'One country with many peoples,' say New Zealanders

The New Zealanders the Herald interviewed for this investigation were all willing to be quoted and many were prepared to provide a lengthy explanation of their views. Here are some of them.

Richard Moroney, painter, 47, Devonport

Maori receive special treatment across a broad range of areas. Education is one I know factually. I suspect it's in a lot of other areas but I don't have evidence. There's Te Puni Kokiri and agencies like that designed to benefit Maori but there's no special Pakeha equivalent set up.

I'm not sure it's bad that Maori are helped but I think the message from Brash is that all people need help. I don't think it's wrong that Maori get help because they need to get off the bottom rung but I think all races need help.

I don't think it's black and white because we have the Treaty of Waitangi which we have to honour. But I think we can move on from there and become one country with many peoples.

It hasn't affected me personally but everyone who's been through teachers' training college will tell you about quotas and things. It's a disadvantage if you are white.

Susanna Ranum, 22, between jobs, Putaruru

It is important to honour the treaty and all that. I'm generally supportive of all things Maori but can't accept it when they try to claim such things as the airwaves, which weren't around when the treaty was signed.

If I was Maori I would want rights to land compensation and recognition for what has been done [in the past].

A lot of Maori aren't so well off and need financial assistance - but that should also be available to everyone. There should be encouragement to get Maori healthier or into university but at the same time I am bitter that I don't get that. It is a fine line. For me the whole concept of race is ridiculous. If someone is half-caste, do they get half the amount?

John Astwood, 22, sales rep, Hamilton

I agree with Don Brash. Equality would be a wonderful thing. A lot of benefits are specifically focused on Maori, such as education grants, loans and the Maori All Blacks. If you had a Pakeha All Black team people would be hitting the roof.

If there are particular areas where Maori have been disadvantaged, then they should be brought up to an equal level. But there is not the same degree of targeted help to Pakeha. It is racism in reverse at present.

It is going to continue to affect New Zealand in a negative way. It seems to be having a snowball effect. It is wonderful to have two cultures but if they want equality they need to get rid of the distinctions. Pakeha should have the same rights to everything.

Les Edwards, 42, self-employed, Putaruru

It's about bloody time something was done. Land compensation payments footed by the taxpayer have to end. The Treaty of Waitangi is a piece of paper written over 100 years ago. How can it still be valid?

A minority of Maori are stuffing it up for the rest. I think it is time they actually got out and worked for themselves instead of wanting handouts all the time.

Some special treatment is fair, such as tagging money for illnesses that Maori are more susceptible to. But Maori schools should fund raise for extras like public schools, rather than expect grants. Compensation payouts should be placed into trusts for things like Maori education needs so the burden doesn't fall on the taxpayer.

Jackie Hopa, 43, store person with a Maori husband, Putaruru

I think that, as New Zealanders, we should all move on. Compromise would be the best thing on both sides. Pakeha do not fully understand the importance of Maori cultural and spiritual needs, such as ties with the land and sea.

There has to be a line drawn somewhere over how much is conceded to Maori. Good on Helen Clark for her stand on the foreshore and seabed.

My daughter was turned down by a Maori trust for a Polytech grant and had to get a student loan. With the high percentage of Maori failing at school and in the prison system, I do not oppose extra funding to try and rectify that.

Judy, 50, sales person, Glenfield

There's a lot of separatism going on in New Zealand with special treatment for Maori. They're more likely to come into university with a lower score than a European or Asian student. We are made to pay for kohanga reo.

A lot of money is being spent on Maori issues, litigation from tribal groups - the time it takes to resolve issues costs the taxpayer.

It's time we scrapped the Treaty of Waitangi and had a document based on one nation. It needs to be looked at.

Herald Feature: Sharing a Country