Post by Kiwi Frontline on Apr 16, 2016 6:50:05 GMT 12
Weekend Sun (Tauranga) 16/4/16
DEAR EDITOR
Now most of the fuss over the flag debacle has died down, it is high time attention was given to the appalling number of Maori children and young people who are in CYF care - out of the whole total, 60% are Maori from a Maori population of 15%¬ As usual the Government will be blamed but it is not the Government`s fault but that of the abusive, uncaring parents of these neglected children. What can be done to halt this shameful state of affairs?
Firstly benefits should be restrictcted. Teenagers must learn that getting pregnant and goin g on a benefit is not a career choice. The benefit ought to be only paid to unmarried mothers over the age of eighteen and every effort made to get the father`s financial support. Benef[ts only paid for the first two children - if you continue breeding with neither the means or will to look after your offspring, you must take full responsibility for them. It would seem that the "loving whanau" is a myth.
Parenting skills sould be taught in schools. The CYF do a great job but what about the million- dollar funded Whanau Ora? What amount of care for young Maori are they giving? To stop benefit money being used by abusive parents for drugs and alcohol, food and clothing stamps should replace money - non-transferable!
Maori tribes have been given over $3 billion taxpayers` money to settle, often dubious claims. It is time they spent some of it helping Maori families giving their children a safe, loving home, 60% of Maori children in care is a disgraced to all Maori
M B
Tauranga
Bay of Plenty Times 16/4/16
SEATS NOT NEEDED
Maori are intelligent and articulate people. They do not need to be held by the hand and led like innocent little children. There are a lot of Maori who hold prominent positions in all facets of society to bear this out politicians, sportspeople, singers, actors, business people, etc.
The vast majority of Maori get on with their lives in this 21st century, living, loving and working alongside and with the rest of New Zealand and don't see the need to be set apart from the rest of society. Anyone who thinks they need someone to hold their hand and lead them along the way is doing them a grave misjustice.
District councils represent all people and there should be no need for racially-based seats on any governing body. It seems to me that an extremely small minority have their own interests at heart, which does not necessarily reach out to the rest of Maoridom. Why can't that minority just let all New Zealanders get on with living in and enjoying this great and cosmopolitan country? (Abridged)
R S
Tauranga
NZ Herald 16/4/16
WORTH SAVING?
If a language needs a law to save it, is it worth saving? Legislation to encourage wider use of Maori language has come into force but whether it will be enough to achieve what it sets out to do, that te reo Maori is normalised across society. Is highly debatable.
Even now, when there are about 460 kohanga reo throughout Aotearoa and more than 70 kura kaupapa and wharekura. the language is languishing. Despite every effort to date, the number of Maori language speakers is slowly declining.
A new law is not likely to change the gradual decline in the language as long as English remains the world language of science. technology. travel. entertainment and sport.
J G
Red Beach.
Wairarapa Times-Age 16/4/16
REAL HISTORY
Mick Ludden, like MP Marama Fox, needs to learn the truth.
Bryce was a hard man and no “hero” of mine but our history must be told accurately.
At Nukumaru near Taurangaika, a large party of Hau Hau rebels was encamped. Some boys with them foolishly started disturbing the animals at a nearby farm. Bryce was leader of a mounted party sent to attack the rebels.
Hearing the noise, his party rushed in to attack only to find that they had killed two of the boys and wounded a few more before it was realised what they were — regrettable but understandable.
So much for Ludden’s “murder and mutilation of unarmed children”.
Again at Parihaka, it was Bryce who realised that if he assembled an overwhelming force, the inhabitants would not fight. His cannon were not even loaded.
Hence we had children with flowers, etc, and Te Witi has had all the credit but it was the humane actions of Bryce which deserved it.
Parihaka was the centre of a nasty cult which the government should have acted to suppress much more quickly. There are more details in the letter from Geoff Parker ( Times Age, April 11) — another “out of-towner”.
Ludden should get over his phobia about our legitimate discussion of national issues. And I’ll back the quality of my research against what he says any time.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
MAORI EDUCATION
I hope this continued exchange of correspondence is not becoming tedious, but some things cannot go unchallenged.
My original point was about the Ka Rewa Centre at Lakeview School and ‘Maori precepts and principles of health, welfare and well-being’.
Mr Cholewa turned this into comments about culture in general. Since Ka Rewa is a new (possibly unique) initiative and Lakeview School is a junior school, Mr Cholewa’s claim about Maori children staying longer at school and achieving higher NCEA grades cannot be relevant. Perhaps he is confusing this with a report claiming such successes for Maori students at Kuranui College.
However the Kuranu programme has a number of aspects and I suspect the college’s recognition of previous low expectations of certain students (this ‘tyranny of low expectations’ is a shameful blot on our education system, badly affecting children from low socio- economic backgrounds, often Maori), greater emphasis on the value of education and the imposition of stricter discipline are all major factors in that success.
D F
Masterton
Dominion Post 16/4/16
SANCTUARY VISIONARY
As a foundation employee of the NZ Fishing Industry Board and one of the architects of the ITQ quota system, I am delighted with the Kermadec Islands sanctuary proposal - exactly what this country should be doing to show it takes seriously its guardianship of the marine resources we hold in trust for the future. It is an example to the rest of the world.
However, the reaction of some Maori leaders was disappointing -and quite contrary to their usual stand on environmental matters. There may have been a lack of consultation by the Government but this is not sufficient reason to oppose the sanctuary.
There is some grandstanding on the matter. Is it really reasonable for Maori to claim any fishing rights in the Kermadecs? Even if, stretching credibility, it was, it is in the interests of Maori, and indeed all those concerned for the state of the ocean's fish stocks, to give unqualified support to this sanctuary. Any real or imagined benefits from fishing in the area can easily be forgone.
The principle of the sanctuary is right beyond question. This visionary proposal should receive unanimous endorsement in Parliament. [abridged]
R A
Hamilton
Wanganui Chronicle 16/4/16
'H' ATTACK
Regarding the Chronicle article on April 6, "Verbal attack on girls over the 'H"'. Tania King, principal of Whanganui Girls' College, is appalled at a verbal attack to some girls from the college. It is not fair to blame the girls for the "H" being put into the spelling of their school — the blame for putting the "H" in rests with the principal and school board members.
Tania King said the decision to change the school name was done in a "transparent" and "robust" fashion with full consultation. As Wanganui is not a Maori name, who did they consult with? She goes on to say: "One of the most important values is respect" So what about showing respect to the people who the name belongs to who were living here more than 300 years ago before the arrival of Maori? I feel sorry for the students of the college as your principal and board members have deceived you.
I B
Aramoho
DEAR EDITOR
Now most of the fuss over the flag debacle has died down, it is high time attention was given to the appalling number of Maori children and young people who are in CYF care - out of the whole total, 60% are Maori from a Maori population of 15%¬ As usual the Government will be blamed but it is not the Government`s fault but that of the abusive, uncaring parents of these neglected children. What can be done to halt this shameful state of affairs?
Firstly benefits should be restrictcted. Teenagers must learn that getting pregnant and goin g on a benefit is not a career choice. The benefit ought to be only paid to unmarried mothers over the age of eighteen and every effort made to get the father`s financial support. Benef[ts only paid for the first two children - if you continue breeding with neither the means or will to look after your offspring, you must take full responsibility for them. It would seem that the "loving whanau" is a myth.
Parenting skills sould be taught in schools. The CYF do a great job but what about the million- dollar funded Whanau Ora? What amount of care for young Maori are they giving? To stop benefit money being used by abusive parents for drugs and alcohol, food and clothing stamps should replace money - non-transferable!
Maori tribes have been given over $3 billion taxpayers` money to settle, often dubious claims. It is time they spent some of it helping Maori families giving their children a safe, loving home, 60% of Maori children in care is a disgraced to all Maori
M B
Tauranga
Bay of Plenty Times 16/4/16
SEATS NOT NEEDED
Maori are intelligent and articulate people. They do not need to be held by the hand and led like innocent little children. There are a lot of Maori who hold prominent positions in all facets of society to bear this out politicians, sportspeople, singers, actors, business people, etc.
The vast majority of Maori get on with their lives in this 21st century, living, loving and working alongside and with the rest of New Zealand and don't see the need to be set apart from the rest of society. Anyone who thinks they need someone to hold their hand and lead them along the way is doing them a grave misjustice.
District councils represent all people and there should be no need for racially-based seats on any governing body. It seems to me that an extremely small minority have their own interests at heart, which does not necessarily reach out to the rest of Maoridom. Why can't that minority just let all New Zealanders get on with living in and enjoying this great and cosmopolitan country? (Abridged)
R S
Tauranga
NZ Herald 16/4/16
WORTH SAVING?
If a language needs a law to save it, is it worth saving? Legislation to encourage wider use of Maori language has come into force but whether it will be enough to achieve what it sets out to do, that te reo Maori is normalised across society. Is highly debatable.
Even now, when there are about 460 kohanga reo throughout Aotearoa and more than 70 kura kaupapa and wharekura. the language is languishing. Despite every effort to date, the number of Maori language speakers is slowly declining.
A new law is not likely to change the gradual decline in the language as long as English remains the world language of science. technology. travel. entertainment and sport.
J G
Red Beach.
Wairarapa Times-Age 16/4/16
REAL HISTORY
Mick Ludden, like MP Marama Fox, needs to learn the truth.
Bryce was a hard man and no “hero” of mine but our history must be told accurately.
At Nukumaru near Taurangaika, a large party of Hau Hau rebels was encamped. Some boys with them foolishly started disturbing the animals at a nearby farm. Bryce was leader of a mounted party sent to attack the rebels.
Hearing the noise, his party rushed in to attack only to find that they had killed two of the boys and wounded a few more before it was realised what they were — regrettable but understandable.
So much for Ludden’s “murder and mutilation of unarmed children”.
Again at Parihaka, it was Bryce who realised that if he assembled an overwhelming force, the inhabitants would not fight. His cannon were not even loaded.
Hence we had children with flowers, etc, and Te Witi has had all the credit but it was the humane actions of Bryce which deserved it.
Parihaka was the centre of a nasty cult which the government should have acted to suppress much more quickly. There are more details in the letter from Geoff Parker ( Times Age, April 11) — another “out of-towner”.
Ludden should get over his phobia about our legitimate discussion of national issues. And I’ll back the quality of my research against what he says any time.
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
MAORI EDUCATION
I hope this continued exchange of correspondence is not becoming tedious, but some things cannot go unchallenged.
My original point was about the Ka Rewa Centre at Lakeview School and ‘Maori precepts and principles of health, welfare and well-being’.
Mr Cholewa turned this into comments about culture in general. Since Ka Rewa is a new (possibly unique) initiative and Lakeview School is a junior school, Mr Cholewa’s claim about Maori children staying longer at school and achieving higher NCEA grades cannot be relevant. Perhaps he is confusing this with a report claiming such successes for Maori students at Kuranui College.
However the Kuranu programme has a number of aspects and I suspect the college’s recognition of previous low expectations of certain students (this ‘tyranny of low expectations’ is a shameful blot on our education system, badly affecting children from low socio- economic backgrounds, often Maori), greater emphasis on the value of education and the imposition of stricter discipline are all major factors in that success.
D F
Masterton
Dominion Post 16/4/16
SANCTUARY VISIONARY
As a foundation employee of the NZ Fishing Industry Board and one of the architects of the ITQ quota system, I am delighted with the Kermadec Islands sanctuary proposal - exactly what this country should be doing to show it takes seriously its guardianship of the marine resources we hold in trust for the future. It is an example to the rest of the world.
However, the reaction of some Maori leaders was disappointing -and quite contrary to their usual stand on environmental matters. There may have been a lack of consultation by the Government but this is not sufficient reason to oppose the sanctuary.
There is some grandstanding on the matter. Is it really reasonable for Maori to claim any fishing rights in the Kermadecs? Even if, stretching credibility, it was, it is in the interests of Maori, and indeed all those concerned for the state of the ocean's fish stocks, to give unqualified support to this sanctuary. Any real or imagined benefits from fishing in the area can easily be forgone.
The principle of the sanctuary is right beyond question. This visionary proposal should receive unanimous endorsement in Parliament. [abridged]
R A
Hamilton
Wanganui Chronicle 16/4/16
'H' ATTACK
Regarding the Chronicle article on April 6, "Verbal attack on girls over the 'H"'. Tania King, principal of Whanganui Girls' College, is appalled at a verbal attack to some girls from the college. It is not fair to blame the girls for the "H" being put into the spelling of their school — the blame for putting the "H" in rests with the principal and school board members.
Tania King said the decision to change the school name was done in a "transparent" and "robust" fashion with full consultation. As Wanganui is not a Maori name, who did they consult with? She goes on to say: "One of the most important values is respect" So what about showing respect to the people who the name belongs to who were living here more than 300 years ago before the arrival of Maori? I feel sorry for the students of the college as your principal and board members have deceived you.
I B
Aramoho