I experienced two coups whilst living in Fiji where the army overthrew the elected governments, but I never believed that there would be a coup in New Zealand.

Sadly, Monday 1^st February 2021, New Zealand experienced its first coup! Minister of Local Government, Mahuta, announced she was removing peoples' rights to decide if they want Maori Wards.

By abolishing Helen Clark's legislation which allowed the people to decide if they wanted a special Maori ward for their local bodies - that is a big coup, for Maori.

Ironically, on the same day as Minister Mahuta condemned Myanmar's army for overthrowing the democratically elected government, she initiates her own coup here in New Zealand.

I stood for the Tauranga City Council elections in 2019 and like Buddy Mikaere, we were both unsuccessful.

Now Maori want special wards created for the ‘Buddy's' to get onto local bodies.

The governments spin on their coup is 'that it is a huge step forward for Maori”. They don't mention that this is undemocratic for the majority of New Zealanders, it is racist legislation.

There has been no comment on this important constitutional change from our elected Prime Minister, or has she been overthrown as well?

Jim Sherlock, Parkvale