Modern-day democracy and Maori wards

Henry Philips (The Weekend Sun, February 12, pg 26) misunderstands modern democracy when he describes Nanaia Mahuta as undemocratic.

Modern democracies worldwide now recognise that minority groups have a democratic right to be treated fairly and that majority decisions that treat minorities unfairly are undemocratic.

Since 1975 that democratic right has made the Treaty of Waitangi an article of New Zealand Law. That makes it undemocratic for the Pakeha majority to treat Maori unfairly.

If Maori wish to have Maori Wards it is undemocratic for the Pakeha majority to use their majority vote to prevent Maori from having Maori Wards, particularly when Maori Wards do not affect Pakeha at all.

Nanaia Mahuta is being completely democratic in preventing the Pakeha majority from treating Maori unfairly. Why on earth are Pakeha making such a fuss about something that does not actually affect them?

Peter Dey, Kawerau.

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