It is high time Peter Dey removed his rose-tinted glasses and faced up to the true facts about the history of the Treaty of Waitangi and the circumstances which brought it into being. Dey ought to read 'The Corruption of NZ Democracy” by John Robinson which provides extensive evidence to disprove the orthodox view that colonisation decimated Maori.

Robinson shows that Maori killed Maori by the tens of thousands between 1800 and 1842 causing a populaltion decline from a projected 120,000 to 70,000 in 1840. He also shows that the Maori population gradually recovered as colonisation ended war, slavery and infanticide and brought better nutrition and healthcare which contrasts with the lies put out by the likes of Peter Dey that Maori were living in paradise before the settlers came and the country was colonised.
The Chiefs welcomed the Treaty of Waitangi which brought personal protection. The mixed blood descendants of these Chiefs have twisted the intent of

the Treaty to make false claims and grab all they can without having worked for it, aided and abetted by Treaty 'negotiator” Chris Finlayson.

Incidentally Maori life expectancy from birth was 25 years. It is now 75 years for women and 70 for men. When are white New Zealanders going to create a Treaty and make claims for all the benefi ts their ancestors gave and still give, to Maori?

Mary Brooks, Avenues.