Briar Johnson's reference to my so called lack of the logic is based on his misunderstanding of my letter. The ‘tit' is the constancy of Brooks, Von Lande, and others making unsubstantiated statements about the claims process, usually plagiarizing parts of Robinsons book to do so. The ‘tat' is the futility in trying to engage in any reasonable discussion more moderate people (Peter Dey springs to mind) may bring to the table. Ignore the message, shoot the messenger. Not original I know but I just can't help myself.
My reference to other nations is neither illogical nor muddled. The aboriginal people of North America were treated in much the same way as Maori. The Victorian mindset is an indisputable point of reference throughout the old British Empire. Superiority of white intellect versus the inferior savage. During British control of Canada for instance reservations became the norm for displaced tribes, 2,500 plus still exist. The land was required for European expansionism. These people were devastated by introduced diseases, loss of traditional hunting grounds, intertribal fighting as less land became usable and of course the predation by sex starved ‘white men'. If all this sounds familiar it should with the exception of the reserves its much the same as the New Zealand experience.
You can gloss over history if you like but you can't change it. (abridged)

Robin Bell, Omanawa.