New Zealanders that assert a Maori race as such doesn't exist are quite correct as it meets no universal definition of race, only being propped up by the controversial statutory (a legal fiction) definition in the Maori Affairs Amendment Act 1974. Kiwis that affiliate to the Maori label invariably have considerably more ‘other' ancestry than Maori.

Treatyists' besottedness with the Maori language is not voluntarily shared by over 75 per cent of Kiwis who don't particularly treasure Maori as various public polls regularly show.

Apart from state schools (at the request of Maori leaders) prohibiting Maori language being spoken in schools for a short time early last century, there has never been any law preventing Maori from maintaining or speaking their language, which is encouraged.

It seems, however, Maori, like the cuckoo bird, are depositing their modern fabricated language (bearing little resemblance to original Maori language) in everyone else's nest in the misguided hope that it might survive. The catalyst currently is that Kiwis are being forced to learn Maori if they want a job or retain their job/get promotion and that is an unacceptable compulsion.

Kiwi taxpayers' bankroll the Maori language excesses annually – millions that would be far better spent on health, housing and beneficial education for all Kiwis.

R Paterson, Matapihi.