Great to have an early election while all National's excesses are imprinted on our minds. Billions have been paid in treaty settlements and apologies while government infrastructures – health, welfare, education, transport – suffer.

Claims are underway for title and control of the whole NZ coastline, and thanks to Nick Smith, iwi control of the RMA will cost the country dearly.

The National government is almost solely responsible for the housing crisis since it abrogated its responsibilities, sold off state houses and passed onus to district councils whose only responsibility is to provide the infrastructure. Housing is part of the mandate for which all parliaments are responsible.

We can remember when nature's gifts were held in trust by the Crown for all New Zealanders before National traded rights and ownership to a few. Numerous people are paying extravagant rentals and ordinary New Zealanders are paying to go on beaches, around lakes and up mountains and down rivers. Cultural expression seems to go hand in hand with economic development.

The Greens will rubber stamp all Maori claims when huge settlements have not filtered down to improving poverty, employment and korero and they also appear to condone benefit and electoral fraud.

A recent hikoi where Maori protested against Maori for Tauranga district control will be nothing to the one when NZers wake up to being tenants in their own land.

Be careful how you vote this year.

R Stephens, Mount Maunganui.