Post by Kiwi Frontline on Dec 1, 2020 9:56:22 GMT 12
Northland Age 1/12/20
SOVEREIGNTIST MANTRAS
How can the Maori ward petition currently circulating be “racism in it’s worst form” or “playing on peoples fears” as G Thompson says (letters 30/11/20)?
The petition is simply asking for a council initiated referendum so everyone in the community gets the opportunity to express a view as to whether our local councils should be divided by race. Everyone should have a right to express their opinion and every opinion should be respected. That is how a democracy resolves contentious issues, and recent national referendums are good examples.
It never ceases to amaze me how people like G Thompson repeat the Maori sovereigntist mantra “the Treaty has not been honoured” – to justify their complete disregard for democracy.
Yes, there were ‘obligations’ in the Treaty but moreso on Maori than the Crown and definitely no mention of race-based representation.
G Thompson repeats the other Maori sovereigntist mantra “tangata whenua as partners” – I say again there is and never was a Crown/Maori ‘partnership’.
Race-based representation of any form is abhorrent separatism. The so-called Maori voice can be heard as New Zealanders, after all what different needs do Maori have in roading, sewerage, rubbish collection, infrastructure etc?
Lastly, fair minded New Zealanders are not ‘fearful’ of Maori, they simply fight for democracy and oppose all forms of racism.
GEOFF PARKER, Kamo
www.kiwifrontline.nz/media/letters-to-the-editor
SOVEREIGNTIST MANTRAS
How can the Maori ward petition currently circulating be “racism in it’s worst form” or “playing on peoples fears” as G Thompson says (letters 30/11/20)?
The petition is simply asking for a council initiated referendum so everyone in the community gets the opportunity to express a view as to whether our local councils should be divided by race. Everyone should have a right to express their opinion and every opinion should be respected. That is how a democracy resolves contentious issues, and recent national referendums are good examples.
It never ceases to amaze me how people like G Thompson repeat the Maori sovereigntist mantra “the Treaty has not been honoured” – to justify their complete disregard for democracy.
Yes, there were ‘obligations’ in the Treaty but moreso on Maori than the Crown and definitely no mention of race-based representation.
G Thompson repeats the other Maori sovereigntist mantra “tangata whenua as partners” – I say again there is and never was a Crown/Maori ‘partnership’.
Race-based representation of any form is abhorrent separatism. The so-called Maori voice can be heard as New Zealanders, after all what different needs do Maori have in roading, sewerage, rubbish collection, infrastructure etc?
Lastly, fair minded New Zealanders are not ‘fearful’ of Maori, they simply fight for democracy and oppose all forms of racism.
GEOFF PARKER, Kamo
www.kiwifrontline.nz/media/letters-to-the-editor