, December 7) is correct when he identifies 1975 as the time that the Treaty of Waitangi began to be reinvented, replacing equality with partnership and special rights to Maori, based – as stated in legislation – on a definition by race.
For the first 135 years after the signing of the Treaty, it was clearly understood by all. Sir Apirana Ngata made this clear in a 1940 broadcast speech at the opening of a meeting house at Waitangi, as part of the centennial celebrations.
"Let me say one thing. Clause one of the Treaty handed over the mana and the sovereignty of New Zealand to Queen Victoria and her descendants forever. That is the outstanding fact today, that but for the sovereignty handed over to her majesty and her descendants I doubt that there would be a free Maori race in New Zealand today."
The best way to reject racial privilege today is to return to the initial meaning of the Treaty and to return to the great principle that we are one people. John Robinson Waikanae
, December 7) claims that there is a special relationship between the Crown and Maori because the Treaty "grants Maori tino rangatiratanga over their whenua". If he would actually read the Treaty – which is in the Ngapuhi dialect - he would find that Article Second says, amongst other things, that the Queen guarantees to "nga tangata katoa o Nu Tirani te tino rangatiratanga o ratou wenua".
If his knowledge of Te Reo is as good as mine, he will discover that this guarantee is to "all the people of New Zealand" - no special mention of Maori, no Aotearoa, no whenua. Interesting? The recent revisionism of the Treaty of Waitangi Act and Court of Appeal decision is like declaring that lead is gold. They do not make it so. Bruce Moon Nelson
Wards give perspective
As someone with a treasured Maori heritage, I do not see the Western Bay council's decision to introduce Maori Wards as patronising (
Opinion
, December 8).
Maori can add a much-needed perspective on holistic ways of dealing effectively with council-related issues.
The establishment of Maori Wards is a small but significant step towards sharing responsibility for decisions that affect our communities. Avril Manely Katikati
