Grateful thanks to Brian, the editor of The Weekend Sun, for his generosity in giving space to our letters, and Muriel Newman's article regarding the huge, very real threat soon to be presented to our democratic system of government. Maori appear to be the only ones being 'informed”, by the funding of Margaret Mutu to travel with her chosen associates around the country, ostensibly to prepare them for the hoped-for constitutional change, but with her extreme, uncontrolled, hostile and inflammatory views, it seems just a bad joke. The rest of us are kept in the dark, deliberately, unless we take the trouble to research things. But already too many serious anomalies exist, demonstrating clearly to the alert, the insidious corrosion of our democratic system.
Even in these preparatory stages.
When was it ever right for a small minority, as here, (always referring to the more radical Maori, not the moderates) to seek to impose their subversive views, Maori lore and practice, to control the rest of the population virtually by decree of an entrenched archaic treaty, no longer serving the original purpose.
Particularly when their real agenda is not necessarily the published one. All this with the implied sanction of parliament. We know the story. And the only possible way forward must be one giving equal rights to all, or the freedom to challenge when deemed necessary, plus freedom of speech. As was allowed those protesters at the meeting on Monday night, and of which they took ample advantage.

D. Holm, Tauranga.