Letters: Waiariki may not be Maori party turf much longer

Minister Te Ururoa Flavell. Photo/File

The late Labour MP and Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia, was known for being out on the road more than inside his office, there are stories of drives from Wellington to his home on the East Coast taking weeks, simply due to the number of people he saw along the way.

It was this innate quality that helped guide his decision making.

Ex-Labour Party leader David Shearer said that during caucus meetings when the party was getting rather hypothetical while talking about high-level sorts of policy, it would be Horomia who would bring them down to earth, talking about the family he met when he was travelling up that day, and asking what they would get out of that particular policy that they were pushing.

This is in stark contrast to the current Minister of Maori Development who said in a televised debate that he has "no idea" how homelessness got so bad in the city where he has been MP for 12 years.

Then on Monday the Rotorua Daily Post reported that two te kura kaupapa Maori, also in the minister's home town, are frustrated they're not receiving the same amount of support and resourcing as the charter initiative the minister has been promoting.

The minister may think Waiariki is "Maori Party turf", but in admitting he has "no idea" about the issues people are facing, he may find that his turf is about to be turned to mulch and discarded - making room for fresh growth.

RYAN GRAY
Rotorua

Rocky awakening

I had a rude awakening around 1.30am this morning (July 17).

Some juvenile idiots must have thought it was fun to pick up the rocks on the berm outside my home and throw them into the middle of the street. These, I had placed to stop inconsiderate drivers from parking on my lawn.

Not wanting to venture out at that hour I climbed back into bed and spent the next couple of hours waiting... the street is a busy one. I had visions of my letterbox being smashed, as drivers swerved to avoid the rocks!

I woke again around 5am, and crept out into the foggy street; quite eerie to say the least. A nice surprise awaited me... some kind person had replaced the rocks back on the berm.

I toddled back to my bed with the thought... "All is right with the world".

PAULEEN WILKINSON
Rotorua