Waitangi Day time to listen
Among the many voices speaking about the Treaty of Waitangi, (NZ Herald, February 5), the opponents and proponents of re-defining the Treaty’s principles have clearly identified that there will be no one-dimensional and simple solution. The debate has galvanised Māori to un-reservedly unite to protect “Tino Rangatiratanga” and have vowed to do so peacefully but they won’t be deterred from their goal. Behind all the kōrero, there has been sincerity, passion, and a smattering of rhetoric that doesn’t help the conversation. But at the core a vital statement posed by Willie Jackson, that rights accorded to Māori under the terms of the Treaty are based on law and not on race needs to be urgently resolved. While all this erudite and profound talking is going on, another question needs to be asked. Who is left to do the listening? If we remember the quote from Diogenes: “We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less”, we may end up with peaceful and positive Waitangi Day celebrations.
Mary Hearn, Glendowie.
Housing inequality
Rising rent and shortage of houses are not like the weather — out of our control. They are the direct result of deliberate government policies. Not long ago National sold off into private hands thousands of houses owned by the state. No government has ever set a limit on the amount landlords can increase rent by. People can make profit on property and pay no tax at all. In New Zealand houses can be left unoccupied with no penalty to owners, at a time when thousands are homeless. When rent goes up, the money is going into the bank accounts of the landlords. Tenants struggle to have a decent life while their landlords get richer. This Government’s policies will exacerbate this inequality by helping those who already have, not helping those who have not.