The last few weeks have seen a spate of letters to The Weekend Sun expressing anti-Maori sentiments of the nature that Maori people should not be receiving ‘special' treatment on any fronts and that they are ‘tearing the country apart' with their demands.
The holders of these views appear to be in denial of the fact that NZ is a bi-cultural nation, not a mono-cultural one. While bi-culturalism to many Pakeha means something akin to ‘being sensitive to Maori', for Maori people, bi-culturalism means sharing power – which is what Maori thought they were doing when they signed the Treaty.
The reason we now have schemes in place to support Maori people through the education, health and legislative systems is because for more than a century, the odds have been unfairly stacked against Maori succeeding in our society. Until the playing field is level, there is little chance that Maori will ever be in a position where they can share power.
If you want to have a government that ignores its legal obligations in signing a Treaty and instead treats its native people the way you would, then perhaps NZ isn't the place for you.
M Ketu, Greerton.