I like the self condemning letter from KR Roke (Weekend Sun 6 July 2012) because he misses and missed the facts of life concerned the Treaty settlement payouts.
If your parents bought property and then passed away, you would claim those properties as your own.
The Government of New Zealand according to Mr Roke was a responsible Government in 1856. According to my history studies the 'Maori Wars” did not end until 1867, and in 1864 (according to the Bay Times) it is an historical fact that quote 'More than 2,500 men from the Australian colonies cross the Tasman to fight in the New Zealand wars.” Therefore according to logic the New Zealand Government invited foreign troops from Australia on top of the mercenaries (Von Temski) to fight the Maori.
Also according to history the Waikato tribes had been watching Dick Barrett, a pub owner and gun runner, paying for flax from the Taranaki tribes by guns – the Waikato tribes did not sign the Treaty and the British (with the condolence of the NZ Government) fought the Maoris and confiscated their land. This was born out by the Treaty Settlement of the Tauranga tribes. This was for $38 million plus 51 properties, in payment for the confiscation of over 22,000 acres of land.
We must remember that we are the product of our history and we should be proud of it.
I suggest you read 'Major Thomas Branberry NZ Soldier – Treaty Maker” by Alan Lambourne and you will see that as a result of a week-long party staged by Hobson to keep the French warship at bay and the sub sequential race between Branberry's ship and that warship the French settlers in Akaroa became New Zealand citizens.

Rex O'Connor, Tauranga.