The council is proposing a review of the naming policy for streets and public places in Tauranga after a ten year hiatus.

The council is already proposing a policy to encourage locally significant Maori names giving greater visibility of Mana Whenua's connections to Tauranga's places.

Why? At 18 per cent of the population are they considered more worthy than the rest of Tauranga's population?

Maori were no more responsible for the urban and residential infrastructure of Tauranga than all other ethnic groups. Tribal Maori have no historical record for making streets and constructing public buildings.

It would seem to be a futile exercise to make a submission on the proposals as the decision to give preferential treatment to Maori appears to have already been decided.

The Treaty made all New Zealanders equal subjects of the Crown but it seems in Orwellian terms; 'All animals are equal but some are more equal than others”.

B Johnson, Omokoroa.