I note that Hone Harawira is bleating about the $2 rise in prescriptions, alleging it will 'lead to children dying”. Surely not Maori children as, due to obscene handouts to various iwi, Maori are $35 billion better off! Surely they can cover the extra $2 from this!

Maori claiming all these Treaty settlements, allege the descendants of those who signed the Treaty have been cheated of their lands but, the fact remains there are no pure Maori descendants of those signees. Due to vigorous intermarriage, all Maori today have a great deal of other blood running in their veins - why are they so anxious to ignore their European or other heritages? Is it because they will miss out on all the extra privileges Maori get? For example, Sir Tipene Stev O`Regan is 15/16 white - more Irish than anything else and his daughter, despite her Maori name, is 31/32 white. Turiana Turia is halfbred American and Peta Sharples` father I believe, was from Lancashire! Even Hone Harawira who would not want any of his family marrying a white New Zealander,has a European grandfather, his surname previously being Hatfield!

When, oh when are we going to put a stop to this apartheid nonsense and stop Treaty negotiator, Chris Finlayson handing out taxpayers` money like Willy Wonka giving out sweets in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. When will we be, as Hobson said at the signing of the Treaty 'He iwi tahi tatou - Now we are one people”. Fat chance!

Mary Brooks, Avenues.