It was like a breath of fresh air to read in the Rotorua Daily Post that a lobby group in being formed to promote equality amongst all New Zealand citizens. Mind you what did shock me was that the word 'controversy' was used. Surely equality is the cornerstone of our democratic society. To promote this can hardly be called controversial. Nobody is superior because he or she happens to belong to any group, ethnic or otherwise. And of course nobody should be allowed to bypass our election system and get into a position of making decisions without citizens having to vote for them. Lately we have come across some people who try to describe democracy as a dirty word, how awful, shame on them. I congratulate Don Brash for fighting the separatism that popped up its ugly head in our society. He has my full support.
HARRY BRASSER
Rotorua
I don't think there are many people in New Zealand who do not acknowledge that Maori are the "people of the land". As such, they are given special rights and privileges. But, like spoilt children, the more they are given the more they demand. If you give something to someone and he says "thank you, that is nice" you are happy to give. If on the other hand he says "Yeh! That's not enough. Give me more" you naturally get a bit brassed off.
There are lots of things that are for Maori only. Maori All Blacks, Maori golf, Maori Music Awards, lots of grants for education. I can not think of one thing that Pakeha can get that Maori are not also entitled to. I was accosted in the corridor of the hospital by a Maori youth who said, "What are you doing here? This is our hospital, we own this land." Think what that did for my sympathy for the "poor underprivileged". Maori gifted the land, but Pakeha provided the building, the staff and the equipment.
Come on Maori! Admit that you are better off now than you ever were in 1800. Enjoy civilization and let's all go forward into a united future.
MARIE BOOTH
Rotorua
