New Plymouth in 2016 and how it caused division and was polarising.
That has already happened and why we are rejecting the Maori ward situation, which was decided on by our council and Maori. We, the people, were never consulted. Should we really just roll over?
In reply to your comment on minority wards, I have already written before that women also should have a ward. We are under-represented on council, too.
The rural sector should be given more votes in government elections, too. They are under-represented nationally. They own the majority of the land and contribute hugely to the country’s income, but do not have equal voting.
We could go on and on and have many more wards — where does it stop?
At the end of the day we are all one people, aren’t we?
This last election has shown that Maori are very capable of getting elected like anyone else. They do not need preferential treatment.
We, the people, were never advised or involved in this decision on Maori ward(s) so it is they who have polarised and disenfranchised us, the majority of ratepayers.
In my view, those councillors and mayor who voted for this should resign, just like the mayor in New Plymouth had to.
C HUMPHREYS, Katikati
Sunlive / Weekend Sun 22/12/17
NOT ALL NZERS ENAMOURED
Jim Bunny's open letter (page 2, The Weekend Sun, December 15) raises a couple of points worth investigating further.
The first is, I am sure there are many more than Don who are tired of the use of Maori on what is generally accepted as an English programme. It may be hard for some people to accept but not all New Zealanders are enamoured with te reo Maori, nor are some convinced that the millions of taxpayer dollars spent in trying to preserve the language is the best use of the money.
The second point is why would “an ocker” (Jim Bunny's word) use te reo Maori when reciting the oath of allegiance rather than English or NZ Sign Language which is also an official language. I can't help thinking she had an ulterior motive. Maybe I just have a suspicious mind.
P BURRELL, Katikati.
SITE OF MASSACRE
The museum site is a massacre site that is, in fact, a grave site of treachery. See pages 190-191 of R D Crosby's ‘The Musket Wars'.
Whatever is put there, be it museum or building, should tell the story and reflect the short lives of those who were massacred there in 1828. Seven hundred lives reported lost in an intertribal utu action is substantial.
D MACKAY, Papamoa.
TE REO MORE THAN WELL-SERVED
Mr Bunny, your criticism of Dr Brash (page 2, The Weekend Sun, December 15) indicates that you did not hear the radio interview or lack the mental acuity to understand what was said. Dr Brash did not criticise te reo but only the ego trip of Guyon Espiner, who exceeded his professional duties at National Radio by speaking in a language incomprehensible to his audience without the grace to translate.
With 21 radio and two television stations, and a budget exceeding $50 million for the part-Maori 14.9 per cent of the population, te reo is more than well-served.
B JOHNSON, Omokoroa.
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
MAORI WARDS
In reply to A Armstrong, (Letters, December 16), comparing Western Bay District Council case for Maori wards with what happened in New Plymouth in 2016 and how it caused division and was polarising.
That has already happened and why we are rejecting the Maori ward situation, which was decided on by our council and Maori. We, the people, were never consulted. Should we really just roll over?
In reply to your comment on minority wards, I have already written before that women also should have a ward. We are under-represented on council, too.
The rural sector should be given more votes in government elections, too. They are under-represented nationally. They own the majority of the land and contribute hugely to the country’s income, but do not have equal voting.
We could go on and on and have many more wards — where does it stop?
At the end of the day we are all one people, aren’t we?
This last election has shown that Maori are very capable of getting elected like anyone else. They do not need preferential treatment.
We, the people, were never advised or involved in this decision on Maori ward(s) so it is they who have polarised and disenfranchised us, the majority of ratepayers.
In my view, those councillors and mayor who voted for this should resign, just like the mayor in New Plymouth had to.
C HUMPHREYS, Katikati
Sunlive / Weekend Sun 22/12/17
NOT ALL NZERS ENAMOURED
Jim Bunny's open letter (page 2, The Weekend Sun, December 15) raises a couple of points worth investigating further.
The first is, I am sure there are many more than Don who are tired of the use of Maori on what is generally accepted as an English programme. It may be hard for some people to accept but not all New Zealanders are enamoured with te reo Maori, nor are some convinced that the millions of taxpayer dollars spent in trying to preserve the language is the best use of the money.
The second point is why would “an ocker” (Jim Bunny's word) use te reo Maori when reciting the oath of allegiance rather than English or NZ Sign Language which is also an official language. I can't help thinking she had an ulterior motive. Maybe I just have a suspicious mind.
P BURRELL, Katikati.
SITE OF MASSACRE
The museum site is a massacre site that is, in fact, a grave site of treachery. See pages 190-191 of R D Crosby's ‘The Musket Wars'.
Whatever is put there, be it museum or building, should tell the story and reflect the short lives of those who were massacred there in 1828. Seven hundred lives reported lost in an intertribal utu action is substantial.
D MACKAY, Papamoa.
TE REO MORE THAN WELL-SERVED
Mr Bunny, your criticism of Dr Brash (page 2, The Weekend Sun, December 15) indicates that you did not hear the radio interview or lack the mental acuity to understand what was said. Dr Brash did not criticise te reo but only the ego trip of Guyon Espiner, who exceeded his professional duties at National Radio by speaking in a language incomprehensible to his audience without the grace to translate.
With 21 radio and two television stations, and a budget exceeding $50 million for the part-Maori 14.9 per cent of the population, te reo is more than well-served.
B JOHNSON, Omokoroa.
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers