Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 19, 2020 14:37:35 GMT 12
Northland Age 19/11/20
MAORI WARDS
People generally only do anything for one of two reasons – to gain something, or to preserve something.
So when we look at the separate Maori wards debate we can clearly see that one side wishes to GAIN unbridled power, not just a ‘voice’ as they propagandise. They already have this ‘voice’ as New Zealanders, but they want much more to the detriment of all other Kiwis.
The other side of the debate is striving to PRESERVE our tried and true racially inclusive local democracy that has served us very well for a very long time.
There may be winds of change afoot, unfortunately these winds are powered by dark forces that will divide families, neighbours and communities, if this try on succeeds it will destroy our cherished way of life forever.
An all inclusive governance system functions best when it is racially neutral and caters for all peoples from the 213 ethnic groups living in New Zealand.
Any governance system, decision, or arrangement, that is based on race is wrong and correctly labelled racist by any definition.
Successful elected councillors at their ‘inductions either swear on the Bible, or affirm, that they will represent the whole community. Those wayward Councillors, by voting for Maori wards, show that they have stepped aside from their solemn promise to represent the whole community.
As David Lange PM said in 2000 - ”We can have a democratic form of government or we can have Maori sovereignty, they can’t co-exist and we can’t have both”.
GEOFF PARKER, Kamo
Northland Advocate 19/11/20
DEMAND A VOTE ON WARDS
You have given extensive coverage to the views of Andrew Judd, the former mayor New Plymouth, on the desirability of Maori wards (Advocate November 17). He has been reported as urging ratepayers in Northland not to sign Democracy Northland's petition requesting that there be a poll of all ratepayers before Maori wards are established. He is of course entitled to his view on the subject but so also are Northland ratepayers. And that is all they are demanding by signing the petition.
The creation of maon wards would be a huge step backwards to a race-based political system and It Is entirely unclear why anybody would want that Maori are absolutely as capable as anybody else of being elected to office at both national and local level In the last Parliament. for example, 30 MPs, 25 per cent the total, were Maori and only seven of those were elected in the anachronistic Maori electorates. The number of Maori in local government has been rising steadily in recent years.
Our democracy should be based on citizenship, not on the ethnicity of some of our ancestors.
DON BRASH, Auckland
Northern Advocate 17/11/20
MAORI WARDS
Correspondent Alan Upson (letters 14/11/20) seems confused? Because any race-based governance structure, such as a Maori wards in Local Government or Maori seats in Parliament is exclusive to other ethnicities, only people of Maori descent who are on the Maori electoral roll can vote in these separatist entities.
Inclusive democracy is based on the simple principle that all citizens must be treated the same under the law. Every individual has the same rights and indeed has the same responsibilities under the law.
Within society, people may share common views and interests with others, be those cultural, religious, ethnic, social or perhaps sporting. All such groupings are basically tribal in nature.
But forming such groupings, call them what you may, should not give the members collectively, any special voting rights.
Democracy is based on giving equal rights to individuals.
Councils should not be making constitutional changes by giving special voting rights to groups without a prior resident and ratepayer mandate.
GEOFF PARKER, Whangarei
www.kiwifrontline.nz/media/letters-to-the-editor
MAORI WARDS
People generally only do anything for one of two reasons – to gain something, or to preserve something.
So when we look at the separate Maori wards debate we can clearly see that one side wishes to GAIN unbridled power, not just a ‘voice’ as they propagandise. They already have this ‘voice’ as New Zealanders, but they want much more to the detriment of all other Kiwis.
The other side of the debate is striving to PRESERVE our tried and true racially inclusive local democracy that has served us very well for a very long time.
There may be winds of change afoot, unfortunately these winds are powered by dark forces that will divide families, neighbours and communities, if this try on succeeds it will destroy our cherished way of life forever.
An all inclusive governance system functions best when it is racially neutral and caters for all peoples from the 213 ethnic groups living in New Zealand.
Any governance system, decision, or arrangement, that is based on race is wrong and correctly labelled racist by any definition.
Successful elected councillors at their ‘inductions either swear on the Bible, or affirm, that they will represent the whole community. Those wayward Councillors, by voting for Maori wards, show that they have stepped aside from their solemn promise to represent the whole community.
As David Lange PM said in 2000 - ”We can have a democratic form of government or we can have Maori sovereignty, they can’t co-exist and we can’t have both”.
GEOFF PARKER, Kamo
Northland Advocate 19/11/20
DEMAND A VOTE ON WARDS
You have given extensive coverage to the views of Andrew Judd, the former mayor New Plymouth, on the desirability of Maori wards (Advocate November 17). He has been reported as urging ratepayers in Northland not to sign Democracy Northland's petition requesting that there be a poll of all ratepayers before Maori wards are established. He is of course entitled to his view on the subject but so also are Northland ratepayers. And that is all they are demanding by signing the petition.
The creation of maon wards would be a huge step backwards to a race-based political system and It Is entirely unclear why anybody would want that Maori are absolutely as capable as anybody else of being elected to office at both national and local level In the last Parliament. for example, 30 MPs, 25 per cent the total, were Maori and only seven of those were elected in the anachronistic Maori electorates. The number of Maori in local government has been rising steadily in recent years.
Our democracy should be based on citizenship, not on the ethnicity of some of our ancestors.
DON BRASH, Auckland
Northern Advocate 17/11/20
MAORI WARDS
Correspondent Alan Upson (letters 14/11/20) seems confused? Because any race-based governance structure, such as a Maori wards in Local Government or Maori seats in Parliament is exclusive to other ethnicities, only people of Maori descent who are on the Maori electoral roll can vote in these separatist entities.
Inclusive democracy is based on the simple principle that all citizens must be treated the same under the law. Every individual has the same rights and indeed has the same responsibilities under the law.
Within society, people may share common views and interests with others, be those cultural, religious, ethnic, social or perhaps sporting. All such groupings are basically tribal in nature.
But forming such groupings, call them what you may, should not give the members collectively, any special voting rights.
Democracy is based on giving equal rights to individuals.
Councils should not be making constitutional changes by giving special voting rights to groups without a prior resident and ratepayer mandate.
GEOFF PARKER, Whangarei
www.kiwifrontline.nz/media/letters-to-the-editor