J Sage has many half-truths in his letter.

By the widely accepted definition of ‘indigenous' New Zealand has no such people.

For example, the Aboriginals of Australia or Bush Men of South Africa, have lived in their countries for many thousands of years, unlike Maori who were recent arrivals in what was really an empty country, and they leave it when they die.

Immigrants from Europe were mainly not 'arrogant” as Sage claims, just desperate to start a life free of the restrictions of their homelands.

Yes, some things did go badly wrong, now being recognised, including the impact on Maori of diseases that were totally new to them, and was the major factor that nearly led to them dying out in the late 1800s.

Maori were no more 'murdered” by these immigrants than Maori doing likewise to them. Sadly, Sage denigrates the name of Abel Tasman, who visited NZ and for his troubles a number of his crew were murdered by local Maori.

Understandably, he used his native Dutch language to name the country. I have no problem changing our name to Aotearoa, provided it is done through a binding referendum when the public at large expresses its wish.

P Hickling, Papamoa