One crucial piece of information that was left out of Ryan Wood's opinion piece (The Weekend Sun, March 2) was that the Treaty was written in two languages, one in English and one in Maori. There are masses of literature about the differences between the two, which are advised at the basic introductory level about the Treaty of Waitangi.

If you look at both of these, partnership is the cornerstone of the Treaty of Waitangi. It was ultimately used to grant entry to European settlers who had become displaced in Europe, living in poor, squalid conditions. New Zealand was the place of richer pastures with an established indigenous culture. Some argue that Moriori were the first, but they were a sub-tribe of Maori. Maori were flourishing, not only off ‘small-sized kumara' but off a mass amount of cultivated land whilst also importing and exporting such goods.

However, as a result of colonisation Maori became landless and forced to move into urban places. This brought poverty, European education that didn't work for Maori, subsequent low employment, stereotypes, racism and so forth, hence the need for scholarships, and Maori-based incentives to ‘integrate' Maori to achieve equal outcomes similar to European culture.

K Kawerau, Tauranga.