Contrary to Tommy Kapai's claim, the government bailout of South Canterbury Finance (SCF), under the Crown retail deposit guarantee scheme, did not cost us taxpayers $1.7 billion; with assets realised, it amounted to half that ($805 million, to be exact).
That's still a heck of a lot in anyone's money, but it's less than the total paid so far (and climbing) to Maori in settlement of Treaty claims.
There's another difference. Whilst five former SCF directors are to face trial next year for alleged dishonesty, fraudulent Treaty claims (for chapter and verse, read 'Twisting the Treaty”) will go unchallenged. This is because we have a government that will do anything to secure the continuing support of the Maori Party; it will cheerfully sell us out in order to stay in office.
Never mind the long-term implications: political probity doesn't come into it.
Mr Kapai may deride (in his quaint way) those of whom he disapproves, but name-calling is childish and achieves nothing.
We shall continue to expose the weakness of an unprincipled National-led administration, the deviousness of iwi claimants, and the anti-democratic nature of Maori separatism (including co-governance).
In time, the people of this country will come to realise the wrongfulness of it all. Fashions, like governments, come and go.

Dr Graham Cliff, Katikati.