D J Bennett [The Weekend Sun letters, September 6], and Margaret Murray-Benge [letters, August 30] are claiming that their support for equal voting rights cannot be racist.
Maori being treated unfairly in New Zealand is racism. Equal voting rights does not stop that. Pakeha are always in the majority and they can vote for what they want, fair or unfair, and when it is unfair to Maori that is racism.
Pakeha who do not want to be racist need to support decision making that is fair to Maori.
The Hobson's Pledge Campaign, supported by D J Bennett and Ms Murray-Benge, wants to reverse changes that have been made to be more fair to Maori.
They want to stop honouring Maori Treaty rights, stop the Waitangi Tribunal, stop any partnership between the government and Maori, and stop Maori seats in Parliament. That does not seem to be fair to Maori.
Peter Dey, Welcome Bay
9 comments
DEMOCRACY
Posted on 13-09-2019 06:57 | By Orite
DEMOCRACY is based on the simple principle that all citizens must be treated the same under the law. Every individual has the same rights and indeed has the same responsibilities under the law. WITHIN SOCIETY, PEOPLE MAY SHARE COMMON VIEWS AND INTERESTS WITH OTHERS, BE THOSE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC, SOCIAL OR PERHAPS SPORTING. All such groupings are basically tribal in nature. But forming such groupings, call them what you may, DOES NOT GIVE THE MEMBERS COLLECTIVELY, ANY SPECIAL RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW. Democracy is based on giving equal rights TO INDIVIDUALS. Giving special rights or privileges TO GROUPS, however configured, cannot be good. If you start treating one group of people either better or worse than others, it will end in tears.
Fair treatment is not a special privilege
Posted on 13-09-2019 19:51 | By Peter Dey
Orite, democracy is a method of electing representatives, one person one vote. Democracy does not stop racist representatives making racist decisions. It is not a special right for Maori to be treated fairly. It is a basic human right which Pakeha dominated councils quite easily ignore. Your view is simply support for Pakeha racism.
That's a bit desperate...
Posted on 13-09-2019 22:13 | By groutby
....Mr Dey, as far as I can see and read, "Hobson's Pledge" wants nothing of the sort as you suggest: "They want to stop honouring Maori Treaty rights, stop the Waitangi Tribunal, stop any partnership between the government and Maori, and stop Maori seats in Parliament. That does not seem to be fair to Maori." Mr Dey, given that option, nothing will EVER be seen to be "fair" to Maori...and ever is a long time. You probably do need to re-interprete the real meaning of this organisation as nowhere does is state your claims, the Treaty and it's original meaning seems to be quite a straightforward and good deal....all round....
NZ democracy includes the Treaty of Waitangi
Posted on 14-09-2019 10:03 | By Peter Dey
Democracy is one person one vote and the majority rules. That is all. Maori Treaty rights are totally democratic. Orite wants to take away Maori Treaty rights. The Pakeha majority could do that but it would be unfair and racist.
Definition of democracy
Posted on 14-09-2019 17:33 | By waxing
There is no definition of democracy that says "all citizens must be treated the same under the law". The accepted definition is "government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system". Different definitions are usually self-serving, as with Orite. New Zealand is founded on the Treaty. Yes, Article 3 simply says Maori are given the rights and privileges of British subjects. But it is not the only article in the treaty and has to be seen in the context of the preamble and the other two articles (conveniently ignored by One Nation, Bennett, Murray-Benge et al). Read all of the treaty and you will see that Maori are granted the retention of special rights and privileges. Our democracy has to be seen and work within that context.
Groutby, read Hobson's Pledge campaign again
Posted on 16-09-2019 18:45 | By Peter Dey
Groutby, the Hobson's Pledge campaign says hold a referendum to scrap Maori electorates, that the Treaty did not create a partnership between Maori and the Crown, that there is no longer need for separate Maori representation in parliament, that there is no longer any need for the Waitangi Tribunal. These are their words. They are anti-Maori.
Orite, you misunderstand democracy
Posted on 16-09-2019 18:52 | By Peter Dey
Orite you add a lot of extra personal opinion to your meaning of democracy. Quite simply democracy is one person one vote and the majority rules. Look it up. If the Pakeha majority choose to be unfair to Maori, which they have done in the past, there is nothing in democracy to stop them, and that is racism. Democracy does not stop racism, so racist Pakeha preaching democracy are just fooling us.
Absolutely right Mr Dey...
Posted on 17-09-2019 21:40 | By groutby
....the treaty did not create a 'partnership' between Maori and non Maori, all were invited and accepted to equal rights under one law, not a mention of a 'partnership' often recently spoken of. Given that and the understanding that legitimate Treaty claims need to be fully and finally settled, then there would be no need for the Waitangi tribunal would there?
Groutby, two partners makes a partnership
Posted on 18-09-2019 14:50 | By Peter Dey
Groutby, the NZ parliament and the NZ High Court haver agreed that the Treaty of Waitangi is a partnership agreement. To any body with common sense this is obvious. It is an agreement between two parties. Those who disagree seem to have already made up their minds and are unable to accept objective evidence. As long as the Pakeha majority makes racist decisions there will be a place for the Waitangi Tribunal to call them out. Maori tribes have extra Treaty rights that Pakeha do not have. This is New Zealand. Live with it.
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