Sadly Alys Wicksteed shows a lack of knowledge of the true history of New Zealand leading to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi when she alleges New Zealand was ' invaded” by the British. In 1831 thirteen Maori chiefs wrote to the King of England asking him to be their protector. They said: 'We are a people without possesions (taonga) We have nothing but timber, flax, pork and potatoes (the latter items brought to New Zealand by people from other lands). Busby was sent over to quell the fighting but he was unable to do so as tribes continued to attack, kill and eat each other.
Queen Victoria was approached to help save Maori who were dimishing in numbers. She decided the only way was to make New Zealand a colony under British sovereignty and so Governor Hobson was sent and the Treaty of Waitangi set up and signed by Maori chiefs. Hobson shook each chief's hands saying: 'He iwi tahi tatou” - We are now one people.”
The ancient Maoris were truly exiles, geographically, culturally and socially. With the advent of colonisation, Maori were faced with the task of catching up 3-5000 years of social evolution.
Since the signing of the Treaty Maori have had, by law, the same rights and privileges of other citizens, plus a considerable number of special rights and privileges exclusive to them. Apart from the $37 billion given to Maori through the Waitangi Tribunal in the form of foresty, fisheries, land, money plus over a billion of tax-payers money given to Maori Trusts and organisations - it is evident that Maori are the most privileged race in the world!

Mary Brooks, Avenues.