I'd like to congratulate Bruce Moon for his straightforward and honest opinion piece ‘Te Tiriti o Waitangi - here's some of the history' (The Weekend Sun, January 23).

It set out clearly the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi, and congratulations to the The Weekend Sun for printing it.

I, like many others, have been frustrated by the NZ Herald's refusal to publish any letters with a whiff of Maori criticism, and I've consequently cancelled my subscription.

It seems our other local paper is willing to publish Gareth Morgan's abysmal rubbish, but reluctant to allow letters pointing out the inaccuracies to see the light of day.

A good example, is Morgan's claim the British tried to annihilate Maori.

He obviously is not aware of the fact that Maori chiefs went first to King William, and then Queen Victoria, begging them to send help to end the inter tribal warfare, slavery and cannibalism, which was rampant at the time.

Maori were doing a very good job of killing each other, such as Hongi Hika selling the gifts King William gave him, to buy muskets so he could participate in the genocide from 1821 to 1830 when more than 50,000 Maori were slaughtered. I'm sure Bruce's article will raise the hackles of those trying to twist the true meaning of the treaty, but he tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Mary Brooks, Tauranga City.