We can see clearly who the Government favours. Don't we pay our taxes for the benefit of all? Isn't hospital care a large part of what our taxes are meant for?
Yet the Govt see fit to give away $21million dollars of our money plus concessions to Northland Maori tribes who contribute only a very small portion and expect to extricate much more than they ever put in, just because they put in a claim 26 years ago for something that was not theirs anyway... Where is their proof they owned the land when the settlers came here? Living on the land is a whole lot different to owning it.
How can anyone own what God gave us. Funny that now they are now in bed with National, the handout has been approved. I'm waiting with bated breath for the next claim.
Grey Hospital has to loan money that the Government has been saying for years is available and is still waffling about it, is absolutely disgusting. Hospitals should be high priority, with education coming a close second. The Governments have given away millions upon millions to the Maori over the years, plus the foreshore, mountains and land, yet we have to loan the people's own money to get a hospital up and running.
It's time the people woke up, took back their power and demanded no more closed door meetings, in either local Governments or national Government.
Time for transparency and for accountability for every last cent they extricate from us and make sure everyone benefits and not a select few. Make them earn their exorbitant salaries they think they are worth.

A. Taylor, Avenues.