What Maanu Paul is claiming back is nothing more than that which the Labour government took from Maori earlier this century, namely the foreshore and seabed.
On July 2, 2003 the Otago Daily Times reported that "On June 19, 2003 the Court of Appeal released a unanimous decision holding that the Maori Land Court has jurisdiction to determine the status of foreshore and seabed".
As Maori well know, the Labour Pakeha-led government after much debate, comment and public anger eventually passed legislation that prevented Maori from pursuing their legal rights to go to the Maori Land Court to test their rights of rangatiratanga over the foreshore and seabed, a right retained by Maori and as was agreed in Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Maori and Captain Hobson, Queen Victoria's representative.
Not only did the government take from Maori the whole of the Aotearoa foreshore and seabed but they also removed the right from Maori to test their legal rights as were provided for in law.
In my opinion, this was a truly race-based decision by government to appease those within the community who were opposed to the decision of the Appeal Court released on June 19th 2003 and with no regard to agreed Maori Tiriti rights.
S. NOEL JORY
Rotorua
Let's give credit when it is due. Council restored two democratic principles at the Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee on Tuesday, May 23.
First, the SP&F restored hearings over the draft Annual Plan, avoiding last year's furore when they were suspended. Principle? The people must be heard before decisions are made.
Second, the chairs of the three policy advisory boards (Te Tatau, the Lakes and the Rural community boards) asked that their representatives on the SP&F be allowed to withdraw - so that they could openly represent their constituencies. Principle? Conflicts of interest (COIs) must be avoided.
Councillor Rob Kent then had it confirmed that the withdrawn representatives would not rejoin the SP&F for its discussion and decision making, to continue to avoid COIs.
This precedent will also have to apply to the Operations and Monitoring Committee. However, in between the times when the three policy boards are providing substantive policy advice to the two committees of council, their representatives will become expensive seat warmers.
Council now has a serious challenge. Will they maintain the gravy train for their supporters with the "big government" structures offered by Te Tatau? Or will they move back towards the "small government" structures of the four-person community boards, and just provide legislated "core services"?
Democracy means people having an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives, but also accepting compromises, such as council living within its means.
[ABRIDGED]
REYNOLD MACPHERSON
Rotorua
I refer to the recent correspondence concerning the taxation of cyclists. Your correspondents Jonathan Dodd and David Carman (unfortunate name for an avid cyclist!) spout the benefits to society of cyclists.
As I see it, on my daily commute, there are very few adults using the bicycle to commute. Personally I'd love it if every owner of these contraptions used them for commuting; it would help alleviate the congestion from Owhata and Ngongotaha. But no, these so-called eco crusaders infest the roads at weekends, polluting our scenery, parading their gaily coloured lycra costumes, emulating stick insects on wheels, blocking up the roads to the lakes with their arrogant road manners.
Far be it from me to prevent anyone pursuing their hobby but don't dress it up as helping the planet. Further, in my daily trips around the CBD I have never yet seen anyone using the so-called cycle ways. What a complete waste of ratepayers' money.
AJ WATSON
Ngongotaha
