Meeting needs of small, elitist coterie

Re: The Opportunities Party. One cannot deny the various philanthropies of Gareth Morgan but at times his reasoning seems to be overridden by enthusiasm and the need to control. He studied the Treaty of Waitangi and, without regard for the wording of its three articles, he wrote a book about it. In a media article he suggested that another House, comprised of Maori, be added to Parliament to look after their special needs. Australia, Canada and Great Britain, he said, had a second House but it is doubtful the Australian Senate is filled with Aboriginals, Canada's Senate with First Nation People or the House of Lords have no Anglo-Saxons at all. If his proposed Opportunities Party gains any traction in Parliament one may assume much of its time will be directed towards meeting the special needs of that small, elitist coterie of Treaty revisionists. They constitute but a small number of the 14 per cent of Maori in the population - but the average Maori gains no benefit at all from the settlements they have gained. Accountability by them seems not required and their businesses remain untaxed.

B Johnson, Omokoroa.

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6 comments

One assumption after another,

Posted on 07-01-2017 11:31 | By R. Bell

as usual from B. Johnson. All wrong and all intended to instill fear into the uninformed. Robin Bell.


Mr Bell...

Posted on 07-01-2017 21:48 | By groutby

after dismissing B Johnson's comments very much "out of hand" and without any substance, can you give more detail please , as I and many perhaps would like to be informed, What we do know is as B Johnson has stated: "the "average Maori gains no benefit from the settlements" etc etc...and, as an observer seems be the way it is. . I wish to understand.As for the comment re. financial accountability, it seems me that it is very real but will not be challenged by any government with a set of gonads for fear of ..." repercussions"...


Sources for your knowledge please

Posted on 08-01-2017 15:04 | By waxing

B Johnson - you state "the average Maori gains no benefit at all from the settlements they have gained". Could you please advise what settlements you have looked at and what are the specifics that justify this claim?


It is indeed sad Mr groutby,

Posted on 09-01-2017 12:22 | By R. Bell

how uninformed you are. You claim " you wish to understand" but seem to rely on the utterances of treaty trashers such as the Newmans, Butler. Oakley, Brash e.t.c. If you understood the process of Maori settlements you would realise your being conned by those mentioned and others. The Charitable Trust status of Iwi is reasonable and common amongst non Maori. The "average Maori" registered with each individual Iwi are able to access funding for education, housing on land deemed unsuitable by banks, health care, environment projects etc,etc. The so called coterie of elite refered to by B.Johnson are merely those chosen to undertake corporate management. The chair of the board of Ngai Tahu Holdings is Mr Trevor Burt, non Maori. Ngai Tahu paid a $imillion in tax between 2013 and 2015. Robin Bell.


R. Bell and his hypocrisy

Posted on 09-01-2017 19:36 | By Captain Sensible

There goes Robin again...trying to justify racism and race based privilege. Talking up discrimination and separatism ....as long as it goes the way he favours. Never mind if it goes against democracy and the basics of civilisation...as long as Robin's team wins. He denies it exists...and then tries to justify it. Comical Robin!


Treaty settlements are less than ten per cent compensation

Posted on 10-01-2017 12:55 | By Peter Dey

Those like B.Johnson, Groutby, and Captain Sensible who claim that the average Maori has got nothing from Treaty settlements need to consider the facts more fully. About 80 per cent of Maori do not connect with any iwi. Treaty settlements are made with iwi because it was iwi who had their land taken, not Maori individually. The largest local Treaty settlement gave compensation of about $50 million for land worth over $500 million. This is less than 10 per cent compensation. Iwi are not a part of the Government Department of Social Welfare. Treaty settlements have provided only enough compensation to meet the needs of iwi members. People of Maori ancestry who choose not to identify with any iwi are quite clearly still the responsibility of the Government social welfare system, not Treaty settlements.


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